Page 131 of Falling in Love with A Tiny Bat

He cups my cheek, letting my uncalled-for tears soak into his glove. “I know.”

“And that’s why you’re sonice. YouknowI’m a mess inside. The thing is, I don’t think I could be so considerate even if I knew. You’re just a genuinely good person, aren’t you?”

“Without any insight into what I might be feeling, you just came around on your own…so I’m inclined to believe that access to the perception I possess would turn you into a literal saint.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’d diagnose everyone I come across. I’d keep business cards for therapists I don’t even know in my back pocket and pass them out like literature.”

Alexios lets an amused, patronizing smile soften his lips. “The most unbelievable part about that ramble is an idea that you wouldn’t personally know someone.”

“Watch it, closet extrovert. I know your dark, socialization secrets.” My eyes narrow into judgy slits. “You make friends witheveryone, even evil princes.”

He chuckles, dryly, leaning much too close for my heart to maintain a comfortable rhythm. “Oh, snowflake. Is this not an appropriate time to saypot, meet kettle?”

Before I can hope to respond, Pollux reappears on the other side of my room with latex gloves and some other equipment, looks between us, and arches a brow.

Assuming his expression translates todo you both need a moment, I separate myself from Alexios with an expression that, hopefully, respondsabsolutely not.

Chapter 34

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Baby’s first birthday.

It was bacterial. After two days, Pollux concocted an antibiotic, so after five, I was no longer restless, waking to the tiniest sound, occasionally neglecting going to bed altogether in favor of staying up and holding Ash instead.

Settling more of my nerves, I asked Pollux to run a test on the formula Castor gives me. He was able to confirm that, yes, itisa mixture that includes toxic elements, but, no, it isn’t anything different than what ent babies are supposed to eat.

That means there are only two things left on the stress-genda.

First, Dani.

Second, Alexios.

Specifically, my feelings for Alexios and Alexios’s surprise birthday party, which I am helping set up at Willow’s house right now.

“Wow,” I murmur, as I arrange bowls of cashews on the kitchen island. “I have never seen so many figs before in my life.”

Beside me, Pila laughs, holding a hand to Terra’s head while the sweet little bean nods off in her grass wrap against the dryad woman’s chest. “Only the best for Xios.”

My gaze drifts to the black-and-white, specially-made-by-Ollie-and-decorated-with-frosting-mushrooms smash cake, and I echo, “Right. Only the best.”

Does Alexios like cake?

No.

Does that make asmashcake covered in frosting mushrooms an even better idea?

Absolutely.

The lovely, large1scrawled across the top amid the shroom decorations makes the corner of my mouth tip into a smirk.

This on top of the Mario HP mushroom pinata outside, I think, makes me a genius.

It’s both funny and allows Alexios to obliterate two things he hates.

Best soulmate ever, I am.

When Willow walks into the kitchen, matching the black-and-white décor in her bleached petticoats, I turn. Arms crossed, her attention trails over black balloons and streamers marring the robin-egg blues of her kitchen. “Morning, everyone.”

---