“You took him to Waaseyaa.”
“How do you know? Sammy!”
“My beloved mate had breakfast with Jon this morning, yes.”
“We were going on an excursion to a hell dimension—you know, the one that’s in transit at the moment?—for the game we’re developing. It was a business trip and I wanted us to have a good meal before we started working.”
Dre lifted a brow.
“Waaseyaa’s pancakes are the best.”
“That’s not the topic here, Barion.”
“Then what is?”
“Don’t act dumber than you are.”
“Fine. Jon and I are more than friends…probably. I think so. I really like him and being with him is as easy as breathing. Satisfied?”
“Not yet.” Dre sat down on one of the chairs standing around. “What are your intentions?”
“Huh? What are you? Jon’s chaperone?”
“Would you rather have this talk with Sammy? Or Mavis and Maribel?”
Barion gulped. “I see your point. I’m not sure what my intentions are. We’re having fun. Everything’s going great. I don’t want to rock the boat too much.”
“But you like him?”
“A lot.” Barion’s shoulders slumped. “But I’m also still looking for my mate.”
“And Jon can’t be it, because?”
“No scent. I know that’s not a guarantee with demons, but as you well know, Jon has no scent at all. I’m not even sure if zombies do get mates. I’m certainly not asking him.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to hurt him!”
Dre started tipping his chin with one of his claws, no doubt trying to look dignified or some shit when in truth he was just being ridiculous.
“What exactly keeps you from getting more serious with Jon?”
“First of all, who said it’s serious at all?”
Dre just lifted one brow, stopping with the annoying chin-tapping to do so. A multi-tasker his brother was not. Barion hissed.
“Fine, it’s more serious than I thought it could get.”
“Good insight. Now, what keeps you from exploring it further?”
Barion’s shoulders slumped. “As I said, I’m still looking for my mate. I could find him tomorrow.”
“Or in a hundred years…while Jon is here now. Talk to him, be honest, see what he thinks.”
“And if he thinks I’m crazy?” Barion couldn’t bear even thinking about being rejected by Jon.
Dre shrugged. “Then you won’t be talking to each other for at least a week, after which you will start resuming your friendship in a horribly awkward way that will have everybody watching you cringe in vicarious embarrassment then things will slowly get back to normal. Easy-peasy.”
