He nodded and leaned against the support column. “Did I ever tell you I’m proud of you?”
Surprised, a grin crept across her face. “I don’t know, but it feels good to hear it.”
“I’ll need to get back down here before sunrise. Does your boyfriend know where I sleep during the day?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Does he know what I am?”
“No. And I’d have no idea how to tell him…” She shrugged.
“Good. Please keep it that way.”
“I will.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
“All right, then. Shall we go?” He gestured toward the cellar door.
She hugged him without even thinking about it. He held her awkwardly at first, then embraced her in earnest and patted her back.
Just as she suspected… He was freezing cold.
“You’ll be nice to Jason, won’t you? He’s very important to me.”
Sly rolled his eyes. “I suppose I’ll have to be.”
She shot him a warning look.
Sly had never seen the penthouse and looked forward to checking out the celebrity’s digs. Since he and Merry stopped at her apartment to pack some clothes for Lila, the reporter was good and inebriated by the time they finally arrived. He barely had a chance to glance across the marble floor and high ceilings before she staggered over to him.
“Ish thish my babyshitter?”
She reeked of rum. Being sensitive to odors anyway, the smell overwhelmed him and he held her at arm’s length.
“Hey, I know you. You’re the neighbor.” She swayed slightly as she pointed to him. “You told me a fib. You shed Merry’s name was Allishon.”
“Sit down and be quiet,” Sly said. “You’re already getting on my nerves.”
“You’re a shitty babyshitter.” Then she laughed.
Jason strolled over to him and offered his hand. Sly didn’t dare shake it or he’d discover how cold he was. But at the same time, he didn’t dare not to. He promised Merry he’d “be nice” to him and she was watching closely.
At last, he took the proffered hand and shook it, apologizing at the same time. “Sorry about my cold hands. I was outside.”
Jason snatched his hand back. “Jeez, it must be freezing out there. What were you doing outside?”
He shrugged. “Just appreciating the stars. The sky is clearer on crisp evenings. I’m something of an amateur astronomer.”
Jason frowned and nodded like he was thinking,Ooookaaaay…“I have a nice view of the sky from my balcony, but I wouldn’t stay out there tonight. I think the weather predictions are for snow.”
“Oh, good,” Lila interjected. “I hate shnow. Shuddenly being inshide for a month doesn’t shound sho bad.”
“I’m actually glad to meet you, Sly,” Jason said. “Maybe when the rum princess passes out, we can get to know each other better.”
“Ha, ha. Rum princshessh. I like that better than plain ol’ ‘rummy’.”
