Page 21 of My Fated Minotaur Hero

Right.

I settle back into the tub, determined to reassert some kind of control over these lusty feelings with my pros and cons list. But as I write, I find myself doodling little hearts in the margins.

What am I, twelve?

I shake my head for what feels like the tenth time today, trying to concentrate.

The 'pro' column for staying fills up unsurprisingly, yet alarmingly quickly:

No more dreading my empty apartment

Magic is real!

Live the adventure and catalog it!

No more Douchebag Dan and those stupid staff meetings

Kalen ...

I pause at that last one, my pen hovering over the paper. What to do about my feelings for this charming, unexpectedly sweet minotaur?

Whatever...let’s see Cons:

Vanishing off the face of the earth

Potential death and dismemberment (the placeisfull of monster)

Endless unknown possible bad things

I stare at the list, chewing my lip. There are some rather serious downside risks here, but who am I kidding? The pros column is winning by a landslide. And it's not like there's much tying me to my old life anyway. I barely even speak with my parents. I’m pretty sure they have no idea what I even do – and definitely don’t care. For all they know I work as a stocking clerk in a shoe store. That's how much they care about my career or my life. They probably wouldn't even notice if I disappeared.

I do have a few friends, I guess, at the museum, but I can make new friends. Yeah, that’s right.

It’s time to finally Live, Liv!

I giggle a little.

Live Liv.

"Kalen?" I call out again.

"Still here," he responds immediately.

I take a deep breath. "I think ... I think I'd like to stay. At least for now. I mean, no need to go running right back home, right? Not that I even know if I can, just yet. If that's okay?"

There's a pause, and for a moment, I'm terrified I've overstepped. Then I hear his reply, soft but clear: "Fantast- that is, I'd like that, Olivia. I'd like that a lot."

My heart does a little flip. "Okay, good. That's ... good." The tingles are back. Stronger than ever.

"You about done in there? You must be all shriveled up! Humans get that too, right? Besides, the water must be getting cold."

As if on cue, I shiver. "Yes, we get the shriveled fingers and toes thing, and yes, it is getting a little cold. Could you maybe hand me a second towel? I sort of used the first as a bath mat. Sorry!"

The door creaks open slightly, and Kalen's arm appears, holding out a fluffy towel. “I can get you a whole stack of them if you’d like.”

“I think one will do.” As I reach for it, our fingers brush, and I feel that same electric spark from earlier. Only it’s even stronger.

I wrap the towel around myself and realize I have nothing dry to change into. “Um Kalen, I don’t suppose you have anything I could wear?”

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