The Other Side Page 9

  “That was weak,” Foss critiqued me, sitting next to me with a territorial air I was all too familiar with. “She’s clearly a servant. You don’t ask for what you want.” He pressed his fist to the dark wood table. “You tell them.”

  I handed him a menu and gripped the front of the shirt he’d borrowed from Jamie, pulling him down so I could whisper in his ear. “Look, rat. This is why I didn’t want you in my world. You don’t know crap about anything here, so don’t you dare tell me what to do or how to be. You begged me, begged to come over to my world. I told you I didn’t think you could submit to me.” I could smell his manly scent I wish I wasn’t familiar with, and tried to ignore the intimacy of my cheek pressed against his. “Are you going to let me be right?”

  When I released him, I pulled back, but realized his body was nearly wrapped around mine just from that small encounter. His shoulders curved forward, swallowing my form in his. His knees were open, and my body had been between them. Nothing lewd, but given our history that was barely history, we both swallowed with discomfort at the feelings we wished were not there.

  He kept his voice low. “I can submit. You forget my mother was a slave. I was a stable boy once upon a time.”

  I patted the top of his head just to patronize him. “That’s a good little rat. Put your menu down. I’ll decide what and when you eat. You be good, I’ll feed you. You act up, and I’ll pin you down and shove food down your throat when I feel charitable.”

  “You were starving yourself!” I could tell he wanted to argue further, but bit his tongue. In that simple action, I could tell Stina had been successful in peeling back the layers of his curse. “I can submit,” he repeated, more for himself this time than for me.

  The bartender came over to our table with a pink cocktail. “This is from the gentleman at the bar.”

  I blushed and glanced up at the bar with a grin aimed at Jens, who looked resigned to the downward turn our night had taken. He made his way over to us and sat across from me, leaning back in his chair and crossing his ankle over his knee. “So, Jamie doesn’t know what a date is, does he.”

  “We’ll go out another time. It’s fine.” I sipped my drink. It was fruity and packed a medium punch. A far sight better than Gar. “Not a bad move, Jens Bond.”

  He rolled his eyes. “That wasn’t my move. It was a joke to make you blush, which it did. Mission accomplished.” He put on a forced smile for his sister. “See anything good?”

  Britta was studying the menu as if there might be a test on it later. “I can really choose anything here?”

  “You got it, sis.”

  “What’s ravioli?”

  Jens systematically explained every single menu item on the entrees page, patiently waiting for Britta to find something that sounded appetizing. He lost his irritation at having to babysit the others and smiled at his sister. “This world looks good on you, Britt. I mean, the clothes sure, but the independence. It works for you.” He motioned around the restaurant. “Women have as much choices as men here. Give it a couple months, and you’ll fit in better than you ever did in Tonttu.”

  Britta grinned up at her brother. “I like it here. I can see why you stayed away from us for so long.”

  When the waitress came back, I ordered for myself, Foss and Jamie. Jens got his treasured spaghetti, and Britta ordered three entrees for herself since she couldn’t decide. “Is that okay?” she asked, handing over the menu.

  “Get whatever you want, Britt. I told you, you’re just as powerful as a man over here. If you want to eat three meals, go for it. I personally don’t think you’ll be able to, but I’ll have fun watching you try.”

  “I’ll take that challenge.” There was life in Britta’s eyes that Undraland had dulled out over the years. It was a beautiful thing to watch.

  The five of us chatted about the difference in hotels, the drive and other such things before Jens and I let them fire away question after question about our world.

  “No, Jamie. You can’t drive the car.”

  “Why not? I’m a prince. Do they not allow princes to drive their own cars?”

  Jens shook his head. “They don’t allow people who haven’t passed a test to show they know what they’re doing to drive. I’m telling you, it’s more complicated than you realize.”

  Lucy can do it. How complicated can it be?

  “Hey! I heard that, you jerk.” I kicked Jamie under the table. “I co-killed that Were with you and the Sleipnir. I drowned the Circhos and figured out how to blow up the farlig. I’m not dead weight, here.”

