Page 3 of Starfall (Stand Alone Tales #20)

T he place was crowded for lunch, but the hostess saw Rowen s head above the crowd. Rowen, come on.

Rowen put his arm around her and smiled. Hold tight. This place is popular.

She was held tight to him as they moved through the crowded tables to a booth in the back corner where there was a little more room to breathe.

There you go, Row. Who is this?

This is Emery. She owns the caf across the street from the gym.

Nice to meet you, Emery. Your face is very familiar. The woman who s name tag said Meg grinned.

I just have one of those faces. She looked around and saw a ton of photos around the dining area. Family place? I haven t been here before.

With an appetite like yours? I am surprised. Rowen smiled.

I can t ever get in. Too busy, and they don t take reservations. She looked at the walls and saw a familiar face but much younger and thinner.

She slowly turned toward him. Your family?

He grinned. What gave it away?

You are all over these walls. She smiled, and Meg gasped.

Emery looked at her. Is something wrong?

You are the lady he has been sketching since he was a teen. I just thought it was a weird fantasy, but you actually... wow. Meg grinned. Lemonade?

Um, yes, please.

Rowen was looking innocent and had the menu elevated.

Rowen?

Yes? He didn t look up.

You have sketches of me?

I told you Autumn gave me your image when I was worried about being alone forever. He told me I just had to wait, and when I accepted that, we fused, and I got to walk without pain. He shrugged. With your image in my mind, I started drawing you in art class as a teen and just continued. You are my doodle when my mind thinks of nothing else.

Wow. Well, that s... now you made this weird.

He looked at her, his expression worried.

She snorted and held his hand, squeezing lightly. Like this could get weirder. Okay, what s good here?

He smiled and began to advise her so that when Meg returned, they were ready. She grinned and asked, Are you sure you want all that?

Yes, I have been working up an appetite.

Meg winked at Rowen and left.

Emery blinked. Oh, I hear how that sounded now. Do you bring dates here often?

No. This is a first, so my family is drawing a bunch of inferences. Don t be surprised if they pop out of the kitchen to bring extra water or napkins one by one.

Your whole family works here?

Yeah. My parents own it, and siblings and cousins work it. Rowen smiled. I used to be the greeter, and we could fit a lot fewer tables in this section when there had to be room for my chair. They currently have some accessible spaces near the front, which is nice. I remember how hard it was to get through when someone pulled their chair out. That was annoying, and I still keep an eye out for pathways to restrooms, just in case.

That is a very endearing hobby.

He shrugged. I remember how hard it was, and if I can ease that even once, I will.

You could just carry them.

They are not infants; they are adults and teens just trying to make their way in the world. He looked at her. Oh, you were joking.

Yes. I was joking. One of my school friends was a chair user, and fighting not to be treated like an infant took up half her time. She smiled. We made her our queen and commanded our peers to step aside as she was so royal she was not to be parted from her chair of power.

He smiled. How old were you?

Eight. It was a good year, but she went for surgeries in the city the next year, and she didn t return to our school.

He cocked his head. How old are you?

Thirty-two.

He blinked. And she was in a chair... Did it have purple streamers on the handles?

Yeah.

Unicorn sticker on the back of the seat?

Yeah.

Her name was Gabi?

Queen Gabrielle, if you please. You know her?

It was my cousin.

Was? Her eyes went wide.

Is! Is my cousin. She is the head of marketing.

Really? Oh, that s great. How is her back?

Not completely corrected, but she can walk with a cane and likes to use it on her nieces and nephews to pull them in for hugs. He smiled.

Food started arriving, and Rowen handed her some wet wipes out of the pile in a warmed bowl.

The plates kept arriving, and Rowen laughed. Just start somewhere, or we will be swamped.

All right, you asked for it. She licked her lips, picked up a rack of ribs, and tore it into pieces, then started to lift one rib after another to her mouth, stripping the meat from the bone.

Rowen had a forkful of shredded pork to his mouth, and the mouth was open in astonishment. Wow.

She grinned and muttered, Buckle up.

