by M. J. Haag
“What brings you back?” I asked when I could think rationally again.
“I saw Hannah. I was not desperate, but she would not let me rub her feet. She told me to go away.”
While I was clubbing snakes in my basement, he was desperately trying to get his snake in someone’s downstairs. I fought not to grin.
“Why are you so into Hannah? What’s so great about her?”
His expression grew distant and a bit wistful. The crotch of his pants twitched a little, and I knew he’d found his happy place.
“She let me touch her breast.”
The reverent way he said the words worried me. I waited for him to say more, but he didn’t.
“That’s it? You’re hot for Hannah because you felt her up one time?”
I stood and grabbed his hands. Before he could guess my intent, I placed his palms over my boobs. He tried to pull away, but I kept my hands over his.
“They’re just boobs, Shax. Something that all women have in varying degrees. Give them a squeeze.” I moved his hands over my breasts and watched him frown. “Big or small or none at all…feeling someone’s breasts isn’t the basis for the devotion you’re showing Hannah.”
“I understand.” He paused for a moment, and I felt his fingers lightly squeeze over me. It sent a tingle in all the right places before he pulled his hands away and rubbed them on his legs with a guilty look on his face.
“I know you are trying to teach me something, but I do not like cheating on Hannah.”
“Shax, you’re not cheating. Do you know why?”
He frowned and shook his head.
“Because you and Hannah aren’t together yet. Until she says she wants to be with you, she’s not yours. Do you understand?”
The guilty look melted to one of frustration.
“But she is mine.”
“Okay. If Hannah’s yours, you must know a lot about her. Tell me what she likes.”
I resumed my seat on the couch.
“She likes wine.”
“I knew that the first time I saw her gulp half a glass. Does that mean she’s mine, too?”
He scowled.
“I’ll take that as a no. I’m not trying to burst your bubble here, Shax; I’m trying to help you understand Hannah. Now, do you think Hannah likes you?”
“Yes. She likes when I bring her things.”
“Of course she does. Any girl would. I liked it when I found the chips on the table last night. Does that mean I like you the way you want Hannah to like you?”
“No.”
“You’re right. No, it doesn’t. All you really know about Hannah is that she likes things. Her desire for those things is the reason she invites you to her parties for her games and betting. It has nothing to do with her interest in you.”
He tensed in his chair. The anger that clouded his expression was truly formidable.
“Hannah does not just like me for the things I bring her,” he said.
“Okay,” I said, holding up my hands in surrender. “No peeing on the Hannah altar. Got it.”
He paused for a moment, and I knew he wasn’t sure what I meant.
“I bring you things.” His tone held accusation.
“You’re right. You have brought me things. But what we have going on is a deal. A fair trade we both agreed to up front. I’m getting something in return for giving you something of equal value. Well, it’s supposed to be equal value. You’re getting the better end of this deal for sure. You can’t say the same with all the deals you’ve had with Hannah. Six boxes of wine for a hug is crazy unfair.”
His tension melted away, and he slumped into his chair.
“She did not give me a hug,” he said reluctantly. “She said thank you.”
“Oh, hun. That’s just sad,” I said, feeling truly sorry for him. “You need to spend some quality time with Hannah to get to know her. Find out what she likes versus what you like. You might be surprised to learn she’s not thinking about sex all the time like you are.”
“I do not think about sex all the time.”
“Let me guess, you think about tasting pussy and breasts, too.”
“Yes.”
I grinned and said nothing.
He grunted, and his gaze dropped to the floor. That was one thing about these fey. They were naïve about a lot, but they weren’t stupid. They caught on eventually. I tugged the blanket up over my stomach, feeling a smidge of concern even though I was dressed in baggy layers for the day.
“What is quality time?” he asked, interrupting my thoughts.
“It’s where you just spend time together. Talk. Maybe watch a movie or have dinner.”
He stood and looked at me.
“Thank you, Angel.”
“Any time, Shax. Deal or not, I’m going to do what I can to help you win over Hannah. But I wouldn’t mind another bag of chips.”
“Mya said that Bertha needs smaller portions. That’s why her belly is so big. I will try to find you a small bag of chips.” He glanced meaningfully at my belly.
My mouth dropped open, and I scrambled to my feet.
“You think I’m fat?”
He shrugged, and I laughed, unable to help myself.
“You laugh at odd things,” he said.
“You have no idea.”
I walked him to the door.
“Can I give you a hug, Shax,” I asked after he put his jacket on.
“Why?”
“I want to give you something with no strings attached. No conditions. No trades. Just me giving you a hug, so you know what a free hug feels like. How they’re supposed to be given.”
He nodded.
Given all the layers between us and his new belief I was fat, I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him hard.
“Thanks for being you, Shax,” I said against his sleeve. “Don’t change. You’re pretty awesome.”
His arms came around me, and he gave a light squeeze.
“Thank you for being my friend.”
I pulled back before I got emotional.
