Chapter Seven

Orla felt stupid but asked, “Why am I so hungry?”

“You and Strella spoke with each other for a day.”

“What?”

“You are both stars, and time means little, so you talked, and I managed the bed and breakfast. She warned me that might happen, so I brushed up on my customer service skills.”

“Oh. Well, that would explain it.”

Orla remembered both her and Strella having a soft glow, so the passage of time was less noticeable.

“Sorry about that.”

He reached out and squeezed her hand as they drove back to the city. “Not a problem. You were both so happy when you returned that it was worth every dish I washed.”

She shrugged. “What time is it?”

“Just after noon. We can go for lunch anywhere you like.”

Orla looked at her fingers. “How do you feel about diner food?”

“I enjoy it.”

“Nice. There is a place on Seventh.”

“I know it. Across from the gym.”

“Yup.”

“All right. We have a destination.”

She sat and wished she could let Emery know that they were coming, but since the diner was one of her three jobs, it was likely she would be there.

What were the odds that Emery was the second star?

Emery looked at them and grinned. “Why, Orla, you are looking all kinds of dry cleanable.”

“Hey, Emery. Keeping busy?”

“Always. Would you like a booth or a table?”

Hunter smiled. “Booth, by the window, please.”

“Great. Mo will be your server.”

Orla said, “Can you put us in your section?”

“Oh, I only have one booth, but it is against the window.”

Hunter nodded. “Perfect. I know someone at the gym across the way, and if we have a chance, I would like to invite him for coffee.”

“Right this way, then.”

Emery led them to a corner booth that did, indeed, have glass for one wall. Orla said, “When you have a minute, can you answer some questions for me?”

“As soon as I get your order in. I am overdue for a break.”

Orla sat down and nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”

Hunter looked at her. “That is your friend?”

“It is. I don’t feel anything from her, though. Nothing but a sense of calm.”

“Well, we will find out when she returns.”

Orla was nervous. She fidgeted as Emery took their order, and when she came back, she didn’t have her apron on. Emery looked at Hunter. “Scooch over. Orla needs to talk to my face, not the side of my head.”

Hunter was surprised, but he did it. He pulled out his cell phone and started texting.

Orla looked at her friend and just blurted out, “Emery, are you a star?”

Emery grinned. “Well, since you finally woke up, I will answer. Yes. I am a star.”

Orla stared and said, “You mean really?”

“Really. I woke early, and I found you, but I had to wait until you woke up because your family situation was way worse than my foster home. I didn’t want to set the males in your family off, so I just stifled it.”

Orla blinked. “So, it is stifled now?”

“Yeah. I am not going to glow at work. I don’t need to use it, so I don’t.”

“Still working three jobs?”

“Sure. I don’t get tired, and I like to keep busy, so lots of jobs and lots of work.”

“I thought you had to work for money.”

“I sort of do, but not anymore. I own three of the stores I have worked at, including this place. It drives the gym bros across the way nuts when we have our donut Wednesdays.”

Hunter looked up. “You have an issue with the gym owner?”

“Sometimes. He doesn’t like his cross-fit clients coming in covered in powdered sugar.” Emery glanced over. “Oh, good. He’s on his way.”

Orla looked over at the imposing figure crossing the street. His skin was bronze, his hair was black, and his eyes were orangey gold. “You have a beef with that?”

“Beef is a good word. He had half of his minions on keto last month. That was a lot of beef, cheese, and bacon. Sure, they could have had a salad, but that wasn’t their choice,” Emery muttered.

Orla blinked. “So, you faced off against him?”

The man in question was approaching the door.

Emery shrugged. “Sure. All the time. I think it freaks him out. Now, do you want me to prove I am a star? We will have to take a walk to the ladies’ room.”

Orla was out of her seat in a moment. “Meet you there.”

Emery dashed out and sprinted across the room to the ladies’ room, and when Orla was in, she closed the door and flicked off the light. “So, is this what you were expecting?”

Emery was glowing golden orange and smiling at Orla. Orla blinked as her friend changed and stood straight. “Oh, wow.”

“Yeah. It catches a bit of attention, so I am just little ol’ me.”

Orla was stunned at her friend’s appearance. “When did this happen?”

“When I got that foster home in my teens. They helped me unlock... well... me.” She chuckled, her black eyes glowing with an orange halo. “But, human me gets good tips.”

She shrank back to less than six feet tall, and Orla hugged her. “You and me.”

