What the hell is wrong with me?
She’s a human.
Humans are destined to die so young. We can’t be together.
We can’t.
And besides.
I hate humans.
They’re selfish and shortsighted and I should know better than to think she’s any different.
* * *
“I’ve got bad news,” my human says with a sigh, holding out her phone as she steps out of the bathroom, fully dressed—much to my dismay—and with her hair wrapped in a towel. “Even though it’s my birthday, I just got asked to come into work.”
“Then say you can’t go.”
That seems like the obvious answer to me.
She frowns, glancing down at her phone. “I would, but I kinda need the hours, if I’m honest. It’s just a short shift—only a half day, anyway. So I kinda already said I’d take it.”
I’d hoped we could do something more fun for her birthday, like maybe cash in on our superyacht night. There’s so many things I’d love to do to her on that yacht.
But it looks like instead we’ll be enduring the drudgery of modern humanity.
“I don’t know if I can leave you alone here,” she says with a soft frown, glancing at her wrist, then mine. The cuff on her arm glows softly golden. “I’m not sure how far I can go.”
“Don’t worry, human,” I say, grabbing the nearly invisible thread of magic and giving it a tug. Reeling it in. “You can just take me with you.”
She yelps in surprise as the golden thread twangs at her wrist, sending her tumbling into my arms.
“Hey!” she protests, glaring up at me as I steady her back on her feet. “No fair! I didn’t know you could do that.”
“Me either.” I grin. “Guess it pays to try.”
27
Bring Your Hot Book Boyfriend to Work Day
You
“Okay, now what do you say if someone asks who you are?”
“That I’m your boyfriend,” Ziros says, slinging an arm around your shoulders where you stand in front of the cafe. “Obviously.”
You blush, despite how many times you’ve been over this.
Something about hearing him say that gets you every time. Even if you know he’s only acting.
“And why are you at work with me today?”
“Because it’s your birthday and we already made plans, so I’m just here keeping you company.”
“Good.” You nod approvingly, glad Ziros has his answers memorized.
Of course, you’re not sure what you’ll tell your coworkers if he has to keep tagging along on future shifts, but at least this first one should be fine.