She grabbed food, put bones in a bucket, and then moved on to brisket, chicken, more pork, shredded pork, coleslaw, and some fried potato chips dusted with spices.

She looked around, and he held out a plate with soft white bread. She met his gaze. I know this sounds weird, but I try and minimize gluten. It isn t an allergy, but it isn t friendly.

He laughed. You eating low gluten is one of the best things I have heard today.

She snorted and started to wipe the wreckage of sauces from her hands and face.

Meg came by, and her eyes went wide. Holy... There is nothing left on those bones.

Emery smiled and said, That s the point.

I know Rowen didn t do that. Wow. Mom s gonna love you.

Emery blinked. Mom?

Meg is my youngest sister. She was two when I was selected, and as I got up and running, she grafted herself onto me.

Meg paused, Emery, can you eat more?

Uh, without wanting to draw criticism, yeah. I don t get full.

Cool. I will be right back.

Rowen snorted. She s either going to bring you a huge sundae or banana pudding.

Meg returned a moment later. Here you go. If you can eat this, my parents will be here proposing to you themselves.

Rowen snorted. That isn t an actual family tradition.

No, but I think it would be cool. Meg grinned. It could become a weird myth in the town. So, how do you two know each other?

Emery was looking for the best point of attack. It looked like a banana pudding base with a sundae top. She could do this. He came into the diner to grab one of his clients who was trying to ruin his good work with a tray of cinnamon buns and milkshakes. He called me a carb peddler, and I called him an over-inflated bully.

Rowen smiled. It wasn t true love, but I was intrigued.

She began to attack the dessert, and Meg s eyes widened. Wow.

Emery heard the siblings talking but kept eating. It was good, fluffy and sweet, cool and warm. When it was done, she wiped her mouth and sipped at her lemon water. That was lovely.

Rowen grinned. Do not consider this an insult, but that was a dessert for three people.

I know. The problem with being what I am is that I am hungry most of the time. She shrugged. Nothing really sates it, but I like eating.

Meg blinked. What are you?

A conversation for another day.

Rowen asked Meg, Are you coming tonight?

Of course. Winter s parties are not to be missed. Meg smiled at Emery. You are going to be there?

Probably not. I don t really run in those circles.

Rowen sighed. You should have gotten your invitation already.

Emery carefully reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. The invitation was there in an email from Orla. Huh. There it is. Now I have to get a dress.

Meg chuckled. Don t you have anything?

Not for this height. No. I haven t gone out like this for years. I don t attend many formal events that don t involve a lot of leather.

Rowen grinned. Do tell.

Shut it. I need to go shopping. She went through three wet wipes clearing her hands.

Let s go then.

What?

Meg chuckled. He has four sisters. He s fun to shop with.

Emery paused. Don t you have to go lift something? Or lunge at something?

He chuckled. Like you, I have staff that can manage things.

I don t want you shopping with me.

Tough. One of our cousins works at a dress shop with a specialty in tall ladies, but it s booking only unless you are family. So, I am your key.

Fine, but keep your key out of my lock. I will snap it off.

Meg snorted and started to clear the table. Rowen put some money down, and Meg laughed. Thanks for the tip.

Emery scooted out of the booth and stood up. Rowen got up behind her, wrapped his arm around her, and guided her through the tables and chairs. When someone started pushing their chair into the aisle and glanced at them, they quickly pulled it back in.

Rowen didn t relax his grip on her until they were past the crowd.

Holy smokes. That place is hopping.

Fifteen years and counting. The family all does shifts there. I did mine between fifteen and twenty-five. I got paid minimum plus tips and managed to save enough to start the gym.

He kept his hand on her back as they walked through the parking lot.

So, you have sketches of me?

A few.

Are we from the eighteenth century?

He grinned. I could offer to show you my etchings.

Wow. That s hot.

They giggled together, food drunk and relaxed.

So, where is this mythical shop that caters to tall women?

North end of town, near Hunter s place.

Oh. I never get out there. Well, not until recently.

You walked right through that area last night.

Did I?

Well, you were very tired and bloody.

I thought I burned it all off.

Not all. No.

Sorry. I must have been a mess.

An adorable mess.

