Page 23 of Guiding Desire

Orrey considered not responding because he wasn’t sure how to formulate a proper response. The other man was a sixth rank operative though, and not responding would feel just as rude. In the end, Orrey opted for a polite,I am settling in well, thank you.

His screen whirred with an incoming call right away, and Orrey couldn’t do anything but accept it.

“Hello, Conduit Coldis,” he said, sitting up straighter on the couch.

“Aw, you’re too polite. I’ll fix that, but not now. So how’s the apartment?”

“Uh, Guardian Senlas’s?”

Orrey heard Coldis giggle. “I told you, I made sure he answers to Senny. Feel free to test that some time. But yes, his place.”

“It’s very luxurious.”

“Oh, have you been to the pool-scape?”

“Erm, no.”

“Then you shouldn’t call it luxurious yet. Which room’re you in?”

Orrey craned his neck toward the far end of the living area where the hallway led deeper into the apartment. “It’s the first on the right. Your bag was in the closet there. I appreciate you allowing me to use your clothes, Coldis.”

“Pfft, you can keep them if they suit you. That’s one of the guest rooms. Are you going to be picking that as your room?”

“M-my room?”

Coldis sighed. “Should I come over there? Maybe I should come over there. I know your things got delivered. Where’d Senny put them?”

“They are still in the hallway. I wasn’t sure—“

“All right, I’m coming over there. I’ll bring Karmine, since you know him already.”

Orrey shot to his feet, and while his headache had subsided, the abrupt movement still made him dizzy.

“I…we actually are supposed to meet with my mother for lunch.”

“Huh. When?”

“Half past twelve.”

“That’s really just when you should have your second morning snack, but fine. I’ll bring Taros and Vinnie too.”

“I’m not sure that’s necessary.”

“I didn’t say it was necessary, but let’s make it fun, ‘kay? See you in a bit. Boop.”

The call ended, and Orrey was left standing in front of the window screen, feeling guilty although he wasn’t quite sure what for. He rounded the couch, stopped, headed back to grab his mug, then opened cabinets in the kitchen until he found the dishwasher.

From there, he carefully made his way to the other end of the apartment. “Hello? Senlas?”

The Guardian came out of the guest room Orrey had occupied. He was fully dressed now, just normal clothes, a button-down rolled up to reveal his strong forearms, tight pants with artfully destroyed patches in the front.

“I’m here. Tossed your clothes in the laundry while I was cleaning out the closet. Did you want to look around back here?” He pointed. “Stairs to the pool are on the left. The balcony is on the right. I can show you. Unless you’d like to explore on your own.”

“Actually, I just had a call with Conduit Coldis. I’m not exactly sure what happened, but he mentioned he was going to drop by and bring Karmine, Taros, and Vinnie? Your team, if I understand correctly.”

Senlas groaned. “Did you tell him we have a lunch date?”

“Of course I did.”