He nodded and wanted to ask if they could get together or if he could meet Naylan’s workmates. Talon knew everybody, but he didn’t know anybody who was new. This would be a person he could meet who Talon didn’t know already.
What’s wrong, hailee? I can feel your nervousness.
Well, I want to ask him if we can be friends and do something, but I don’t know how.
Why don’t you try? “Hey, would you like to go to the arcade?”
There’s an arcade?
Yes, down inside the mountain. It’s a good place. There’s one for the children and there’s one for grown-ups with all sorts of games. It’s very casual, just like a community room. But with beer and nachos.
Okay.“Nayel, I don’t suppose that at some point you’d like to go down to the arcade? I’ve never been.”
Nayel’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I’d love to. I’d love to just explore if you feel up to it.”
“Yes? I’d like that too.”
Did I do all right?
You did fine, hailee, just fine.
Oh good. I didn’t know whether I was doing it right or not.
You’re doing amazing, my love.
Nayel was chattering away, talking about how he would love to go play games. He liked games because he was an IT guy, and they were fascinating to play for him because he knew how they were written, and it was really funny. He was so cute.
Cute and it felt amazing. He hadn’t had a friend in so long he didn’t even know the name of the last one he’d made, but he did remember the name of the one he was making now.
Talon stole a bite of his French toast, and he swatted his braaken’s hand. “Be nice.”
I am being very nice, hailee.
Mercury leaned into Talon’s side. “Are you busy tomorrow after work? We could go then.”
“Sounds great. Can I get your number?”
He awkwardly pulled out the phone that Talon had given him. “Sure. Uh… I’m not sure what to do.”
“Here, let me show you.” Nayel grabbed his phone and helped him open it from the front screen, Using his face. Then, he helped him find contacts and add Nayel’s number.
“There you go. Anytime you want to text me or call me, you just go there and find my name. Try it now. Why don’t you text me? Then I’ll have your number on my phone, and I can make you into a contact too.”
He chewed on his lower lip, nodding. He didn’t want to seem like an idiot, so he was going to try it. He managed it with justa little bit of shaking because technology was not something he had ever dealt with in his keep.
Nayel didn’t seem to be impatient with them, and neither did Talon, so he did it.
“There you go.” Nayel showed Mercury his phone, a number popping up, his name right there. “Now I can call you when I get off work tomorrow, I’ll text, and we can meet. Go play some games. Cool?”
“Yeah, yes, it’s absolutely cool.” He remembered he’d been the one who invited Nayel to sit. Nayel had been the one who had seemed scared, so he must be fine.
He wanted more food, so they got another order, and he shoveled it in when it came, the cinnamon and icing perfect.
Talon was grinning at him, letting him know that it was okay to just sit and eat. He loved his braaken for that. Talon never made him feel awkward or strange.
He was so happy that the food settled in his belly too because he wasn’t used to having things simply not sit right. Of course, he’d only been pregnant for one day. At least, that he knew of. So, he wasn’t supposed to be used to it yet.
“Your braaken seems very nice,” Nayel said. “Where did you meet him?”
