“Nothing.Just work stuff,” I lie.
I’m not about to tell her I met a kraken shifter in a magical bar a couple of nights ago.She’d probably have me committed.
“Bullshit.”She takes a sip of her wine.“You love working.You tend to get super excited about your business, sure, but this isn’t about that.This is… I don’t know what this is, but it’s something else.What are you hiding from me?”
I force myself to take a bite of pasta.How do I explain this?How do I tell my completely normal, human best friend that I discovered monsters are real?That I opened a portal and met an ancient sea creature?
“I met someone,” I finally say.
May’s eyes light up immediately.“Iknewit!I knew there was a guy.Oh my god, finally.Tell me everything.Where’d you meet him?What’s he like?Is he hot?”
“It’s complicated.”
She leans forward and arches an eyebrow.“Complicated how?Is he married?Your UPS guy?Oh no, don’t tell me it’s snoring Dale from your apartment complex,” she says, pulling a disgusted face.
I laugh.“Of course not.No, this guy I met is different, that’s all.”
“Different good or different bad?”
I think about Theron’s dark eyes, his possessive words, the way his tentacles wrapped around my legs under the table.The promise in his voice when he said he wantedeverything.Heat floods my core, and I swallow.
“Different good,” I manage.“Very good.”
May squeals, actually squeals, drawing looks from nearby tables.“Oh my god, you’re blushing!Lilith, you never blush.This guy must be something special.When do I get to meet him?”
“It’s too soon for that.We’ve only talked once.”
“Once?And you’re already this distracted?”She grins wickedly.“Must have been one hell of a conversation.Was there kissing?Please tell me there was kissing.”
“No kissing.”Just tentacles teasing my thighs and a promise that next time he wouldn’t hold back.“But there was chemistry.”
“Chemistry is good!So when are you seeing him again?”
That’s the question, isn’t it?When am I finally going back to The Undertow?Tonight?Tomorrow?Ever?
“I don’t know,” I admit.
May’s expression softens.“Hey, you know you can talk to me, right?We’re besties, Lilith.What’s really going on?You seem, I don’t know, overwhelmed?Scared?”
“I’m not scared,” I say, but I know it’s not entirely true.
Iamscared.Terrified, actually.Of what Theron represents.Of what choosing him might mean for me.Of how badly I want something that shouldn’t exist.
“Okay, maybe I am a little scared.This is just really different from anything I’ve experienced before.”
“Different how?Is he into weird stuff?”
I almost laugh.“You could say that.”
May reaches across the table and takes my hand.“I’ve known you for years.I know you’re not vanilla.Hell, your company makes fantasy monster dildos.If you say he’s into weird stuff, it must be next-level weird.I’m not going to judge you, but I do want you to be safe.”
My throat tightens.God, I wish I could tell her.I wish I could explain that everything I’ve ever wanted is real and waiting for me in a bar that exists between worlds.
“I know,” I say.“And I appreciate that.I just need to figure this out on my own.You don’t have to worry about me.”
May studies me for a long moment, then nods.“Okay.But promise me you’ll be careful?And if this guy turns out to be a creep or dangerous or something, you’ll tell me?”
“I promise.”
