Page 15 of Riverside Reverie

“Yeah, I’ve already started that fun process,” Lux laughed lightly. “I’m hoping I can find an entry position somewhere soon. I’m not picky about where I have to go, so I’ve been applying all over the province.”

“Hopefully something will come up soon for you,” Rhiannon said.

“Thank you.” Lux smiled.

“Speaking of x-rays…” Kai said, a mischievous grin on his face. “What’s one body part you wouldn’t mind losing?” he asked Zoey, and Lux’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Oooh are we going to play campfire questions?” Zoey exclaimed, clapping her hands.

Noticing Lux’s confusion, I leaned forward. “It’s a game we all started playing when we were teens while camping in Baz’s backyard. Basically, you have to come up with a question and the person to your left has to answer before asking their own question to the person on their left, and so on and so forth.”

“I think I’d be okay with losing a toe.” Zoey said, after I’d had a chance to explain the game to Luz.

“You can’t pick a toe,” Kai frowned. “That’s so lame. Anyone can live without a toe.”

“Toes are actually pretty important for your balance, so. I stand by my answer,” Zoey said firmly. She turned to look at me. “What’s a nickname you’ve had that you secretly hated?”

I narrowed my eyes at her, resenting her question—and the rules of the game. If you wanted to omit answering a question, you had to take a drink. If you couldn’t think of a question, you had to take a drink. It was essentially a fun drinking game, and a fun way to pass the time.

I drank the contents of my beer instead of answering. There was no way in hell I was going to announce to Lux that my nickname in public school had been Chubster. I’d been a chunky kid, but the nickname had come from the unfortunate time I’d popped a boner while in front of the class reading my speech on the difference between rocks and minerals. It was one of those pre-pubescent involuntary boners, but it happened in front of our entire homeroom so…yeah. Not my finest moment, or memory, for that matter.

Zoey cackled in delight, knowing full well why I wouldn’t answer.

“Which famous person do you do the best impression of?” I asked Talia.

Talia arched a brow, grinning before launching into the best impersonation of Jim Carey from Ace Ventura, strolling over to the fire to grab another sausage.

Then it was Talia’s turn. She turned to Lux, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “So, Lux. What do you prefer: tacos or sausage?” she asked, waiting for Lux to fall into her trap.

“Well, these were very good but I think I prefer tacos,” Lux answered, thinking Talia was referring to food.

“Me too! I love tacos. Are you single?” Talia questioned. She was bold and abrupt, and not one to shy away from intrusive questions—and she was baiting me.

I’d met Talia while at Laurentian University, and she’d quickly become a close friend of mine. She’d started renting a room from us after we finished renovations on the duplex, and she still lived there, working as a Wetlands Research Assistant for the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area. One of Talia’s favourite pastimes throughout our time at university was trying to pick up the girls I was interested in before I could whenever we went out together. She’d place a wager, enticing me to participate in her shenanigans.

It was her way of prying me out of my natural state of awkward shyness when it came to the opposite sex, her way of challenging me to go for what I wanted. Sometimes, it worked in Talia’s favour, and sometimes I got the girl. Talia was an excellent wingman.

I knew her intention this time around came from Talia wanting to push me into making a move. There was interest in Lux’s gazes, in the shy smiles she’d given me each time I caught her looking—and vice versa.

“Um, yes…I’m single,” Lux answered, her gaze moving from Talia to me. Likely wondering what tacos and sausage had to do with it, or if Talia was fishing for information on my behalf. But I didn’t need Talia to talk to her for me. I was letting her get settled in. It was easy to see that Lux didn’t feel fully comfortable around us yet, and I wanted her to feel comfortable before I made a move. Even if she kept looking at me with those smoky quartz eyes.

“Lux is all about the sausage, Talia. Sorry!” Jasmine teased, answering for her friend.

“That’s too bad,” Talia said flirtatiously.

Lux, who’d been in the midst of drinking, coughed, her eyes widening with surprise, like she wasn’t accustomed to being blatantly hit on. The blush returned, this time deeper. Once again, the attention seemed to make her uncomfortable.

I couldn’t help but take in every little detail about her. The way her embarrassment coloured her cheeks, the way she smiled politely, like she was wishing the ground would open and swallow her whole. I wanted to know why she shied away from being the centre of attention, despite being as captivating as the setting sun over the river.

“But I honestly wouldn’t blame you if you changed your mind about men and want to do a little taco experimenting!” Jasmine added with a cackle. Lux leveled her with a serious look before she burst out laughing, too.

“Oh, this sounds good. What did he do?!” Talia leaned forward, sensing there was a story.

Lux’s laughter died. “He cheated.” Jasmine went to say something, but Lux kicked her chair in warning.

“Damn, that sucks. I don’t get why people cheat. There’s no need for it anymore, not when there are so many people who want to be in polyamorous relationships. There are entire dating websites dedicated to it.”

“Is there really?” Kai sounded surprised.

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