Leaning against the doorway, Toni crossed his arms over his chest, and Dex pointed to him next. “And in the kitchen: the ladies love him, the men wanna be him. We’ve got Tonalicous, because he makes delicious food and is handsome as fuck.”
Toni grinned and shrugged. “You know, I don’t hate it.”
“My man!” Dex said, and Toni saluted him.
“Tyranosauras Dex.”
Tail wagging harder, Dex clapped his paws. “Alright, alright. The Tonester.”
“The Dex-Ray Machine,” Toni shot back.
“The Dexcavator!” Nan chimed in.
“Nan with the plan, coming in hot.” Dex offered her his paw, and she high-fived him. “Boom!”
Zef frowned at her. “Do not encourage them, Nan.”
“Hey, let the lady cook,” Dex said.
“Sometimes, I really miss Gem,” Rusty said miserably, and Zef nodded.
“Me too, Rusty.” They patted his shoulder briefly in commiseration. “Me too.”
Strolling forward, Toni reached a hand over the counter to shake Nan’s. “It’s nice to meet you, Nan. I’m Toni. Zef and Bryce have told us a lot of good things, I promise.”
“Well,” she said as she primped her pink curls, “aren’t you a tall drink of water.”
Toni quirked his head. “I don’t know what that means, but it sounds like a compliment.”
“It is. You remind me of my husband when he was young. He wasn’t blue, of course, but it’s something about the hair and the… physique. He died over a decade ago.”
“I’m very sorry to hear that. But I can see he was a very lucky man having been able to spend his life with you,” Toni said with a wink, and Nan giggled girlishly.
Dex waggled his tongue offensively as he whisper-shouted, “Tonalicious!”
Before things devolved further, Zef ushered Nan into the kitchen to meet Glyma and Willow. During the rush, Nan sat at a corner table and sipped her coffee, snacking on a muffin. When it calmed down enough for Zef to take their lunch break, they ate with Nan, listening as she gushed about how much she loved the Hell dimension and adored Zef’s friends.
To ensure Nan was there for Bryce’s birthday celebration, they planned a somewhat impromptu party that weekend at a small speakeasy Toni knewabout. “I know the owner,” he had said, and since Toni knew everyone, they believed him.
It was a homey bar with live music and mood lighting. Within minutes of meeting, Nan and Gem were joined at the hip. She showed him pictures of her and Bryce’s grandad when they were first married, the photos wrinkled with age.
“Oh my gods, Nan, you kept it tight, girl,” Gem said, admiring the pictures. “Hottie with a body over here. And Grandad Frank? No lie, I would have hit that.”
“I did hit that,” Nan boasted proudly.
“Nan,” Bryce whined.
“Don’t judge her, Bryce. She is a strong, independent woman, and she has needs,” Gem defended her before rolling several eyes at Nan. “Kids these days, am I right? Also, Grandad Frank kinda looks like Toni. You know, if he was human.”
“I know,” Nan said dreamily, finger-waving at Toni.
Sipping his beer, Toni winked back at her, and she blushed.
“Stop flirting with my grandma, man,” Bryce warned, and the Elas rolled his eyes and pointed significantly at Jude.
“We’re just joking. Obviously nothing’s gonna happen.”
“So if I wasn’t in the picture, something would?” Jude asked.
