“Yes, thank goodness. No more morning sickness. Now I’m getting kicked every once in a while.”
“Good! I’m thorry, I mean, ith a good thign that the baby ith healthy. I can’t wait to be a grandfather.”
She giggled. “I knew what you meant.”
Sly turned to his good friends. “Konrad, Roth, good luck with the move tomorrow.”
Roz shook his hand, and said, “Thanks. We’ll miss everyone, but you have an open invitation to our place in Newton.”
“I’d come, but I know your pack friendth don’t take kindly to vampireth.”
Konrad set down the box he’d been holding. “A few of them are stuck in the old ways. But if you’re uncomfortable, I’m sure we’ll come back here to visit once in a while. We’ll look you up when we do.” He extended his hairy arm, and they shook hands.
“Can I help you carry thumthing?”
“Almost done, buddy. I had dozens of boxes of books, but you can help me carry down the couch if you want to.”
“Thure.”
As the guys retreated to Konrad’s apartment, Merry grabbed Roz by the arm and pulled her to the other side of the hall.
She whispered, “What did you think of Sly’s reaction to the new Morgaine? I thought I saw some chemistry there.”
“I did too.”
They waited while the guys carried the couch out of the apartment and down the stairs before continuing.
“I’ll never get over how strong those two are,” Merry said. “They looked like they were carrying a two by four, not a whole couch.”
Roz watched them. Then she turned back to her friend and said, “I sense you want to see someone else in the building hook up.”
“I hadn’t really thought about it until you said something, but Sly…He’s been so lonely since my mother died and that was the day I was born—twenty-six years ago.”
Roz shrugged. “Just get him to move into my old apartment and let it work its magic.”
Merry snapped her fingers. “That’s it!The love shack.When I lived there, I hooked up with Jason. Then you moved in and hooked up with Konrad. Now that you’re moving out…”
“The love shack is available,” Roz finished for her.
“But he doesn’t have a job. How would he pay for it?”
“Does he have to? I mean, he’s your father. Jason let his aunt and uncle stay in 2B rent free for a while.”
“You’re right.” Merry grinned, and hugged Roz. “You’re a genius. What will I ever do without you?”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll learn to be devious on your own one of these days. When you want something badly enough, you’ll figure out how easily men can be manipulated.”
“You mean like on TV?”
“Hell, no. Don’t go to those extremes. Just cook his favorite meal and tell him how much you want this. Then if he says yes, give him a blow job.”
Merry laughed. “It’s that easy, huh?”
The guys exited Roz’s apartment and ambled up the stairs.
“You haven’t seen me carrying anything heavy yet, have you?” Roz raised her eyebrows and Merry laughed, then sneezed.
“You know what? I think your moving is kicking up some dust—not that Konrad isn’t a good housekeeper, but I might need my inhaler.”
