Their chat turned more general, and Sasha listened carefully as Rachel mentioned the various things that were happening in the area. Apart from birthday parties and school events, there was an upcoming agricultural day and a concert plus a garden party. Sasha stored the information and ignored her dragon, who was asking enthusiastic questions. They needed to save their curiosity for Justine since the lady in the computer seemed knowledgeable regarding everything.
With the coffee and cake finished, Rachel stood. “I guess it’s time to get back home. I have laundry and a million other jobs I’ve been putting off. What about you?”
“I’m cleaning a room each day. I expect Noel will want to go to the beach. We end up going most days. We both enjoy the walk there and the sea air.”
“Have you seen the dragons everyone is talking about?”
“What dragons?” Sasha asked.
“Dragons?”her dragon asked.“We have seen none.”
“A group of teenagers saw one the other night. Secretly, I suspect they were doing drugs, but who knows? It’s all over the district, and each night people are hanging out in the beach car park to look for dragons.”
“I see,” Sasha said. “Is it safe to go to the beach?”
Rachel snorted. “The day I see a dragon flying through the sky is the day I cut back on drinking.”
“I’m tempted to help Rachel to reduce her drinking,”her dragon said immediately.“Where does she live?”
Sasha barely contained her hilarity because she’d experienced the same yearning to scare this opinionated woman. She pushed her coffee cup away and rose. “It’s time for Noel and me to move. I need to put on the chicken for dinner.”
Five minutes later, they were on their way home.
“Why do we walk?” Noel asked.
“Two reasons,” Sasha said. “I can’t operate a metal box, and exercise is necessary to build our muscles.”
“Car or vehicle,”her dragon corrected.
“Car, right,” Sasha said aloud. “I can’t drive a car.”
“Me neither,” Noel said.
They turned into the driveway to find a car parked in front of the house. Sasha inhaled, and her pulse raced faster at the familiar scent.
“Max is home,” she said.
Sasha opened the front door for Noel.
“Max. Max!” Noel shouted.
“In here, champ,” Max called.
Sasha sucked in a quick breath as eager to see Max as Noel. They’d spoken each night after Noel had gone to sleep, and she liked him a lot.
“Enough to practice more kissing?”her dragon asked.
Heat surged to Sasha’s cheeks, but she didn’t hesitate in her answer.“Yes.”
When she entered the kitchen, Noel was talking so fast Sasha had problems keeping up. Max grinned and winked at her.
“Wow, you’ve been having lots of fun. How would you and Sasha like to go out for dinner tonight?” Max glanced at her as he asked.
“I’ve taken out a chicken to roast, but I can cook that tomorrow night.” Sasha bounced on her toes, keen anticipation at the treat filling her chest with lightness.
“From what Noel tells me, you’ve been cooking a lot. He says your chocolate chip cookies are delicious. He’ll be getting a fat tummy.”
“I don’t have a fat tummy.”Noel lifted his T-shirt to peer at his stomach, his tongue sticking out as he stared at his belly.
