While You Were Creeping - Poppy Rhys Page 0,34
I seemed to dislike Kye...
I’d bet credits that maybe he felt the same way I did.
Maybe existing together in the same place, sharing the same space, sharing the same life... would be good.
Really good.
So, there you have it, imaginary Dr. Molina, I thought.
Maybe I didn’t want to be alone, and not just for the stupid Tinsel festivities. Maybe I didn’t want to be alone the rest of the year either.
My fingertips grazed my lips again.
Ugh! I couldn’t think properly. For two days, it was hard to be around Kye and not stare at his mouth or his horns or watch his butt when he walked by.
For two days, we pretended like that kiss didn’t happen. I’d convinced myself it was just part of the act.
Our agreement. The deal.
The deal I was failing to uphold.
I picked up the scrap of paper. This could be it. The string of characters that could set Kye free.
Don’t get me wrong, I wanted that to happen. Truly did. But maybe I just wasn’t ready to see him leave yet.
Suck it up.
I pulled up my comm and tapped against the glass, opening a connection.
It beeped, and beeped, and just when I was about to disconnect, someone answered.
“Elvshkin Inc,” the male voice droned apathetically, “where we put the cheer in your holiday season. How can I direct your call?”
“Um, hi, I’m...”
Shit. My brain went blank. I hadn’t been expecting anyone to answer. I shook my head and arranged my thoughts.
“I’m calling about a gift I received. Is there a way to get in contact with a specific elvshkin?”
He sighed, like he hated his job. My whole life, I’d thought all elves were unnaturally chipper.
Guess I was wrong.
“Do you have the name of the elf?”
My fingertips dug into my forehead. I’d been trying to remember, but for the life of me, I couldn’t. “No, I don’t.”
“When, and on what planet, was this gift received?”
“Dor Nye, during the Elves Day.”
“Territory?”
“Quar Loy.”
“Town?”
“Tinsel.”
“Your name?”
“Holly Zax.”
“Hold please.”
The line cut to a joyful holiday tune in a different language and, suddenly, I commiserated with the disenchanted elf. We were two Scrooges surrounded by people who lived for the winter festivities.
The music cut.
“Miss?”
“Yes?”
“We have no record of a gift given to a Holly Zax. Do you go by another name, perhaps?”
My brows pinched together. How was that possible? I hadn’t dreamed it up. The cube was very real, Kye was definitely real, and it came from an elf on Elves’ Day.
“No, that’s my only name. Are you positive there’s no record?”
“Yes, Miss,” he monotoned, “I’m positive. The only other option—” this was broken up by a laborious exhale, “is to go through the list of elves in Tinsel that day.”
Sounded tedious but, “Okay, let’s do that.”
The elf—whose name I never caught—started droning through the list, none of them sounding familiar.
“Yanni, Bodeen, KanKan...” on he went, occasionally broken up by, stop me any time now. “Percik, Tolby, Nankino, Rook, Rep—”
“Wait! That’s it! Nankino.”
The memory of her introduction drifted back. ‘I’m Nankino, the elvshkin, but you can call me Nan.’
“Yes, Nankino. I’m sure of it.”
“Hold please.”
More cheery music before he cut back in.
“Miss, Nankino isn’t available.”
My shoulders sagged and I rubbed my temple. “Do you know when she’ll be around?”
“She’s not due back at headquarters until New Year’s.”
“What?! But that’ll be too late...” My thoughts raced, a new panic seizing my innards. Had my shameful thoughts jinxed it?
“Too late for what?”
“I... er...” I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. “There’s no way I can reach her? Or get a message to her? It’s extremely important.”
Again, this elf sounded like he had so many other things he could be doing. Better things. More exciting things. Things that didn’t involve helping some human.
“I suppose I could take a message for her, but I can’t guarantee she’ll receive it before New Year’s. This is a busy time of year for Elvshkin Inc.”
“Of course, I understand. Thank you so much.” I rattled off my information, once again stressing how important it was that I talk to Nan before New Year’s.
The line disconnected and I stared at my comm, unsure if he’d heard that last part. “Rude ass...”
“Who?”
Kye shut my apartment door, the bells jingling. I stared at him as he took off his thick black scarf and hung it up. The curve of his nose and pointed ears were red, and his exposed fur was damp from the snow.
I circled around the kitchen island and turned on the kettle. He could probably use a warm cuppa candy