“Good luck with Hannah,” I said, reaching for the door. “And please don’t tell anyone about my snake handling skills earlier. I don’t want anyone to think I can’t—”
I pulled the door open and jumped at the sight of two surprised faces.
Cassie looked from me to Shax then back to me.
“You’ve been handling Shax’s snake?” Cassie asked.
CHAPTER FOUR
THE DARK-HAIRED WOMAN held out her hand, amusement lighting her gaze.
“I’m Mya,” she said as we shook. “Never thought anyone would distract you from Hannah, Shax. I’m so happy you finally found someone.”
I wanted to die a little on the inside that they thought I’d been referring to Shax’s “snake.” Did they really think I was messing around with one of the fey my second day here? That wasn’t a good first impression, even if it was technically true.
Shax frowned as he glanced at me.
“You’re going to give him a mental breakdown,” I said to Cassie and Mya. “Shax, you should go. And good luck. Cassie, Mya, please come in.”
Shax reluctantly stepped out, his brow slightly furrowed.
“Is Caden at your house?” he asked Cassie.
“He is. I’m sure he’d like to see you if you want to stop by.”
He grunted and left. Cassie and Mya waited until the door closed before bombarding me with conversation.
“How did you get him to notice you?”
“I didn’t think you were ready for that kind of attention.”
“It does seem a bit fast.”
“Are you sure—”
I held up my hands to stop the barrage.
“Shax is still interested in Hannah. I clubbed a snake to death in my basement and screamed like a madwoman. Shax heard and rushed in. I didn’t want anyone to know about the snake because I don’t want anyone thinking it’s too dangerous for me to be here by myself. I love the safety and the i
solation.”
“Oh…” they both said at the same time.
The smell of cooked food drew my attention to Mya’s hands and the small square baking pan she held.
“Can I take that for you?” I offered. My mouth was already watering with all of the possibilities I imagined hidden within the tinfoil-covered dish. It smelled like bacon. Maybe even eggs. Please let it be bacon and eggs, I thought.
“There was a snake in your basement?” Cassie shivered and glanced at the door which still stood open. “I am so glad I did not stay in this house.”
“Are you okay?” Mya asked.
“I'm fine. Seriously, I can take that dish for you.” I didn't wait for permission but took it right out of her hands.
“We can have breakfast together,” I said as I headed toward the kitchen counter. I hoped I sounded relaxed and not desperately in need of food. There was a rustle of noise behind me. When I turned, both women had removed their jackets and were already sitting at the table.
While I talked about the episode in the basement, I plated our portions, which I’d divided into three relatively equal sizes. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but it looked like some kind of breakfast bake with bacon, eggs, and hash browns. Cheese strings clung to the serving spoon, so I knew that was in there as well. This meal was going to be heaven.
With effort, I focused on making conversation instead of drooling.
“I think the snake came from the tank I noticed down there. I'm hoping it was just the one snake living in it.”
“You should have had Shax check,” Mya said.
“Honestly, I was so freaked out I didn't even think of it. I don't even know how I killed the thing.” I sat down and took the first bite.
“Oh my gosh. This is so good,” I said around my mouthful of food.
Mya smiled.
“I'll tell my mom, Julie. She was up early this morning, baking.” Mya glanced at Cassie. “She's going to have Savvy and Timmy over today. I guess Byllo and Jessie are going to go on a date.”
“A date?” I asked. “Where is there to go for a date?”
“My guess would be the bedroom,” Cassie said with a smirk.
Mya chuckled.
“That’s probably what Byllo has in mind. I think he's going to make her dinner first, though, because he was asking Mom a lot of questions about cooking. I’m just excited that another fey has found a girl.”
While they discussed whoever this Byllo and Jessie pair were, I tried to pace each bite I placed in my mouth. I also tried to chew more than five times before swallowing, but it was hard. I wanted the food in my belly now.
“I can't believe you guys actually have eggs, hash browns, and bacon here to make something like this,” I said when there was a lull in conversation.
“Yeah. Mom can really cook with what the fey have been finding. Unfortunately, this is the last of it,” Mya said. “At least until the guys can restock what we had to give to Whiteman this morning.”
“Oh?” I said, feeling confused. Whiteman always received a portion of supplies after the fey went out on a supply run. However, my understanding was that Tolerance kept their fair share since they rounded up the supplies.
“We just got word this morning that some infected had gotten into the cafeteria during the last attack. They’d taken a lot of food, leaving trails of it outside the fence and into the woods. While the fey guarding Whiteman were able to clean out more infected and recover some of the food, they didn’t find it all.”
“Wow,” I said.
Mya sighed and nodded.
“The infected are getting really smart about our supplies,” Cassie said. “They’re starting to set traps in grocery stores and are just waiting for hungry people to risk their life for something to eat.”
I swallowed hard, feeling royally screwed. Why was it so difficult to safely obtain something to eat in this world? If the infected were going after the things that we needed, like food, what would be next?
