“Skyler Dillinger. Are you alright?”
Razorjaw holds me with ease as I catch my breath. “Mr. Shaughnessy! You scared me.”
“I did not mean to.” He puts me down, and I dust off my shirt.
“It’s fine.”
“Sky!” Karlo approaches. “I saw you fall. Are you okay?”
I laugh. “I’m good, thanks to your man here.” I tap Razorjaw’s shoulder and the monster smiles at me.
Karlo frowns. “Babe, you shouldn’t sneak up on people on ladders.”
“I apologize.” Razorjaw shifts into his human form. “I did not mean to startle you, Skyler.”
“It’s okay, babe.” Karlo takes Razorjaw’s hand and squeezes it. “You saved him. No harm done.”
My heart warms seeing my two friends be so couple-y. The usual jealousy in my soul is gone, though. Instead, I see visions of…
“Reed Sung,” RJ says, and I turn around. Sure enough, my boyfriend?squeal!?is walking through the front doors. He looks sexy as ever in his dark suit with an orange tie. He shoots me a knowing grin, and I’ll never get over seeing him walk through the doors of my job.
“Hey, you!” I say, straightening my back.
“Is it Christmas already?” Reed asks with a coy grin.
“No. I was informed Christmas is on December twenty-fifth, not today,” Razorjaw says.
We all chuckle and Reed turns to them. “Hi, Razorjaw. Karlo.”
“Hey, Reed,” Karlo says as my friends shake hands with him. “You here to see some sea turtles?”
“No. I was actually hoping to have lunch with my boyfriend.” Hearing him say the B-word sends a wave of contentment through my body. “Would you two like to join?” he asks.
“Sure,” Karlo says.
The four of us walk towards the café. “This is such a pleasant surprise,” I say, bumping my hip into his.
“I have to eat lunch, figured you do too.”
“But it’s sweet of you to come all the way here.”
“Were you at work?” Karlo asks.
“Yes, but I have some time for a break.”
“The hospital is all the way across town,” I remark as we stand in line for food.
He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Driving isn’t a burden. I wanted to see you.”
Swoon! “Aw,” Karlo says. “You’re a charmer, Mr. Sung.”
“I thought he was a kraken,” RJ says.
We laugh and chat before we order food and find a table. It feels utterly domestic to be on this impromptu double date. As we eat, Reed seems genuinely interested in Karlo’s most recent projects. The man fits in so well with my friends. I can see myself growing really serious with him.
But that would require him to meet my family and visit my apartment. They’re so overbearing, and my place is so shabby, I don’t wanna scare the dude away. I wonder if I can marry him without either of those happening…?
“Any plans for Thanksgiving?” Reed asks Karlo, pulling me out of my daydreams.
