“Almost there!” Liam grunted from the other side of the new fridge.
Val didn’t have the heart to tell him she could have picked the appliance up with one hand and put it on her shoulder. She pushed gently to help him scoot it across the floor to its spot between the cabinets.
“There!” Panting, Liam straightened. “Perfect!”
Val wiped fingerprints off the fridge’s reflective surface. “Who knew express fridge delivery was a thing?”
“Life in the City rocks, man.” Liam laughed.
They stepped back to admire their handiwork. It was almost impossible to tell that an army of crazed faeries had torn her house apart forty-eight hours ago. The kitchen floor gleamed, a new toaster stood beside the new microwave, and a stack of paper grocery bags lay folded on the counter from a delivery that had restocked Val’s cabinets.
She opened one door, retrieved a couple of energy bars, and tossed one to Liam. He caught it as she tore hers open with her teeth.
“Thanks, dude.” Val bit off the top of her bar and held it out. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
He tapped his energy bar on hers. “Here’s to raccoons.”
Val chuckled. “I’m thirsty. Want a soda?”
“Actually...” Liam paused. “I was wondering if we could go out tonight. You know, as the friends group, with Jess and Bella.” He cleared her throat. “I don’t, you know, like you like that.”
Val snorted. “Thank goodness for that.”
“Hey!” Liam laughed in mock offense.
Val paused. “I love the idea, Lee, but do you think you’re ready?”
Liam considered her question as he ate the energy bar. “I do. I’ll be the designated driver and stick to soda. You’ve seen me do it many times.”
Val rested a hand on his shoulder. “There’s no shame in staying away from temptation a little longer, or forever if you need to. I like to think we’ve been more than drinking buddies for a while. We also don’t have to go to the Iron Fist. We can have dinner with the group instead.”
“The Iron Fist is special. Seriously, Val, I feel good.” Liam smiled. “I want to go, and not for the booze. For the company. I won’t touch a drop, and you can hold me to that.”
“Okay, then.” Val grinned. “I will. It’d be nice to have the gang back together.”
“Great.” Liam slapped her on the back. “I’ll head home to change. Pick you up at six?”
“Perfect. Thanks again, Lee. I owe you one,” Val added.
Liam snorted. “You still have credit.”
She led him to the door, then strolled through her clean house. The glow in her chest had nothing to do with the amulet or the polished surfaces.
Friendship is magnificent, she thought.
She checked the time. She could shower and get ready. Her guts knotted. She’d snuck upstairs a couple of times to take breakfast and lunch to Tetra but hadn’t seen the faerie all day.
Val swallowed a groan. “I could have gotten a dog,” she muttered, stomping across the garage. “No need for a pet psychotic paranormal.”
She clumped up the stairs and hammered on the door. “Tetra!”
“Calm your titties,” Tetra complained. “I’m coming.”
Val gritted her teeth, annoyed. Tetra opened the door. The faerie’s hair stood up in all directions, and she still wore the sweatsuit Dylan had given her.
“Did you get the food?” Val demanded.
“Yes. Can I leave the apartment now?” Tetra asked.
“No!” Val barked. “What makes you think I’d unleash you on the city?”
Tetra threw up her hands. “Fine! Be that way. I thought you said you weren’t going to make me a prisoner.” She strode across the kitchen—how could one person create this much chaos in three meals?—and flung herself on the couch.
Val flexed her fingers. The faerie stared at the floor, shoulders slumped. Val thought she read dejection in her body.
She could be rotting in the prison realm right now, she reminded herself. Tetra couldn’t leave the apartment without Val’s permission. Surely, she’d be okay alone for the evening.
Unless there was a fire. Or a break-in. Then she’d be trapped.
Val sighed. “Listen, you’re coming with me tonight. We are going out.”
Tetra’s head snapped up. “Really? Where?”
“To a bar I part-own. Do you know what a bar is?” Val asked snidely.
Tetra rolled her eyes. “My people invented alcohol. Of course I know what a bar is.”
“Good. Then you know you can’t go dressed like that,” Val pointed out.
