Page 7 of Falling in Love with A Tiny Bat

She waits a moment, searches between my eyes, says, “Is that…the end of the story?”

“Yup. He said he wantedeverythingfrom me in exchange for making this possible. I’m also not sure how I feel about him using a baby to manipulate me. It’s like he knows me too well. I understand he lives with Kass, Pollux, and Meda, and I know Kass knows how badly I’ve wanted to adopt, but I also know she doesn’t blabber on about that stuff. I can recognize a power imbalance when I see it. Andit kills meto not jump on the opportunity to help if there is any way I can make sure this baby isn’t being abused…but it won’t do that child any good if I put us both in a vulnerable position.”

Alana’s gaze skids off me, dumbfounded and vacant.

“Zahra!” Jaxson reappears at our table with our drinks, tosses his long ponytail back, and frees a breath. “Girl, I’m so sorry these are late. There’s just—” His eyes roll as he places a perfectly manicured hand on the table and gives me alook. “I know I don’t have to get into it. Lord help me. My coworker about to—” He swears. “—around and find out. You get me?”

I lean back, garbing myself in a less serious façade. “Dude, don’t even worry about it. Just ask yourself if they’re jealous of your nails before you let them get all up in your peace. Are those tinypeaches?”

He gasps and sets his hand to his chest. “Yes. You noticed.” He clicks his tongue. “But of course you did. My Zahra never fails me.”

I grin. “Who did them, slash where am I going to get minedone while I’m on spring break?”

“Honey. You flatter me.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Okay, well. How much do you charge, and do you want me to meet you somewhere or would you prefer to stop by my place?”

He throws his head back and laughs. “Girl, you are a delight. This is exactly what I needed. Just you wait and see if I can’t get these late drinks on the house.”

“Bro. You do that, and they’re going in your tip.”

He scoffs. “As if I needed more incentive.” Glancing between Alana and me, he beams. “So are we ready to order? I’d be surprised if you weren’t, what with how long it took my lazy—” He swears. “—to get back over here.”

Alana presses her lips together, glances at the menus we haven’t touched, and opens her mouth.

No words come out, so I say, “I think you’re gonna have to be surprised, but you know what? Start us off with your favorite appetizer, and we’ll try to figure out what we want by the time you get back again.”

He winks. “You got it.”

Once Jaxson leaves, I turn my attention back to Alana.

She has clasped her hands together against her lips, and she’s staring at me like I’m an alien.

“What?” I ask.

“You people so well. How do you people so well? Are you magic?” Her eyes narrow. “Well, yes. Yes, you are magic. Butstill. Fascinating.” Shaking her head, she plants her palms flat on the table, leans over her menu, and says, “Zahra, are you telling me my tiny baby emo not-sondidn’ttell you the very important, very substantial, very wonderful, andveryvitaldetail he told me?”

“I’m going to assume that he did not…?” I match her energy and lean forward. “What’s going on?”

Immovable, she watches me, hardly bothering to blink. “I don’t know if telling you would break his trust.”

Oh noo. So sad.

I plant my elbow on the table and my cheek against my fist. “Shatter it.”

“I can’t be blamed if Idon’ttell you, but you manage to figure it out, right?”

“Absolutely flawless logic, Your Majesty. Clue a sister in.”

Alana takes a deep breath, nods, and says, “Zahra. You know a decent amount about the fae by now, right? Meda’s informed you pretty well about stuff and things at school?”

“I hope so. The mango babystuff and thingswas new.”

“Trust me, I face new stuff and things every single day, but there is somestuffthat’s fairly standard.” She lifts a hand, emphasizing. “You know. Thethingsthat would need to be presented clearly in every installment of a stand-alone book series, just as an example. Thefoundationalstuff and things. Do you think you’re pretty familiar withthat?”

---