  Jamie looked down, contrite. “I’m sorry, syster. It was a fleeting thought not meant to be heard. You’re vital to the mission. If it weren’t for you, we’d certainly all be at the bottom of the sea.”

  I scratched my scalp. “Good thing that farlig opened its mouth right when I needed him to. If he hadn’t done that, it wouldn’t have worked.”

  Jens, Britta and Foss looked away from me at once. Jens sipped his drink. “You were amazing. I hope they have ice cream here. I didn’t look. But that’ll be a good thing for them to try, don’t you think?”

  The waitress brought our food, and I was grateful I’d insisted on a full table instead of a booth. The many entrees were spread out in the center, and we picked at each one at our leisure, mixing them and laughing as we reminisced about the different flavors kanins should come in, had we the choice.

  I fed Jens a bite of lobster ravioli that Britta swore up and down she could finish, but tapped out after trying the crab cakes. Foss ate without incident, but every now and then I caught him watching me as if he had something to say.

  When the dessert menu was presented, Britta groaned. “Oh, I can’t stomach another bite.”

  “You say that now. Wait until you try ice cream, sis. I’m telling you, it’ll blow your mind.” I laughed at Jens’s imitation of brains exploding out the side of his skull.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a movement directed at me. I turned and lost all other thoughts in my brain.

  “Lucy? I… Lucy?”

  Brown eyes, mocha skin, tight spindly braids and a gaping mouth I’d recognize anywhere beamed at me in astonishment as if she was seeing a ghost.

  For all intents and purposes, she was.

  I knocked over my chair as I stood in haste, forgetting everything else. I ran to her, forsaking my friends in that moment for my one true girlfriend.

  Tonya screamed a mix of elation and fear as our bodies collided in a hug that outweighed all others on the planet in terms of relief and love.

  16

  Tonya in the Flesh

  Tonya burst into tears in my arms. “But you’re dead! The coroner told me you died in the fire! I don’t understand!”

  There was no explanation but the absurd. “Witness Protection. I wanted to tell you so many times, but I couldn’t. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!”

  “Are you serious? That’s so James Bond of you. You’re alive!” She hugged me anew, kissing my face as we wept all over each other.

  “I am. And you’re… you’re you. As you as you’ve always been.” Her black spindly hair matched her dark skin perfectly, and her eyes danced with love for me as she processed all the time lost between us.

  “I’m less me without you,” she admitted, squeezing me again.

  “That’s the thing about best friends you share shoes with.” I pointed down at our feet, noting that she was wearing one black Chuck and one red, just like I was. It was as if we subconsciously knew we would meet up today, and our feet were ready for the reunion.

  “Oh, that’s freaky! Come sit with me and Man Friend.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder to a guy in his early forties who looked creepily old next to her youthful-barely-out-of-teen-years exuberance. Had she not pointed him out, I would never have guessed they were together.

  “Oh, hi. Nice to meet you, Man Friend.” I stuck my hand out and shook his, feigning happiness to meet him to cover over the ick factor.

/>   He was tall, dark and hunched with a round face not prone to smiling. One of his eyes pointed in a wonky direction while the other followed me in a way that was not friendly. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Man Friend and I have been together for two months.”

  Girl talk after so much time apart and so many monsters slain was a welcome flood of happiness and flittery flowers. I scarcely remembered the girl I used to be, but having Tonya to remind me brought me more relief and emotion than I would have ever found on my own.

  I smiled through my tears. “Two months, huh? He must be magical. Should I wish for a pot of gold while he’s here?”

  She shrugged, shaking her head. “I tried that, and nothing.” We giggled at his expense, but he gave no reaction to this. He only sighed and looked around as if he did not know us.

  I kinda hated him.

  Tonya clasped her hands together, getting right down to business. “Tell me everything you’re allowed to. This whole being without you thing? I’m over it. So over it. You’re never leaving my sight again.”

  My heart and posture fell simultaneously. “I can’t stay, T. I wish I could, but they pulled me out for a reason. It’s not safe for me to be around people not in the program.”