Emery chuckled. “Forever, whether we want it or not. Some stars always travel together and fall together. When you are fully to yourself, you will know how long we have been close.”

“What star are you?”

“No clue. That is the one thing I can’t guess at.” She smiled. “I never saw myself from that angle.”

“Where are we from?”

“The Andromeda Galaxy. Now, this is a one-person bathroom, so I don’t want things to be weird.”

“Wait, can I ask you about this again?”

“Sure. You know where to find me.” Emery hugged her.

“I... I don’t know why I stopped talking to you as much as when we were in school.”

“Your mother died. Your father kicked you out, and you were in a speed wobble. I supported you as best I could and made sure you could find food, shelter, and eventually a crappy car that surprisingly didn’t need a lot of repairs.”

Orla blinked. “You did that?”

“Whether you remembered me or not, I had your back and always will. Remember that.”

Orla hugged her. “Thanks, Emery. So, when are you going to be yourself around here?”

“Meh, when I find a guy who wants me as I am. Everyone around here has an agenda and wants me darker, thinner, bustier, or what have you. They all declare they are willing to settle, and I don’t want someone who settles. I want someone who wants me as I am and is willing to deal with what I change into. So... an imaginary man.”

Orla laughed and hugged her. “I am trying to figure out how to accept that I want Hunter but more in his four-footed form.”

“Man versus fur. The eternal struggle.” Emery opened the door, and they walked back into the diner. There was a ding, and Emery peeled off to get their orders from the kitchen.

Orla saw Hunter sitting next to the hulking man who had crossed the street to the diner and paused. Emery came by with her arms laden with food and grinned. “Have a seat.”

Emery preceded her and said, “Row, get your ass out of the lady’s seat and scoot in next to your buddy.”

The gym bro growled and said, “Who do you think you are talking to?”

“The mound of meat who is disrupting a first date.”

“Watch it, cupcake.” He growled.

Orla stomped forward. “Be nice to her, or I will kick your ass, butthead. I have coughed up scarier stuff than you.”

The man blinked and got up, moving to sit next to Hunter. Hunter was grinning with a lot of exposed teeth.

Orla slid into the booth, and her food was delivered a few seconds later. Hunter got his, and to her surprise, a giant bowl of salad was dropped in front of Hunter’s friend.

Orla chuckled, and Emery winked. “Don’t worry, Row. That’s on the house to keep your mouth occupied.”

She smiled. “Enjoy, Orla. Hunter, it was nice meeting you.”

Emery left them, and Orla was facing her chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes with glee.

She dove in and was stuffing her face before Hunter asked, “You aren’t curious about my friend?”

She shrugged. “Do I have to fuck him or kill him?”

Hunter paused. “No.”

“Then I don’t care. I love this and haven’t been able to afford it in ages. You two talk, and I will eat.”

Hunter chuckled and picked up his burger. “This is Rowen. He is the avatar of autumn.”

Orla looked at the thickly muscled and devastatingly handsome man. “Pleased to meet you.”

“You seem remarkably unimpressed, miss.”

She shrugged. “I have one avatar; I don’t need another.”

“What are you that you are not impressed?”

Orla mumbled around mashed potatoes and gravy. “I am a star who came to Earth and was born here. I just found Hunter, or he found me, and we clicked. So, why should I be impressed with you?”

He blinked. “You are... a star?”

Hunter kept eating. “She is, Rowen. I have seen it. She also has a lot of magical skill for someone who hasn’t properly used it before.”

Orla looked at the huge bowl in front of him. “Aren’t you going to eat your salad?”

He looked at it and frowned. “This is her joke. I once mentioned that she should watch her diet and perhaps she could put on some muscle, and ever since, I have been getting this when I am here.”

Orla snorted. “Boy, you are not smart.”

“She could use some toning. It would improve her health and stamina.”

Emery arrived at their table and poured coffee for both Orla and Hunter. “My curves are mine, my health is great, and my stamina is off the charts. Keep your advice to the folks who come in for training, Row.”

She walked away, and another server came on shift.

Orla chuckled as Rowen stared after her friend. “You have blown any chance with her if that is what you are thinking.”

“She isn’t my type. I have seen my partner, and it isn’t her.”

“Well, I don’t care how you dress up your right hand.” She smirked.

Hunter stared at her with wide eyes.

“What? I work at a shop that makes custom furniture for people who like display and private parties. I have heard a lot more than I generally discuss in open company.”

