Page 28 of A Subtle Scar
I exhaled slowly through my nose. “Of course not. Well, I suppose that is acceptable. But I’d still like to put all that in writing.”
Hermes rolled his eyes. “Fine. I’ll go ask for extra napkins.”
While he did that, I tried another one of those squishy balls like fish eggs at the bottom of my glass. No, I definitely didn’t see the appeal in this…bubble tea.
Chapter Eight
WhywasIbeingpursued by gods? I mulled that over while I prepped my veg for the oven roasting and waited for the potatoes for the potato and leek quiche to be done precooking.
I honestly couldn’t wrap my head around it. I had not given them the slightest indication of being available. I’d chatted with one of them for a handful of minutes. Now they were here.
Once I was done with all the slicing and dicing and I had the oven doing the rest, I went to put everything in the dishwasher and wiped down the surfaces, and right after that, I caved and called Lionel.
While it rang, I walked over to my office and sat, woke the computer from sleep. Was I crossing a professional boundary here? But no, Lionel was the only person I knew who had experience with this, and I didn’t have the time to deal with two immortals, one of which wanted to show me his cock, the other who wanted to talk. Needy indeed.
“Hey, Chandler.” I heard neighing in the background. “And Toffee says hi, I guess.”
“Toffee?”
“Pegasus Toffee. It’s his name. Right, Uhm. Hold on.”
I heard Lionel walk somewhere, and the background noise changed as if he’d gone into a closed room.
“You still there?” I asked.
“Huh? Oh. Yup, yes. He was just coming at me like that.”
“What? Are you okay?” I asked.
Lionel cleared his throat. “Oh, yeah. Yes. I mean. Lucy. Was walking toward me really fast. As if he…wanted to pull me into a conversation.”
Lionel could be very high strung when Lucy made it so. I was pretty sure I’d called them in the middle of fucking once before, but it had been work related, and I hadn’t wanted to embarrass Lionel further, so of course I hadn’t mentioned it. And I didn’t want to do that now either.
“I see. I apologize for interrupting, but I did have a visit from two immortals not all that long ago.”
“Right. Hermes and Charrie found you.”
“Charrie, like that pig’s blood at the prom horror movie?”
“Short for Charon, you know. It’s what the Dragon Mother calls him. Anyway, not important. Are they still there?”
I snorted. “I didn’t let them in.”
“Huh. How’d you manage that?” There was actual admiration in his voice. And mild interest.
“I told them they were arguing too loudly in my hallway, and that I wanted them to leave. Hopefully they’re having angry sex now.” I really could see that for them. And the best thing about that was they didn’t need a third person to add to their issues that way.
“Well. They might be back, you know. Oh, and if any one of them offers you a deal, be sure to specify a prompt delivery of their part in it.”
This was once more pulling me far too deeply into the Lionel and Lucy relationship. It was removing our relationship further from the collegial, and I wasn’t sure that was for the best. Although I undoubtedly got along well with Lucy, and Lionel…well, he was a few years younger than me. I had the feeling we approached our work in a very similar way. Sometimes he reminded me—but no. He didn’t remind me of anyone. He was a close work friend, a work relationship I cherished. Nothing more.
“I was not planning on negotiating any deals, but I was wondering why they were here. There is no reason for them to be. And frankly, I’m not sure I have the time to deal with them.”
On the other end, I heard a loud noise, as if someone were banging against a door, and there was also some growling.
“Lionel? Are you okay?”
I heard him gasp. “I—fine. I’m fine. But that’s, you know, horses. And the barn, the wood creaking. Yes, it’s…the wood.”