Dude, have you been injured at work? Taken a weight to the head? Have the horns grown through your brain? I am never adorable. Statuesque, imposing, striking even, but never adorable.

He grinned and opened her car door. No, I can t say any injury has occurred. When it comes to adorable, look up.

She turned to face him; she was staring at his neck. She tilted her head. Oh. Right. Fine, I will consider the eye of the beholder.

He inclined his head. Thank you.

She reached up and stroked his cheek. You have a bit of sauce right here.

Rowen froze. Thanks.

I am fighting the mom scrub.

He grinned as she pulled her hand back. I wouldn t mind.

Let s save the grooming for another date.

Rowen chuckled. So, I am considering our first date at an end. The shopping is a second date, and this evening is separate as well.

She got into the car and sighed. I fell right into the second date.

He leaned in and kissed her quickly. You did. This is turning into a very fun day.

Right. She buckled up. He closed her door and walked around to the other side.

She tried to pull herself into her normal shape, but it wasn t happening. It was her natural form for the rest of the day. Must be the stupid solstice.

He got in next to her and buckled in before waiting until they were clear and then backed out, and they were on to their next stop.

So, why are you so eager to play chauffer?

Because I want to spend time with you and don t mind driving.

Oh, I don t mind driving either. She glanced at her arms and realized that if anyone had noticed, they hadn t commented.

Good. I can use portals, but I guess you don t like to.

It is the one thing in the world that can turn my stomach. If I have to portal, I keep myself hungry.

Sensible. Is it the same when others transport you?

I don t know.

Oh. Can we test it?

Not until I digest lunch.

He chuckled. Fair enough. We are going to my cousin Merwin s shop. She s pleasant.

Merwin. Merwin Hyguard?

Yes. Do you know her?

Um, yes. She s Gabi s younger sister, right?

You know it.

Well, she didn t like me and Orla much. She thought we were making fun of Gabi instead of trying to make her laugh.

She has changed. She s a grownup now.

Okay. But don t be weirded out if she tries to put me in pastels or sizes that are too small.

I am sure she will be a consummate shopkeeper. Are folks often hostile to you?

Yes. Now that the ogre is more to the surface, it causes some folks to get nervous.

I can see that. He turned off a main road and into a private lot. We re here.

I keep forgetting that we live in a small town.

He chuckled. Better here than the city. Too many weirdos.

She laughed and unbuckled after he parked.

Emery waited until he opened the door for her before she slid out of her seat. He smiled brightly, like she had learned a trick. Thank you, Emery.

What?

Letting me open your door. My mom always said the mark of a true gentleman was that he could attract a true lady.

Right. I can be had for a bucket of hot wings.

Oh. I will keep that in mind. He grinned and put his hand on her back, guiding her to the front of the old home that had been upgraded entries, which were accessible to anyone.

Emery kept her expression pleasant as they walked in, and Merwin hung up the phone with a smile. Rowen. I hear you need a dress for your girlfriend.

Emery opened her mouth but felt his fingers flexing against her back.

Yes, Merwin. This is Emery.

Emery looked at Merwin. You are taller than when I saw you last.

Merwin looked at her and blushed. You were Gabi s friend?

Yes. How is she?

There was a soft thump as another woman came out of a back room. I am taller as well, Emery. May I have a hug?

Of course, my queen. Emery bowed low and then walked to Gabi, hugging the smaller woman carefully. You are looking well, Gabi.

I know. Your fashion sense remains the same.

Emery chuckled. Hey, it s easy to find clothes.

Yeah, well, beating up hobos for their wardrobe is a hobby for you, I guess.

I love it when you are vicious.

Gabi laughed and hugged her again. When they parted, she said, What are we dressing you for?

You aren t dressing me. I just need a single dress. For the Yule party at Winter s.

So, you know Winter, and you are hanging around with Rowen. Wow. Are you collecting an entire calendar?

A calendar of warlocks posing around the year? It might sell.

Gabi giggled and straightened, looking Emery up and down. Well, we can discuss you and my cousin while I find something suitable for you. Follow me.

There was nothing else to do. Emery followed.