Enzo chuckled. “I’m counting on that. Jeff needs backup now that the bar is busier.”
Val rubbed the back of her neck, thinking about her words to Tetra earlier. “She does need a job.”
“This is perfect.” Enzo grinned, showing off his tusks. “She’s a good kid, Val.”
“She tried to murder her sister.”
“Yeah, well, in faerie culture, that’s not as big a deal.” Enzo chuckled. “I’m guessing she was exiled?”
“For the rest of her life,” Val confirmed.
“Let her make a home among the humans like you and me did, then.” Enzo spread his hands. “This could be a stepping stone to many good things for her.”
Val folded her arms. “I’ll think about it.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Daylight felt like daggers spearing Val’s eyeballs. She moaned as she padded barefoot through her kitchen, which was a much more pleasant experience than the day before. She kept her eyes half-shut as she groped her way to the fridge.
“Curse Blair and Yuka,” she muttered, opening the door. She winced when the light shone cheerfully within. “Why does their beer have to be so wonderful?”
Val grabbed the milk bottle and chugged directly from it. The cold fluid helped enough that she stumbled to the coffee machine and turned it on. While it whirred and clicked, Val went to the living room and fell onto the couch.
Her phone pinged. She fished it from her sweatpants pocket and read a text from Isabella.
Did he answer yet??????
Who?
BOOKER!!!!!
“Oh, shit.” Val shot upright. “Did I text Booker last night?”
She fumbled through her apps and saw a glowing notification.
“Shit. Shit,” Val squeaked. She tapped on it.
Booker Johnson: Hey, Val! It’s great to hear from you. A drink would be great! How about we go ice skating first? They’re expecting the temp to drop later this week. Brooklyn Bridge has the best skating in the city if you ask me!
Val buried her face under her couch cushion and groaned until she felt marginally better. Then Isabella texted.
Val! What did he say?
He wants to go ice skating.
Isabella sent a long string of random symbols, letters, and numbers to convey her unspeakable excitement.
Bella! What do I do?
Say yes!!! Ice skating? So romantic. He wants quality time, more than drinks, dinner, and whatever comes next. GREEN. FLAG.
Val squared her shoulders. She’d come this far, hadn’t she? She’d fought an army of vampires and a fae assassin. She could survive ice skating with an attractive man.
So attractive.
She summoned her courage and typed a response to Booker.
Sure. Ice skating sounds great. Saturday night?
It’s a date :)
“It is?” Val muttered. “Oh, crap.”
Her phone hummed with a FaceTime call from Isabella. Val answered.
“Valerie Stonehold, you have to say yes!” Isabella shouted from the screen. “Do you hear me? You. Must. Say. Yes.”
“Ow.” Val covered her ear with her free hand. “Why are you yelling? How are you not hungover?”
“I’m so hungover, it’s not funny. I’m only alive because of three strong coffees and a couple of ibuprofen. Don’t let the makeup fool you. Did you say yes?” Isabella demanded.
“I said yes,” Val assured her.
“What did he say?” Isabella grinned and slurped from a Starbucks cup—her fourth, Val presumed.
“He said, ‘It’s a date.’”
Isabella whooped. “Bet your ass it is! You’re in business, Val!”
