Selene’s head whipped over.
“Hell, yes,” she said, jerking as a book whacked the back of her head. “I don’t even care if you’re dragging me to something nauseating. Like a rom-com.”
“We’re going to eat a ton of food on my mother’s dime.”
“It’s not all going to be seafood, is it?”
“I think we get to pick from a list of proteins.”
“Perfect,” she said, grabbing her bag. “Have fun throwing things around,” she called to her ghost before moving outside. With a wave of her hand, the door locked and theOPENsign turned.
“What got into her this time?”
“I have no idea. She’s more temperamental than my cat.”
“We can bring Arden back here after the tasting.”
“Ugh. Arden’s coming?”
“He is the wedding planner. Besides, I think you like him more than you’re willing to admit.”
“He’s obnoxious.”
“He’s enthusiastic,” Iris countered. “And charming.”
“What you call ‘charm,’ I call a cry for attention in a tailored suit.”
“Oh, come on. He saved you from vampire glamour,” Iris reminded her.
“I would have snapped out on my own. I think. Eventually. Probably.”
“You’re just salty because he found out you like love stories.”
“They’re notlovestories. They’re about … tactical alliances. With emotional side quests.”
“Have I mentioned lately how much I appreciate having you as a friend?” Iris asked.
“Okay. What happened?” Selene asked, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk.
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, first, the impromptu friendship appreciation declaration. But even without that, the emotional turmoil is popping off of you like sparklers.”
“What are sparklers?”
“I forget how green you are sometimes. They’re a lot like this,” she said. Selene rubbed her fingers together until they sparked and sizzled. “But they’re on a stick. Kids usually run around with them. But the little dragon shifters like to bite the tops off, the little stinkers.
“Anyway. That’s what your energy is like right now. Add in our little food-tasting adventure, and I’m left thinking something happened with Finn.”
Even just the mention of his name had her emotions bursting through her system.
“Wow. Those are some whiplash-inducing feelings,” Selene said, taking a step back.
“You can feel them?”
“Sorry. I know; it’s invasive. It’s not all the time. It comes and goes with the moon cycle. And, you know, my cycle. I can go back and grab a charm to dull it—”
“No. No, it’s fine. You’re right. I’m all over the place.”
