Page 21 of Batty About You
“The correct term is ‘romantasy.’”
“Ahem, who is the guy who sent you the entire Wylding series? All those ‘In the Court of the Shifter King’ books?”
“You are. Because you’re the best boyfriend ever.”
“Which is only fair because you are the best girlfriend ever,” I sigh.
“Do you two need a room for the night? Lennox still has the key to the old caretaker’s cottage...” Cindy asks, dancing past me with her giant, fluffy mothman husband.
“Ignore Cindy. She’s like lust on legs,” Kelly says when I let out a startled splutter.
“It’s a good thing. Makes a happy marriage, just sayin’,” Cindy purrs, winks, and waltzes Lennox away.
The music changes to something more upbeat, and I’m glad. I don’t want to think about lust. I want to think about long, slow love. Happy years together. Taking our first trip to the beach together instead of just sending each other postcards and photos of the sunsets over the waves. Our kids—and how they’d better get her eyebrows. Going to the symphony together on our anniversary...
“You’re a million miles away,” Kelly whispers.
“Funny. You were still with me. Wherever I am, I take you with me,” I whisper back, sneaking another kiss.
Kelly lets out a soft, desperate noise when it ends.
“You okay?”
She licks her lips. “I don’t want to rush.”
“We won’t!”
“But I kinda want to go home. It’s almost midnight now. The catering crew is starting to pack up cake slices to go.”
“Oh. Okay. Kell... I don’t turn back at midnight. It’s at sunrise. Just so you understand.”
Her eyes are suddenly so much darker and wider. I’m falling, floating, and loving the soft landing I have when her hand gently strokes down my chest, fingers digging into thick, soft fur. “I know, Bogdan. I still want to go home. Unless—”
I tug her towards the cake table. “Cake, car, and home. Got it.”
With a happy tinkle of laughter, she races after me. “You’re sure you don’t mind leaving now? We could wait a little?”
“I’ve been waiting for seven years. Not to—”
“No, I know.”
We’re silent for a moment as we take our cake and thank our host and hostess—one who is clearly a ghost, because her feet don’t touch the floor and her fingertips feel like warm gelatin when she puts a box in my hand. We exit through the terrace and start to find our way to my car when Kelly speaks.
“I know what you mean. Seven years to find the person who makes everything feel like home. Like the other half of your heart is back in place. Like that?”
“Yes! And I’d be happy just to sit and talk to you all night. No matter how much we talk, we always seem to have something to say. I feel like we could talk forever.” I get to my car and slip my hand under the wheel well to retrieve my car key. The others are in my coffee cup holder, hidden under a stack of clean napkins.
“I was wondering how come you didn’t have your phone on you at first. I guess you can’t carry all your stuff when you’re in bitty bat form?”
“Nope. The only thing that works are these pants—they’re made of bat leather—don’t ask. My grandma sent them from Romania.”
“I like them.” Kelly slides into the car when I open her door, and she runs her fingers lightly over my leg. “Wow. So soft.”
I unfold my arm and slide it behind her. “Sorry. Gotta drive like this when I’ve got my wings.”
“Want me to drive and you fly?” Kelly asks, but she’s already snuggling into my arm.
“Not when I have you with me.” I smile and start the car, my eyes darting nervously to the glove compartment. There’s no reason for her to open it—not until I ask.
