Page 51 of Starfall

“It knows me. We will be fine.”

“I don’t think I will fit in it.”

She patted his cheek. “That is what you thought about me, and you fit just fine.”

They giggled and snarked at each other for half an hour, cuddled up for a restorative nap, and ended up tiring each other out again.

The house was huge but still cozy, and on day eight after their first interaction, Emery waited until Rowen was out doing something with his family before she peed in a cup and put three different tests into action.

She paced and talked to Orla on the phone. “It can’t have been fast, right?”

Orla was doing the same thing on the other end of the line.“It’s doubtful, but it is possible. We started together. We grew up in parallel, and we both have season-sensitive partners. The amount of smug growling and huffing around here was unbelievable. I tried to punch him, but then, he turned it into a boxing lesson.”

Emery smiled. “Hunter is very kind.”

“He is, but he is also annoying. If it weren’t for our little Snowball, I would be nuts. He’s a lovely stress reliever.”

Emery paced and watched the timer. It counted down slowly. “Oh, this is scary.”

“You could have done this with him there.”

“Scarier.”

“Agreed.”

The alarm went off, and Emery muttered, “Here we go.”

The pale lines were on the two tests that indicated that way, and the digital was also positive. “Well, hell. That explained all the venom. I definitely recognized him. A lot. Those lines are darker than they should be.”

“Yeah, mine, too.”Orla sounded as stunned as Emery felt.

“Wanna go for coffee?”

“Can we have coffee?”

“Herbal tea and a bear claw?”

“Done. Meet you at the diner.”

“On my way. As soon as I clean up. Downside to having scent-sensitive partners.”

“Oh, shit. Right. One quick bathroom scrub coming up.”

They laughed and hung up. Emery washed everything, got the sticks and hid them in her bag, wrapped in a sandwich bag.

When everything was clear and scrubbed, she headed for the garage to take Avaknell’s car out. The car was sort of a pet and definitely a car. It didn’t attract speeding tickets and could always find parking. “It is just a pity you aren’t quite big enough for Rowen.”

The car shuddered.

“Sorry, sweetie.” She buckled up, and the vehicle glided out of the garage. She drove down the hill and into town, heading for her diner. She parked, got out of the car, and headed into the diner.

Ally smiled and gestured toward a booth. Emery walked over and slid into the booth, waiting for Orla.

Herbal tea was waiting when her friend came through the door and scuttled to her side. Orla chuckled. “We have to stop doing things together.”

“I don’t think we can.” Emery shrugged. “Which sucks for you because Rowen’s family has lots of kids, and I think you are going to be along for the ride.”

Orla chuckled. “I don’t mind. Mom will be ecstatic.”

---