Fiends and Familiars - Debra Dunbar Page 0,14

Sylvie, I’m not cave diving. In fact, I’m not scuba diving at all. Ten years of advanced-level swimming and lifeguard lessons have only taught me I’m better off with my feet on solid ground.”

She reached out and patted my arm. “I mean loving. You run away and run away, when you should be jumping in with both feet.”

“Naked. Sprawled across the bed. Horned dude on top of you,” Eshu teased.

“I’m up for that. I just want him gone by morning,” I joked.

Actually that was a lie. I wanted someone to stick around. I wanted more than just a booty call. But like Sylvie had said, I was nervous about opening my heart up to someone who would turn out to be a total asshole. No, being alone was better. I had Drake and the squirrels for company. And if I found some hot dude in a bar, then I’d kick my animal companions out of the bedroom for one night. Then go back to my life in the morning.

“Well, I think that was some seriously hot dream,” Babylon told me.

“It was, until I was rudely awakened by squirrels,” I lamented.

My younger sister chuckled and shook her head. “You seriously need to get laid, Addy. I mean really laid, not dream-dude laid.”

I snorted. “You’re sounding more and more like Sylvie. I work a lot and I don’t exactly meet a lot of guys when I’m getting rid of an ant infestation or removing a pissed-off raccoon from someone’s garage. Plus I’ve got a vulture and four squirrels now living in my bedroom. Kinda kills the mood.”

“Kick them out for the night,” she said. “Or get a hotel room, or go to his house, or do it in the truck. I mean it, Addy. You need to get out more.”

She was right, but somehow after I was done working, the idea of showering, putting on decent clothing and makeup, and going out seemed beyond me. It was all I could do to get clean and put on pajamas most nights.

“Okay, social director. What’s going on this week? I promise I’ll make it out one night.”

One night. Baby steps, right? It was so darned sad. When I’d lived in Accident I’d had a heck of a commute and still managed to get out now and then—at least twice or three times a week. But here I pretty much knew everyone. Outside the wards, I didn’t. And there was something that felt strange throwing back a few cold ones with a room full of humans instead of a room full of minotaurs, werewolves, dragons, and trolls.

“Monday is Karaoke night at the bar. Then there’s Taco Tuesday with Salsa dancing lessons. Wednesday is wine tasting, and Thursday is craft beer night. Friday and Saturday are kind of hectic, but the bands are always good.”

The idea of sitting alone in a packed bar with music blaring didn’t sound all that appealing. Actually the idea of sitting alone didn’t sound appealing. I wasn’t exactly shy, but it was hard to start up a conversation with strangers.

“When are you off work?” I asked Babylon. “Maybe we can go somewhere together and you can introduce me to a few people?”

“Rita and Ralph are hosting a fall party on their farm. Bonfire. Beer. Corn maze. They’ve got pygmy goats.”

“You totally had me at pygmy goats,” I told her. “I hate to crash a party, though. I don’t know Rita and Ralph at all.”

“Silly, you’ll be my guest.” Babylon reached out and playfully slugged my shoulder. “There’s going to be around thirty people there, but I’ll probably only know three or four. It’s a perfect opportunity for both of us to meet people and connect.”

“Thanks.” I smiled.

“That’s what sisters are for,” she said. “And maybe you’ll meet someone to boink in the corn—someone more real than a dream demon.”

Maybe. But I wasn’t counting on it.

Chapter 5

Adrienne

When I got home, the squirrels nearly tackled me at the door. I’d never gotten this sort of enthusiastic greeting before in my life. What was wrong? Had they run out of nuts to eat? Were they just bored and couldn’t manage to manipulate the television remote? Had Timmy fallen in the well?

No, it seemed that the dog-thing had been back prowling around the yard again, and the squirrels were very distraught about it.

“He can’t get in,” I told them. “First, there’s no way he can figure out the door key code, push the buttons, and turn the knob to open the door. Secondly, even if