I lean forward, matching his expression. “Choose your words carefully, Bellami. I might not lift the next mushie, you teeny little terror.”
Penn beams at me while his husband and I have a little standoff. After a beat, he clasps his tiny hands together and releases a happy sigh. “Gosh, it’s so fun watching you two together. Lou’s just a big ole overgrown gnome at heart. The banter, the sarcasm. I absolutely love it.”
“This is the strangest conversation I’ve ever had,” I admit, planting my hands on my hips. My sarcasm is a protective barrier I use to keep my heart safe. I think humans sometimes find it too much, although my nieces love me despite it. And my sister Caroline did too.
My heart pangs thinking about her and the box of letters in my room. One day, I might give them to the girls to read.
Penn smiles at me. “I heard through the gnome-vine that you’ve got a date tonight. A double date, if my sources are correct.”
I snort. “The gnome-vine? Is that like the grapevine?”
He chuckles. “Yeah. Gnomes always have the best gossip because we’re so small, we’re practically invisible to larger monsters. It’s a benefit of our size. Also, we’re not gossipy anywhere but amongst ourselves, and you are, well, among us.”
I grin and lean forward, hoping he’ll ignore how I haven’t answered his question. “So you’ve got the hot goss about everyone in town? Is that what you’re saying?” When his smile grows wicked, I gasp. “Oh my gods, Penn. Tell me everything.”
“I’ll make you a deal,” Penn says with a sweet smile. “Come back and tell us how your date went, and I’ll tell you something shocking about someone in town.”
Damn. That’s a trade for sure because I have no idea how to navigate a dinner date with two monster males. Much less if they’d care if I tell the entire gnome village about it. Ultimately, I decide I love secrets, and I want to know them.
“Fine, but I will not be answering twenty questions.” I wag my finger at the diminutive males. “Understood?”
“That’s fine,” Penn says as Bellami rests his head against his husband’s shoulder. “Have a lovely evening, Lou.”
“Get outta here,” Bellami barks, pleasant as ever.
I reach out and thump his pointy hat off his head. He gasps and sputters as Penn laughs.
“Bye, boys.” I wave.
Turning, I make my way cautiously along the gnome village path, admiring how cute the whole thing is turning out. Crews work diligently to bring more mushroom homes and supplies into the space. The way they work together is fascinating, and despite their generally grumpy nature, I feel at home here.
Smiling, I step onto the sidewalk and head toward the Annabelle Inn to get changed for my date.
“Yes, girl,” Morgan says with a slow clap as I execute a spin in my wrap dress. Her gray eyes flash with excitement. “Those boys are gonna lose their minds. Your tits look amazing in that dress.”
“Thanks for letting me borrow it,” I chirp, turning to the mirror to admire the look. Morgan’s right, the pale dress is made of the creamiest fabric, and I look hot as hell.
I didn’t bring any date-appropriate clothes to Ever. I got the text from my nieces that they’d come here, and I knew what they’d found—a monster haven. I threw four outfits in my bag and rushed to get to my girls. I haven’t been willing to part with them long enough to go back to my apartment and grab stuff. Since time passes more slowly outside the wards, if I left for a day to grab my shit, I’d miss a whole month inside the haven.
Date-night clothes aren’t worth losing time with my people. But this dress? Oh yeah, this is worth something.
Morgan hops off the bed and grabs my hand. “Okay, Auntie, you’re ready. I’m gonna walk you to Sycamore and then meet Abe at the Green Bean for burgers.”
I snort and pinch her side. “You finally let that male out of the bedroom?”
Morgan laughs and pulls my bedroom door open. “I need to eat sometimes, and Alba makes the best burger I’ve ever had. Shepherd said that when we first came here, but it’s true. She must put butter in it. I can’t tell. All I know is I have to have one.”
Together, we leave the Annabelle. The Inn ripples her siding and waggles her white shutters at us. Waving goodbye, we walk past the Community Garden and head toward Main Street. I drop my niece off at the Green Bean. But just as I turn up Sycamore to head for Shifter Hollow, an appreciative whistle stops me in my tracks. Prepared to shout at whoever it is, I whip around to find Lola fanning herself as she walks up behind me.
Inky black eyes drift to my feet and back up again as berry-red lips split into a grin. “Lookin’ hot, Lou. Let me guess, you’re going on another date?”
I lean in, not sure how I feel about the whole street hearing about my date plans. Plus, I don’t know if Connall has even told anyone about our current state of affairs, even though I secretively-ish spilled the beans to the girls already. It sort of feels like tonight’s the night where we’ll discuss that, because everything else has happened more privately.
“Yeah.” That’s all I say.
Lola crosses her arms and cocks one hip to the side. “Girl, you’re gonna need to give me more than that. Spill it. You look gorgeous, and I’m just going to needle you to death about it if you don’t tell me now.”
“Okay, okay.” I gesture for her to keep her voice down. “I’m headed to Connall’s place, but keep it to yourself. We still haven’t told a lot of people.”
