Page 174 of Sweet Dominion

“I think I will call it. . .”

I quirked my brows.

“Sky. That’s the title.”

I grinned. “I think that is a unique name.”

“I was thinking that too.” Chen rubbed his face with both hands. “I feel a little odd right now, but I think it is. . .the day maybe. . .or the sky. . .or this cookout. It’s calming me.”

Yep. He’s messed up.

I patted his back. “Don’t worry about it. Just sit back, relax, and look at the sky.”

“Are you sure?” Chen turned my way and held his head at this awkwardly low angle so much so that his glasses began to slide to the tip of his nose. “You don’t need me?”

“No. I don’t. Take off.”

“Take. . .off. . .” Chen considered this for a moment and then let out a goofy kind of chuckle that reminded me of him when we were kids. “I guess I could take off right now. It’s a cookout. You don’t need me to deputy.”

“Exactly.”

“Or should I say. . .deputize?”

“I. . .uh. . .I get what you’re saying.”

“Deputization. Is that the verb? You don’t need me to deputize today. No. That can’t be right.”

“Don’t worry about the verb. You should return to the sky poem.”

“I should.” Chen let out another goofy chuckle. “I very much would like to write that poem today.”

“Go ahead.”

"Are you sure?" he asked again and gazed up at the sky.

"Positive."

“Hi, Sky.”

I blinked.

“Hi, Sky.” Chen laughed again. "That rhymes. . .maybe that's how the poem should start. . .Hi, Sky."

His words drifted off and he visibly relaxed even more. His head tilted back, letting his glasses slide off entirely and his gaze locked onto the clear blue expanse above us.

The waitress arrived with his water and food but he paid it no mind, utterly entranced by the sky.

Moni leaned my way. “Is Chen, okay?”

“Apparently, Duck got some gummies from your sister—”

“Oh no. Not Jo. Right?”

“Yes.”

Moni covered her mouth. “Does he know that they’re notjustgummies?”

“No.” I shook my head and whispered, “And don’t tell him. He doesn’t like to be high and when Chen knows he is, he turns intoan asylum patient, racing around the place and freaking out. It’s not a pretty sight.”

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