Page 22 of By the Fae

Holly got to her feet, looking an odd combo of indignant and embarrassed. But definitely not cute. “Human X is the leading human owned games development company, and for three years in a row, I was their highest grossing designer.” That was the second time she’d mentioned that. She jammed the toe of her purple boot against the edge of my rug, lifting it and letting it drop.

I fought back the smile threatening to overturn my stoic mask.

“I’m the best,” her voice trailed off at the end. “I . . . The best human at this . . .” The doubt creeping across her features was almost tangible. She needed to be shaken by the shoulders.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out my breath slowly. “You are.”

Her arms flopped to her sides. “Huh?”

“You are the best at this,” I said. “The best human, that is. I couldn’t say it if it wasn’t true. Your games are great. You shouldn’t let your voice go quiet like that, as though you don’t believe what you’ve said.”

Her face flushed again, and the corner of her mouth ticked upwards.Dammit.

“Self-doubt is fucking annoying,” I added, because I was at risk of being too nice otherwise.

If anything, this made her smile more. Great.

“So, what is it, then? What’s the real reason you chose me? I know those other guys wouldn’t have told you to go and fuck someone from sixth, even if they are all boring as shit.”

Holly cocked her head to the side, an eyebrow raised, then buried her hands in the apron pocket of her dungaree dress. Wait. A dungaree dress? Come on! I didn’t even know you could get such a ridiculous thing. She looked like a circus clown.

“Well?”

Once more, her boot found the edge of my rug and dug its way under, this time disappearing to her ankle. “Uh . . .”

I walked over to the coffee machine, stuck a mug under the spout, a pod in the top, and pressed the button.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Making myself comfortable. Whatever it is you’re going to tell me, is gonna be good, otherwise you wouldn’t be so nervous to say it.”

She flopped down on the sofa. “Okay, I’ll tell you, but you stay there. So I don’t have to look at you.”

I leant my back against the counter-top to show her I wasn’t going anywhere.

She sighed, hid her face in her hands, sighed again. “I’m lonely,” she said eventually.

I almost dropped my coffee. Whatever it was I had expected her to say, this hadn’t been it. Or even close.

“I . . . I have everything I want in life,” she continued, her ear pointed towards me, but her eyes still hidden in her palms. “I have my dream job. I have my dream apartment. Well, I will as soon as it’s built. I moved back in with my parents while they’re finishing the building work, but I’ll have it soon. I have family and friends, and hobbies, and things I enjoy, but . . . I don’t have . . . someone. You know? I’m lonely.” She laughed even though I could think of nothing less funny. “I want someone. A boyfriend.”

“And what’s that got to do with shadowing me?” I said, wondering why my heartbeat had just kicked up several gears.

“Well, I’m not interested in datingyou, if that’s what you’re worried about.” She said it with an edge.

I grinned, thankful her head was still turned in the other direction. “That’s good to hear.”

“There’s a guy I like,” she said to her lap.

“Seth?”

“No! Yes, how did you know?”

I left my perch at the coffee bench and sat next to her on the couch. “You know what Seth is, right?”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “He’s a summer fae? Brown skin, brown and gold eyes, no?”

Oh. She didn’t know. Should I tell her? Ruin her day, month, year? Or save that little nugget until she was really pissing me off and it would land a bigger blow?

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