  She nodded, crestfallen. “You’re here tonight, though, right? I got a place down the street from here. Come with me just for tonight. We can catch up and talk till we’re all up to speed.” She pinched me to test if I was a mirage. “I can’t believe it’s really you. I’m not hallucinating, right?”

  “No more than usual.”

  She motioned to the booth she’d been headed toward before I’d intercepted her. “Come eat with me,” she begged.

  I pulled her toward the others. “No. You can meet my friends. They’re in my new life, and I’m sure they’d love to meet you. They’ve heard stories about your antics.”

  “My juggling antics? Because I left my chainsaws at home.”

  It was the perfect bit of nonsense. She always was. I stopped walking and hugged her again. “I missed you,” I whispered in her ear. “Of all the things I wish I didn’t have to give up, you’re the biggest one.”

  Tonya looked at me as if I was made of gold. “Back at you, Little L.” We held hands like little girls as I brought her to the table of gawkers.

  “Guys? This is my BFF, Tonya.”

  Tonya waved and nodded at Jamie and Britta as they introduced themselves.

  I was too distracted by seeing Tonya to comment on Jens’s calculating manor or Foss’s steaming bull impression directed at Man Friend, who hung back like a stalker.

  When it was his turn, Foss stood, towering over Tonya just to intimidate Man Friend. “I’m Foss, Lucy’s husband,” he said, directing his glare at Man Friend. Foss wrapped an arm around my middle possessively. I heard Jens hiss under his breath.

  Tonya’s hand flew over her heart. “You’re married?! Little Miss too-busy-studying-to-go-to-the-clubs-on-a-Friday-night is up and married? Foss, is it?” She ignored the threat he was trying to send them and threw her arms around him, shocking the scowl off his face. “Oh, I love you already! You married my best friend? You’re the luckiest man alive! She’s amazing. Tell me you’re a bodybuilder or something that makes sense, because I mean, holy crap. That’s just impractical.” She motioned to his height and musculature.

  Tonya was rambling, which meant she found him attractive and was trying to hide it.

  She didn’t give Foss a chance to answer, which was good, since he was perplexed as to why his intimidation was not working on her. “Oo! Show me the ring!” She grabbed at my finger, but frowned when it was not bedecked in karats.

  I dug the large gold ring out of my shirt and displayed it to her. “Ta-da. It’s an heirloom.” I explained the absence of a diamond.

  Tonya grinned through her gut response of disappointment. “Well, it’s beautiful.” She hugged me again. “You’re married, kid. Married and alive. I’m telling you, I’m so happy, I could explode all over the restaurant!” She turned to Jens. “Who’s this tall drink of handsome?”

  Jens stood and extended his hand to Tonya. “Jens, Lucy’s handler.”

  I shot him an apologetic look, which he brushed off with a half-smile. Of course this is how our date would go.

  Tonya mumbled something like, “I’d like him to handle me,” and a “Mother may I?” when she shook Jens’s hand. Clearly she and Man Friend were very close. “Let’s blow this joint and go back to my place. Too much catching up to do for a restaurant. I plan on kidnapping you nice and proper.”

  Foss did not find this amusing. He kept a respectful distance from Tonya, lest he lose his temper and smack her.

  We got our food packed up and drove behind Tonya and Man Friend three blocks down to a cute little house with white shudders and, of all things, a white picket fence.

  My heart ached so badly, Jamie rubbed his chest to soothe us both. I ran my fingers over the fence in longing. A white picket fence had never been Tonya’s dream. I was happy for her, but part of me felt my own dream life moving further and further away. “You live here?” I inquired of the family-style ranch. My jaw was on the floor as I took in the property – actual land – that my dear friend was the owner of. “Like, you live here. You have a house? How? How do you have a house?” I rested my hand on the picket fence. It was iconic and perfect, like I’d always envisioned. My emotions tugged at me, and I could feel Jens watching my reaction. “Tonya, how do you have all this?”

  “Settlement from when the apartment burned down. Danny spent all his on a vacation and video games. Didn’t think it was possible to waste that much so fast, but he rallied for the occasion.” She unlocked the door to her house and ushered us in, grinning when Foss hit his head on the frame. “Watch it, Shaq. My ceilings weren’t built for giants. How tall are you?”

