I do. Where can I meet you?
An address flashed on Elouan’s screen. The human world might have its drawbacks, but Elouan loved Harley-Davidsons and GPS. In the dragon world he’d have no need of either,though he’d have to teach the castle cooks about the wonders of pizza.
He rode across town to a strip mall. A striped awning declared on the storefront, “Luigi’s Pizza.” Jules sat at a table by a window, his face lighting up when he spotted Elouan parking.
Elouan hopped off the bike, attached his helmet to the seat, then strode past a carved pumpkin to go inside. Only a few tables held patrons despite a line of people crowding the pickup area. He grinned as he slid into the booth across from Jules. “So, you got a phone.”
“Aunt Moira said she was worried when I came home late, and I mentioned how she could have called if I had a phone. I eventually wore her down. She’s usually against technology.” His expression turned bashful. “You’re the first person I’ve given my number to besides Moira.”
Elouan slapped his hand over his chest, faking shock. “I feel so honored.”
Jules cocked an eyebrow, remarking very tongue-in-cheek, “You should be. We both know how many thousands of friends I have. Though I did consider the housekeeper first.”
“Their loss. And if someone’s a really good friend, you only need one.”
“Very true. Know what you’d like?” Jules nodded toward the menu.
Pizza. Who needed a menu? “Meat pizza, sweet tea, and I better not see any vegetables.”
“I was gonna order the same. Wanna split a large?”
“Works for me.”
A server approached their table. With a nod from Elouan, Jules placed the order.
Elouan wouldn’t have been able to identify the server later since his gaze never strayed from Jules. By scent, maybe, butthen again, with so much tomato sauce and pepperoni in the air, who could tell where the guy's scent ended and the food began?
The server took their menus and retreated.
“I’m glad you texted,” Elouan began. “My roommate just left for the week. I’m home all by my lonesome.” Maybe Jules would understand the unspokenI don’t want to be.
Jules hadn’t hesitated to hop on the Harley after lunch and ride to Elouan’s apartment. He stood inside the front door, taking in the worn couch and chairs, oversized television, and battered coffee table, smiling like he’d entered a scene from House Beautiful.
“Nice place!”
“It’s been home for three years.” Thank the Goddess that Elouan cleaned before going to meet Jules.
One strand of hair pulled on Elouan’s scalp. He released his braid, working his fingers through the strands to loosen them. There. Better.
“Wow! You’ve got your hair down.” Jules reached out, then pulled his hand back. “Sorry. It looks so soft and you’ve always had it braided before.”
Jules could play with Elouan’s hair all he wanted, along with any other body part of his choosing.
“Most of this stuff belongs to my roommate, Curtis,” Elouan said when the silence grew awkward. Except for the controllers on the coffee table and a lone coffee cup on the counter, the place was spotless—as long as one avoided Elouan’s room. “Make yourself at home. Any particular movie you want to watch?”
“Except for a few at school, I haven’t seen many. You pick.” Jules sat ramrod straight on the edge of the couch, posture stiff. Oh, no. Being on guard wouldn’t do. Somehow, Elouan must set him at ease.
Elouan wandered casually into the kitchen area. “Want a beer?”
“Can I get a soda instead?” Jules wrinkled his nose, a gesture too endearing for words. Elouan wished he’d taken a picture. “I’ve never drunk beer before. It always smelled funny to me.”
“Sure thing.” Elouan put his own beer back into the refrigerator, pulling out two root beers instead. “What do you like? Action? Comedy? Drama?”
Jules relaxed the stiff set of his shoulders. “Got anything with dragons?” Dragons? He liked dragons?
Elouan snorted and couldn’t help a bit of smugness atbeinga dragon if Jules liked them. “Game of Thrones, it is. I’m warning you, it’s got a cast of thousands and is bloody as hell. If you start liking a character, they’ll get killed off in the next episode, so try not to get too invested.” But if Jules liked the plot, he might want to come back and watch more, which could take weeks. Maybe Curtis might even grow to like Jules if he became a fixture, and he saw how great Jules really was. Then again, maybe Elouan should choose something a little more conducive to a date.
Too late now. He’d promised the extremely long bloodbath of Game of Thrones.