Hunter laughed. “Good to know.”

Rowen stared and then said, “How do you know Emery?”

Orla smiled. “We have been friends for years. Thousands and thousands of years.”

Rowen looked at her. “Oh, no.”

“Oh, yeah.” She chuckled and kept eating until there was nothing left but a stain from gravy on the plate.

She looked at Hunter. “Phone now?”

“Yes, precious warrior. We will get your phone.” He chuckled and wiped his hands.

Rowen twisted in his seat. “No way she is a star. She feels human.”

Hunter shrugged. “So did Orla. Now she doesn’t.”

Orla shrugged. “Now I feel fancy.”

Hunter snorted.

Rowen had finished his lettuce pile, and Hunter tossed the money onto the table as they got up to leave.

Rowen bowed and said, “It was a pleasure meeting you, Orla. Feel free to call me if you have need of anything.”

Hunter murmured, “She’s covered.”

“You wish.”

“Nobody is covering me until I sort my family out.”

Rowen frowned. “Trouble?”

“Only for a week. After that, things are going to straighten out, one way or another. It should be interesting.”

Hunter snorted and extended his hand. She took it, and they headed out the door, leaving a bemused Rowen in their wake.

* * * *

Emery sighed. “Hey, thug. Your bus is leaving.”

Rowen walked toward her. She was at the door with her purse under one arm.

He growled, “May I speak with you for a few minutes?”

“Sure. Outside. I don’t want to put off anyone’s digestion.”

He nodded and followed her outside.

She waved down the street. “How about at the park? I can sit on the swings, and you can do chin-ups or something.”

“Yes.” He walked beside her, and when she settled on the swing, he leaned nearby.

“So, what do you want to know, Row? Spill it.” She swung slowly. She loved swings.

“Your friend said something that boggles the mind.”

“Oh, what was it? If it was that she is a virgin, that’s true.”

“Interesting, but no. She mentioned that you are a star.”

“Oh. Yes. Started during the Yule orgy and was born too early at the summer solstice. It throws the grand picture off that she and I didn’t enter this world together, but here we are. She didn’t even know until today. The landed star in the hills told her. She saw us arrive.”

“So, why don’t you feel like a star?”

“Because I can mask it, dumbass. My adoptive parents are low-grade magic users, but stopping my power signature from leaking was important when they first fostered me.”

“Can you show me now?”

“I could. But I don’t want to. You are always staring and judging, so I don’t want to give you another topic. Also, there are seven other warlocks or magic users within three blocks, and my kind are like catnip. All and every person that I vibe with will be here in seconds.”

He looked at her and said, “Would you please show me a sign to see what kind of star you are?”

She sighed and looked toward him. Her eyes took on the appearance of a fiery eclipse, and her hair darkened. He gasped and sat heavily. “Oh, shit.”

“What’s the problem?”

“When I was younger and had just become the avatar of autumn, I was granted a view of my life partner. She was tall, strong, and had long dark hair in a dozen colours with eyes the colour of a blazing eclipse.”

“Aw. I will let you know if I ever meet her. She sounds like just your type.”

He snorted. “You know what I am asking.”

“I do. And I don’t have to give you a fucking answer.” She got up from the swing. “Some of us have to adhere to conservation of mass, moron.”

She stalked away and felt him follow as she headed for her car. He moved soundlessly behind her, and when she got to her car, he waited a respectful distance. She got in and drove off. The huge shape in the mirror eventually headed back to the gym.

Rowen couldn’t shake off his astonishment. Right under his nose, right across the street, a star had been delivering the high-calorie meals that his clients tried to hide from him.

Her charming soft curves were tempting beyond belief, but he made his money on getting people into the peak of the human condition. She had taken his offer to help train her as an insult, and he hadn’t been able to walk it back. The endless waves of enormous salads were funny at first, but lately, they just depressed him.

He wanted Emery just as she was, but the image of his partner haunted him. If it was a few centuries ago, he could have both, but now, he just wanted the irritated bundle of snark that made cookies to weaken his knees. Rowen had no idea why her glaring at him got him hard, but it did. He wanted nothing more than to pick her up and kiss her until the harsh expression on her face faded to a soft smile. It was a mammoth task, but he felt up to it. He was going to have to do it the old-fashioned way, he supposed. Courtship. Nice and slow, and away from projectiles. Emery didn’t look easy to convince.