  Tonya put a kettle on the stove as she fired off a million questions in a single-file line. When she reached the end of her queries and was rummaging in the cupboards to make us all some tea, I finally breathed and allowed myself to look around the house. “T, your place is amazing! When did you turn into an interior decorator?” The caramel walls had lavender accents painted near the top and bottom. There was artwork on the walls and an adult woman setup in the living room where we were all gathered. It didn’t seem like her taste, but it was nice all the same. “You have knickknacks! Tons of them! What is this?” I pointed to a ceramic cow that I could not believe was her taste. Our apartment had always been so bare and mismatched. “You’re domestic!” I accused. “You’ve Stepforded on me! Seriously, how did you do all this? You’re like a true grownup.”

  Tonya grinned as she came out into the living room, taking in the sight of me in her home. “I love that you’re here. It’s perfect now.” She motioned to a side table littered with kitten collectibles next to the couch she ushered Foss and I to. “All this stuff’s from my mom. She cleaned out her basement and brought it over when she helped me move. She calls to check in on the ceramic kittens once a week at least.”

  “Ah. That makes more sense. How did you and Man Friend meet?”

  She waved off the question. “Oh, you know. Grieving girl loses best friend, runs to her shrink. They fall in love. The rest is history.” Then she gave me a seductive smirk. “Or chemistry.” She grinned over at Man Friend, who was skulking behind her in a way that made me uncomfortable for her. His black eyes darted around the house, not landing on any of us for too long. “Nice try. It’s you who’s got the questions to answer.” She rattled off seven more before the kettle sang and she jumped up to get it with Man Friend.

  Jens was leaning on the wall next to the couch Foss and I were seated on. He whispered, “Can I say I hate her boyfriend?”

  “No, but you can whisper it. And it’s Man Friend, not boyfriend.”

  “No joke. Dude’s like fifty.”

  Britta and Jamie were on the loveseat. Britta piped in with, “I think Tonya’s lovely. Just as fun as you described. And
to invite us all in like this. It’s very nice of her.”

  I smiled at Britta. “Thanks for saying that. She is amazing. I miss her so much. Makes me happy you like her.”

  “Something’s off,” Jens commented, looking around the living room skeptically. “I can’t put my finger on it, but we’re not sleeping here, even if she offers. Got it?”

  “Oh, you’re no fun,” I pouted.

  When Tonya brought the tea to the coffee table, she switched to questioning Foss, grilling him with precision only a best friend could. “So, Foss. Tell me why you think you deserve to be with Lucy. She’s only the greatest girl on the planet. How’d you win her over?”

  That’s my girl.

  Foss looked at me, trying to hide his annoyance and shrugged. “I bought her for sixty gold coins.”

  Tonya paused and then burst out laughing. I cackled along as I socked his shoulder with wide eyes. “Oh, honey. Shut up. Your jokes are just terrible.” Then I turned to Tonya. “You know the story. Girl meets boy, boy falls madly in love with girl. Girl tolerates boy. They live happily ever after.” Tonya and I laughed together, and I could feel Britta, Jamie and Jens watching me.

  “Sure, but the details. I’m sorry, I just can’t believe you’re married! Did you want sugar in your tea? I know you’ve never been much of a tea drinker, but I just started batching my own with Man Friend. Try it!” She clasped her hands together, squealing with girlish anticipation.

  I knew I wouldn’t escape without drinking it down to the dregs. I downed mine halfway in one gulp and grinned. The taste was like pixie stix and something flowery sweet that stung my nose almost like carbonation. At least she didn’t use hot dog water. “It’s delicious,” I lied. “You’re so talented.”

  Tonya motioned for everyone else to try theirs. “Drink up, guys. I’m just learning how to make it myself.”

  I gave Jens a brave smile, which he returned. He shook his head at me when I pointed to his cup, and it dawned on me that he probably knew more about Tonya than I did from his days spent watching me. Her terrible luck in the kitchen scared him off.