Page 17 of Emerald Moon
“Just don’t snore.”
“No promises.”
By the time they woke up again, Jo had no idea if they had snored or not, but they did notice that Harry was gone, the TV was off, and dinner was on the way judging by the scents of garlic and herbs wafting over from the kitchen.
They had a light blanket on top of them that wasn’t there before.Jo smiled and snuggled down into it.
“Have a good rest?”
Jo craned their neck to see Edgar in his usual armchair reading a book.His neat, salt-and-pepper hair framed his features.
“When did you get here?”Jo asked.
“About five minutes before Harry got up and put that blanket on top of you.”
“What a softie.”
“Tries to hide it, but we all know better.”Edgar winked.
“Book any good?”
Edgar signed contentedly.“It’s rivals to lovers and they’re stuck in a cabin during a snowstorm.So, yes, it’s very good.”
“A very fine flavor, indeed.”
“I know, I have excellent taste.”
“Speaking of which —“ Jo swung their legs around and planted their feet on the hardwood floor.“Care to join me for dinner?I’m hearing the sound of plates.”
Edgar slipped a bookmark in between the pages and closed his book.“Plus, Wilma and Benny are cooking tonight, so you know it’ll be good.”
They both got up and walked to the kitchen where Wil and Benny were first in line — chefs always were — followed by Harry and Diah.Jo and Edgar were the last two to join the line.Jo wasn’t sure who else was home.They knew Carina was out with her teaching friends, Billie and Olive were working at the bakery, Emmaline was at home with her husband, Ernest, and Lock was at a night class at the university.They hadn’t seen either Alpha Parisa or Beta Seraphine in a while.Hopefully the two of them were out enjoying the night together.
As they sat around the table, plates piled high with pasta, Jo longed for the nights when they all managed to get together.The smaller group was nice for conversations and elbow room, but it left something to be desired.
They kept trying to join in the conversation while they ate, but, more than once, they caught themselves drifting off and yawning.
“Who wants to go out for drinks after dinner?”Harry asked the group.
“Go out where the people are?Or stay in and make drinks?”Diah added in that tiny voice of hers.“I vote for staying in.I already put on pajama pants and you can’t change out of those once you put them on.That’s the rule.”
“I’m staying in, too.I have essays to grade,” Edgar said with a sigh.
“Then why were you reading earlier?”Jo asked, chuckling.
“Procrastination knows no age limits, especially when the book is getting good.”
“I’ll go!”Benny raised an eager hand.
“I’m staying in,” Jo said.“I’m too tired and I agree with Diah’s pajama pants rule.”
“Boring.Y’all are boring.Except for Benny,” Harry said.“Wil?”
She shook her head.“You know I hardly ever go out.”
“Can’t blame me for trying.Maybe Lock will want to meet up with us after his class.”He got out his phone and started texting.
“Boys night out, then!”Benny added, bouncing with his typical bubbly energy.
