I hope it’s just another instance of “curiosity about the human,” and not something I actually need to worry about.
As soon as he’s out of sight, I breathe a little easier.
When I get to the cafe, they’re already waiting for me.
“Hey! Am I late?”
“You’re not. We’re early.” Peach glances at the red circles and lines on the wall further down the corridor. “I’m still trying to figure out how to read the clocks.”
“I can’t help with that.” I hold up my hand and show her my wrist. “I had Phantom adjust the mechanism in this, so it keeps me mostly on track.”
“I’ll have to ask them to get me a watch too.”
I sit down, glancing at Feather’s bodyguard and then turning back to them, ignoring him the way I’ve been asked to.
Feather hands me a menu and says, “We ordered smoothies and I got you one, too. My treat.”
As if she saw them hand me the menu, the waitress arrives with the smoothies and asks if we’re ready. I tell them to go first and I’ll be ready by the time they do.
When it’s my turn, I get the Korvion jelly that Cherry turned me on to a few weeks ago.
“I should probably start eating at home more often,” I say, thinking about what Ferrok and Mooralan said about their habits. “Otherwise, why am I renting a place with a full kitchen?”
“Ooo. Dinner party?” Peach asks, taking a long sip of her smoothie. “I am trying to organize at least one girl’s night each time Lochdon’s away. And I am willing to be the one who cooks if you host.”
“Deal.” I poke her in the ribs. “Is that why you invited us to brunch? Your alien lover’s away, so we get to play?”
“He did leave yesterday, but that’s not why. I happen tolikeyou. And booth slots can only fill so much time.”
Feather chuckles. “Must be nice to have a partner who encourages you to keep working while he’s gone.”
“It is.”
“Look at that smile. She’s in love.” I tease her and Feather says, “Oooooo.”
But Peach points at me with a puckered smile like she’s trying not to laugh. “You have no room to tease me. You’ve gottwoalien boyfriends.”
“You do?” Feather asks, turning to me with wide-eyed expectation.
“She does.” Peach chuckles and sips.
“Correction,” I hold up one finger. “They are friends that I fuck who… I’d be open to more with, if they want it.”
“Close enough.” Peach looks at me with a smile and narrowed eyes. “When are you seeing them next?”
I bite my tongue. This is not going to prove her wrong. “We’re having dinner tonight.”
“That,” she tips her smoothie at me, “is a date.”
The waitress arrives, saving me from having to admit that… yeah, it is a date. Maybe I do have two alien boyfriends.
While we eat, Peach grills Feather on her home in Northern California and if she feels safe living alone and in the middle of nowhere.
“What about bears?” I ask and she kind of laughs.
“They’re fine. I have spray and a horn and other precautions. They don’t really bother me.”
I manage to keep myself from looking at Kicker. She doesn’t need a bodyguard for bears.