I pushed my worry aside and focused on what I had. A really good meal for the first time in a long time.
“Well, I'm glad I got to sample some of your mom's cooking with the supplies that were left.”
“I'll be sure to pass on your appreciation. This was the least I could do for you.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
I glanced at Cassie, wondering if she had already broken her promise and spilled my big secret.
“I heard about the party,” Mya said. “Thank you for convincing Shax to return the wine.”
“You know about that? That it was me?”
That big-mouthed brat was going to get an earful next time I saw him. He obviously didn’t understand the concept of a secret. Our deal was officially off.
“I figured it out when Hannah mentioned you were at the party,” Mya said. “No one else would have tried talking Shax into returning the wine. Certainly not Hannah or Emily.”
“They invited me to a drinking party when I first got here, too,” Cassie said. “They seem to like to drink a lot.”
Mya shrugged. “I don't think it's the drinking that they’re after as much as it is the forgetting.”
“Why?” I asked.
“When the fey and I found Hannah and Emily’s group, they were stuck in a dead RV surrounded by a horde of infected. It wasn't looking good for the group. I can't imagine what they were mentally going through while waiting for the infected to figure out how to get in.”
I nodded and took my last bite of breakfast. It was a survivor story. We'd all gone through something terrible in order to live. That was just the way it was now.
I glanced at Mya’s plate and realized she'd only taken a single bite. Cassie shook her head slightly when I looked at her almost empty plate.
Mya chuckled.
“It's okay, Cassie,” Mya said. “If Angel doesn't know yet, she will know soon, anyway. That's just how things are here.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“The fey like to talk.”
“So I've heard.”
“I'm sick,” Mya said without preamble.
As soon as she said it, I could see it. The sallow tint of her cheeks, and the dark circles under her eyes. Like me, she looked a bit too thin. Her pupils were even a little dilated.
“I don't know why, but I seem to be turning into one of the fey after my time in their caves. My skin is turning grey in patches, and I’m immune to infected bites like they are.”
“Holy shit,” I breathed.
“I wouldn’t mind being like one of them, except the change is hurting me. Headaches. Vomiting. A lot of general pain that’s getting worse every day. I think it’s because the change is happening faster for me, unlike the fey who had thousands of years to become what they are.”
I wasn't sure what to say to that. The idea of being immune to the infected was amazing. What she was going through to be immune didn’t sound as fun.
“It's okay,” Mya said. “It is what it is. There's no use worrying over things we can't change when there's too much other shit we can.”
“I couldn't agree more,” I said, really liking her. I hoped whatever was making her sick would pass. I knew she was the reason the fey were here, helping us, and didn’t want to consider what they would do if she wasn’t here.
She pushed her plate toward me.
“I only took the one bite. If you cut off that corner, you can probably have the rest. I'm pretty sure what I have isn't contagious.”
Contagious or not I would have done anything to eat the rest of her food. Instead of shoving the food into my watering mouth like I wanted, I just stood and went to the cupboards to get a container instead.
“I'll save it for later,” I said. Later being the moment they walked out the door.
“So, about Shax,” Mya said while I finished clearing the table. “Any chance you're interested in him?”
I grinned.
“That man is so hung up on Hannah it's not even funny.”
Mya nodded. “It's too bad Hannah’s not into him. I've tried so many different ways to get those two together, and nothing seems to stick.”
Cassie shook her head.
“Maybe you should stop trying then,” she said.
“That's why I asked Angel if she was interested.”
Minus the apparent shortage of food, Tolerance was shaping up to be a pretty amazing place to live. Everyone got along, and there was no human-fey animosity. The matchmaking was more amusing than annoying.
“Life is complicated enough without adding a fey into the mix,” I said to Mya.
“What? No way. They uncomplicate things. Think of how the snake thing would have gone down if you had a guy in your life. He could have killed it for you.”
Cassie snorted.
“Right. And then he would have locked you in your room fearing a new threat to your general health and safety. You’re right. Way uncomplicated.”
Mya shrugged. “The perks balance the drawbacks.” She suddenly frowned and looked at me.
“What were you doing in the basement anyway?”
“Exploring, out of boredom,” I said smoothly. “Is there a duty roster I’m supposed to be checking?”
“Pft. The fey aren’t really keen on women pulling their own weight.”
“They’d rather carry it,” Cassie said. “Literally if you let them.”
“So what do they want us to do?” I asked.
“Be a princess in a tower,” Mya said. “So they can rescue you and maybe win your heart.”
“Okay. And what’s option B?”
“Dance naked in the streets,” Cassie said.
Mya nodded. “That would be their first option if you were willing.”
“Yeah, I think I’ll make up an option C.”
“Smart choice,” Mya said.
“Do you know if anyone has any seeds?” I asked.
“I think there’s still some in the supply shed. Why?”
“I found some growing lamps and pots by the snake tank. If there’s seeds, I can try growing something.” Not only would it give me something to do, but it would also help fill my belly in future months.
