“OhmygoshRaya, he is so perfect,” Reverie gushes, her hands clasped in front of her and a dreamy look in her eyes. “Please tell me everything! Is he a good kisser? What’s he like in bed?”
Shaking my head with a happy laugh, I sidestep the winged menace in search of Zuri.
“Can you at least tell me how many abs he has?” Reverie yells after me and I snort.
“A lot!” I call over my shoulder, then flop down on the couch next to Zuri while Rev flies into the kitchen, likely in search of a sugary treat.
“So,” I say, glancing at her from the corner of my eye.
Zuri sighs, and I wring my hands together.
“Okay, fine!” Zuri throws her hands in the air with a huff. “You’re right. He seems great.”
I grin.
“He doesn’t seem great, he is great,” I reply, and Zuri rolls her eyes.
“We’ll see, but he gets a pass for today.”
Zuri nudges her shoulder into mine, and I lean into her. Shifters are tactile creatures, and Zuri has gotten used to me constantly wanting to snuggle. She angles herself on the couch, and I cozy up next to her, snagging a blanket and tucking my feet up under it too.
“He let me win, didn’t he?” Zuri says.
“He didn’t, actually," I laugh. “I asked him the same thing.”
Zuri snags a pillow and smacks me in the chest with it.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, traitor!”
I giggle and hug the fluffy pillow to my chest, sighing in contentment when Zuri tilts her head and rests it on top of mine for a moment. Before long, Reverie zooms in to join us, arranging the blanket folds to her liking and curling up in my lap as Zuri puts on an episode of Gilmore Girls. I hadn’t been lying about wanting to get some chores done, but this is important too, and I’m too content to move.
Cheeks aching from smiling so much, I tuck the pillow up under my chin and hum a happy sigh. Everything in my life is turning out perfectly.
Unfortunately, my bliss doesn’t last.
30
BIG NOPE
RAYA
All anyone can talkabout at work the following week is the annual company party this weekend. I’m wracked with nerves at what sounds to be an opulent event on a scale that I’ve never experienced.
“Do you have pictures from any of the previous events?” I ask Alex during lunch a couple days before it.
“Hmm, probably somewhere. It’s different every year though, you’ll love it,” they reply, not catching on to my nerves.
“I heard it’s always fancy though, right?”
“Oh yeah, definitely a ‘dress your best’ type of event. You can’t be too dressed up for this one, that’s for sure,” Alex says, finally looking up and seeing my distress. “Girl chill, you’ll be fine! Just wear a nice dress and some heels, no biggie.”
I wish I could have that attitude, but it feels like a big deal to me. I really like it here, and I want to do everything I can to ensure this job sticks. I’ve made awesome workplace friends, I enjoy my team and projects. I want nothing more than to make a good impression on all the higher ups.
“Did you hear the news?” Alex lowers their voice and leans over.
“What news?”
“I mean, no one knows for sure,” they say, glancing around. “Supposedly, it’s a pretty big deal though, there are whispers of a huge announcement. Like, really big, but the thing is that no one has any idea what it might be.”
