…Pasta? That’s just noodles. They don’t even smell like anything before adding sauce. I don’t—I can’t keep repeating to myself how confused I am. I’ll get confused.
“Oh, look at my whore! Buying herself soap,” Lucia’s joyously chimes in from nowhere.
I jump and about-face to her. “Lucia? How—You’re here?”
“Yeah!Their olive oil isn’t food safe, so it’s super cheap. Tastes great in salad.”
I turn my sight on the truly unreasonable amount of olive oil she’s buying. “Why areyouconserving crescents?”
“I’m buying for our whole ghoul hunting party. It adds up.” She dances her fingers over my shoulder. “Now, would I be wrong to guess that you’re also preparing for the trip. I’m sure I’llappreciateit.”
I pray to the Ring that this makeup is hiding at least some of my face’s redness. “Mistress Vincenza actually organized me a date in a few hours. But, if they like the soap on me… I can use it for you too.”
“You’re flustered,” she teases.
“I—Yeah. It’s flustering.”
She brushes my hair. “My short, flustered Catie, do you need my help?”
“Please.”
She grabs a soap bar wrapped in red cloth from the shelf and leaves it in my hand, holding it for just long enough to embarrass me more. “Carnations will smell perfect for you. Bye.”
“What—Why are you leaving? Wait!”
She hurriedly disappears down the aisles. “See you at ghoul hunting!”
“Uh… see you.”
Less filler words. If I want her to like me.
If I smile, lift my eyes, and dance around her like a human, then she won’t question that I am.
As I hurriedly reapply any makeup that got scraped off and brush out my hair, I start to wonder more about her. She looked wealthy enough to have her own exotic perfumes. The file said she’s some ten centimeters tallerthan me. So, less intimidating than Mistress Vincenza, butdefinitelytall enough.
Though, I don’t think anything would change if she was shorter. Maybe? We might… Oh.
The anxiety is catching up. This is a real date, with real potential. I could really end up in her bed with her sorcery lingering my heart, or crying from embarrassment. One of the two. Or both. Both seems the most likely.
I leave down the stairs in search of “Mistress Vincenza?”
She’s either not down here or not replying.
Instead, on the front desk, is left a small note. ‘Catarina, your date chose Borthola’s for the location. She’ll meet you there at 19:30. The place is an inn; tell them I ordered you a room if you need one. Good luck.
‘P.S. If it goes well, I can teach you how to use the car for your next date.‘
I will do well, if my mistress commands it! She probably believes in me more than I do; she’s the one who’s paying for my date to sleep with me.
I stuff the note next to my heart and leave.
Chapter 9
Getting an Inn
“Uh, hi.” Fuck. No fillers. “Hello! I’m getting a table for two, but I’m waiting for the other person in my party to make it.”
“I’ll sit you down when you’re ready then,” the host replies.
