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“I am glad,” I say. “And it is only the start of what we can do together.”
Jeffrey looks positively radiant with how happy I have made him, and for a moment, our side of the booth is all that exists in the world.
“Now I see how you two make sense,” Cas reminds us that we are not alone. “You’re both history nerds.”
“And why would Jeffrey and I not make sense?” I ask. His hand rests on the table, and I place mine atop it like I had in Sage. Jeffrey has not wished that I pretend to be his paramour, but it seems implied. They believe we are courting, and I can tell Jeffrey enjoys this assumption, even if he pulled his hand away from me last time.
“Don’t get me wrong. One knockout deserves another,” Cas says, making Jeffrey tilt his head down with a blush. He does not believe he is a knockout, yet I know he does when he is a painted beauty in the guise of a seamstress. “But Jeffrey hasn’t been doing much pursuing lately. I assume you made the first move?”
“I suppose I did, didn’t I?” When I fell upon Jeffrey and lifted his skirt to get closer to the allure of desire already emanating from him. “I truly could not help myself.”
Jeffrey’s blush deepens, but his thumb slips out from beneath my hand to stroke along the side of my pinky finger.
How… wonderful.
“Awwwww,” SJ coos at us, “you two are too cute! That’s it! Lunch is on me.”
“You don’t have to do that!” Jeffrey says.
“I want to! The shop is doing amazeballs. You’re gonna come check it out today finally, right?” she asks, starting to move out of the booth.
“You want to go there on your own day off?” Jeffrey asks.
“Um, I also like to shop there, and I can’t when I’m on the clock. I mean, I could, but then I’d never have anything left to sell.” SJ’s laugh is like a bell. I understand why Jeffrey is so taken with her. Why Cas is too, in a very different manner, of course. “Ooo, babe, let’s grab some scones to bring home for breakfast tomorrow.” She drags Cas after her to go to the bakery counter and cover our bill.
It is pleasing to see them so openly together, when open was rarely how couples of their persuasion would have been in my previous era.
Or my first era some of the time.
“Did you really get to meet Sarah Bernhardt?” Jeffrey whispers, though no one is close enough to overhear.
“I did. She and Mattie butted heads. Very similar personalities. But after some wine flowed, they were best friends in no time.”
“Wow.” Jeffrey’s thumb is still stroking my skin. “I keep forgetting you were there. You were lots of places and times, weren’t you?”
“I was.”
“And I haven’t asked you about any of it. I want to! To know you better. Where you’ve been. What you’ve been through.”
“You can ask me anything, Jeffrey, and I will answer.”
He glances toward SJ and Cas, but they are still in line to get their pastries and pay. His eyes are full of wonder when he asks, “Were you always… what you are? Or were you human once?”
Ah. One of the right questions. “I was human once.”
“How long ago?”
“Very long.”
“Before the fall of Babylon?” Jeffrey thinks he is joking.
But the answer is, “Precisely.”
Jeffrey’s eyes widen behind his glasses. I do rather like them on him, much as I also like him without and with his eyes lined and lashes black. “What did you do back then?” he asks. “Like, what was your profession?”
“I was a performer, like you. I told stories, recited poetry, danced. Though I was not nearly as compelling as you.”
“I doubt that.” Jeffrey chuckles. “Did you have family, friends?”
