Page 8 of Shadow Seeking

Penn was as short as I was tall. She was five-three, probably a size fourteen with an hourglass figure, and she had green eyes and wavy auburn hair that she wore in a long ponytail. She wore fun clothes that were retro in style, chunky-heel sexy librarian shoes, and cat-eye oversized glasses. Today, she was wearing a blue polka dot swing dress with a sweetheart neckline, she had on white tea gloves, and a matching fascinator decorated with a pouf of tuille and a white rose.

“Penn!” I leaned in to kiss her cheek.

She returned the kiss. Her lip lacquer didn’t transfer or I’d have a sparkling blue pair of lip prints on my cheek. “I am so ready for dinner,” she said. “It’s been a long day.”

We headed into Garden’s Steakhouse. The décor was like any chain-steakhouse, with a bar, ambient seating in a mix of booths and tables, enough plants to make it feel cheery, and the sizzling smell of beef that permeated the air.

Penn stepped up to the hostess. The restaurant was crowded, but she had made reservations.

“Two, under the name of Penelope Fircrest,” she told the hostess.

The young woman led us to a booth in the back, and as we slid in, handed us menus. “Would you like to start with drinks?”

“I’d like a strawberry daiquiri,” Penn said.

“A screwdriver for me,” I said.

The waitress left us with the menus and headed off to the bar to place our drink order. As she left, I relaxed into the back of the booth.

“It’s been a long day,” Penn said, doing the same. “Apparently, word hasn’t gotten around to some members of the Fae community that I own Moonbeams & Meadows, and a member of the Summer Court came in to buy some mandrake oil today. She didn’t notice me at first, but when she came up to the pay for it at the counter, she took one look at me, snarledFucking half-breed,and threw the vial on the counter, breaking it, before she flounced out of the shop.”

I winced. “I’m sorry,” I said. “Goddamn bigots.” I paused as the waitress brought our drinks. “We need a little more time to decide,” I said.

She set a basket of breadsticks on our table, then smiled and left to wait on a nearby table.

“Yeah,” Penn said, trying to smile. But I knew that the asshole had hurt her feelings. “Not only that, but I make that mandrake oil and it costs me sixty bucks a vial to produce. So that’s a tidy little loss there, not to mention my shop reeks now. It splashed on the carpet. I’m going to have to rent a shampooer.” She stared at the table, a distressed look on her face. I could tell something else was bothering her.

“What else is wrong?”

“You sure you want to hear? I’m a regular Cathy Cheerful here today.”

“Tell me,” I coaxed. “You’re my best friend. I want to know what’s wrong.”

Penn sighed. “All right,” she said, setting her drink down. “I have to find a place to live. The landlord’s raising my rent again with the new lease. And since the shop isn’t doing so hot, I can’t afford the increase. You know what rent’s like in Seattle. I need to move before next month. I’ve already given notice that I won’t be renewing the lease.”

I played with my glass. I knew that Penn brought in a decent amount each month, but she was right—rent was exploding, the housing market was tight, and it was hard to find a reasonably priced place to live. But I already knew what I was going to do.

“I have a spare room,” I said. “You can stay with me for as long as you need to.” I owned my own house, a three-bedroom rambler that I bought at a lull in the market a few years back. It was already worth half again as much as I bought it for.

Penn worried her lip. “Are you sure? I love your house, but I don’t want to put you out.”

“Of course you’re going to move in. We can put what furniture you have that there isn’t any room for into storage. But the family room is pretty bare, so if you want to put your living room furniture there, that’s fine. As long as you don’t mind Jangles prancing on it.” I used one of the spare bedrooms for a workout room, but my guest room seldom saw use.

“How much do you want for rent? I’m paying fifteen-seventy-five right now.”

I knew that Penn would never go for me letting her stay for free, even though I’d paid cash for the house, using up most of my savings. But it was mine, free and clear, except for the property taxes. “Tell you what, let’s say six hundred a month, plus half of the utilities.”

Penn took a sip of her daquiri. “You’re kidding me. That’s less than half what I pay now.”

“Then this will allow you to start saving money,” I said. “You know I own the house, so hey, six hundred’s gravy for me. We can start moving you in this weekend. So, no more worries over that.” I actually found myself looking forward to it. The house had felt rather empty ever since I bought it, and Penn and I were as close as sisters.

“Thanks, chica. I really, really appreciate it.” She sighed. “That means I can order more than a salad.”

“No, it’s my turn to pay for dinner. You can pay for takeout on movie night.” I paused as the waitress returned. “Okay, what do we want for appetizers? I’ll have the calamari,” I said. “What do you want? We can share both.”

“Mozzarella sticks, please,” Penn said.

“And have you decided on your entrees yet?”

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