kitchen door where Mary had disappeared. “Well, maybe not here. I have a feeling we’ll be hosting Mary’s version of The Dating Game soon.”
“I doubt that,” I said. “Despite Emily’s meddling, most of the girls aren’t too keen on living with the fey.”
Mary’s head popped out of the kitchen. “They just need incentive to give them a chance. Be a dear, and start asking the fey to bring any extra canned goods here. Emily is going to use that as payment for a date.”
I stared at the old woman for a disbelieving moment then agreed.
“Sure. I’ll talk to the fey for you.”
I called my farewell and rushed out the door. Did I agree with what Mary and Emily were doing? Hell no. But, whether I helped or not, they’d go ahead with their plan and likely get a few desperate females to agree to their dumb game. So why not improve my drinkless position? Since Emily was obviously watching the bottle in the cabinet and would likely ask James if I’d taken more from him when she learned I’d visited, I really didn’t have much of a choice, anyway.
Outside, I waved to the first fey I saw, who happened to be Tor again. He smiled broadly and jogged my way.
“Hello, Hannah.”
“What are the odds that you’re the first fey I see when I walk out the door. That’s twice today. Are you stalking me?” I asked jokingly.
He blinked at me, and his smile fell. Crap. They were sensitive about the word “stalker.”
“I’m kidding,” I said, tapping his arm playfully. “I actually have some really exciting news. Mary and Emily are pulling something together to give you guys a chance to get to know the humans. Do you want me to add your name to the list? It only costs one bottle.”
The smile lit his face again.
“I will pay that. When should I give you the bottle?”
“Tomorrow. Spread the word, okay? Any fey who wants some one-on-one time with a female should bring a bottle to my place tomorrow to get scheduled.”
He nodded and took off at a jog. The thing taking up space and robbing me of air twisted inside of me again, and I wished I could call him back and ask for something today. But I couldn’t. First, I needed to deal with Emily.
The first words she said to me when I walked in the door just confirmed it.
“Have fun drinking with James?” she asked.
I stared at her for a moment then took off my jacket. It wasn’t like her to be so confrontational.
“No, I didn’t. I laminated over one hundred stupid question cards. But Mary seemed happy about it if that matters.”
Emily’s expression wavered then fell.
“Of course it matters. I think it’s great that you went there to help.”
“I didn’t go there to help. I went there because you obviously wanted a fight, and I didn’t. Yes, James offered me a drink. Yes, I accepted. No, I didn’t take another stupid bottle from him. Can we be done with this now?”
She studied me for a minute then nodded.
“I just want you to be okay,” she said. “The drinking—”
“Isn’t a problem. But, how you’re going to bribe girls into hanging out with the fey so they can play fifty questions is. The fey are going to get their hopes up at the idea of a dinner with a girl. Meanwhile, all the girls are going to rush through the questions so they get paid and can get out of there. It’s not fair because the expectations aren’t clear.”
“You have a different idea, don’t you?”
“I do. And it involves alcohol.” I lifted my hand as if she was going to object. “Now just hear me out.”
She made an annoyed sound. “I don’t have a problem with drinking, Hannah, I’m just worried that you were going too far.”
She had no idea.
“Back to the point. We shouldn’t call this a dating game. We should call it a date because that’s what the fey really want, and we should be upfront with the girls agreeing to this. And make it less like a payoff because that’s like whoring.”
Emily’s mouth popped open a little.
“Instead of promising canned goods, promise a full meal. As much as they want to eat for as long as they want to stay. That alone will promote lingering and conversation. The cards can be on the table just to help the conversation if it lulls. And, let’s be honest. With the fey, it will lull.