And because it was so slow today I have another chapter. I haven't gotten to review it much so apologies for any blatant and not so blatant errors.
And like I said, I don't know where this is going...it's just going.
The morning sunlight was like little daggers in her eyes. Kenzi didn't remember how she got home from the Dal the night before but she awoke in her bed with a massive hangover. Evidence of her spewed guts was all over the bathroom. She'd deal with that later. Coffee first.
"Mama's coming for you. Just hold on." She mumbled to the awaiting coffee pot in the next room. As she entered the kitchen she stopped dead in her bare footed tracks.
Lauren was sitting at the counter halfheartedly reading the newspaper as Bo nuzzled her neck and whispered what could only be sexy things in her ear by the way Lauren's cheeks flushed pink.
"Ugh. If my guts weren't already all over the bathroom floor I'd chuck them right here."
Bo straightened and pulled away from Lauren but the smirk was still planted on her gorgeous face. She turned her attentions to her breakfast and didn't care that her cereal was soggy.
Lauren cleared her throat trying to tap down the sexual feelings Bo had just left her with. "You look…a little green, Kenzi."
"Nothing a little hair of the dog won't fix."
They watched as Kenzi poured the amber liquid into the bottom of her mug and top it off with steaming hot coffee.
"Kenzi." Bo chuckled. "It's 7:30 in the morning."
"Hair. Of. The. Dog." Closing her eyes she let the concoction warm her insides. But as it hit her empty, queasy stomach she felt it shoot back into her throat. Surprisingly she was able to keep it down and took another sip.
"I guess I don't need to ask how your evening was." Bo finished her soggy cereal and brought her bowl to the sink. She stood next to Kenzi and crossed her arms over her chest-their hips and arms touching. Kenzi could see the smile on Bo's face through her squinted eyes. "How about you shower because, no offense, you smell like a gutter rat, and we'll spend the day together?"
Lauren looked over the top of her newspaper and smiled at the two standing across from her. Being with Bo every night and…um…sometimes mornings and usually at lunch…Lauren knew Bo was neglecting Kenzi. And she didn't want to come between the two. They really were the best of friends and as a human and as a doctor, Lauren knew Kenzi desperately needed a connection with someone. She lowered her newspaper and watched the two banter back and forth. Her eyes blinked rapidly as she realized that besides Bo she didn't really have any friends. Everyone in her life was more an acquaintance than anything.
Standing up from her stool, she refolded the newspaper and laid it neatly on the island. Bo noticed her then and smiled sweetly. Lauren returned her smile before heading upstairs to get ready for her day.
Later that afternoon, Kenzi and Bo were seated at a table at an outdoor café enjoying lunch and camaraderie. Despite the earlier headache, Kenzi was starting to feel like herself again and hanging out with Bo helped tremendously. The burger and fries helped too.
Mid-way through their lunch the hair on the back of Kenzi's neck stood up. It was that feeling again. Someone was watching her. She quickly twisted in her chair looking all around but no one caught her radar.
"What's wrong?" Bo asked between bites of her fries. Lauren would kill her if she knew she was eating the greasy, fat-laden fair. But they were Kenzi's favorites and who could deny Kenzi. That was her excuse anyway.
"I feel like I have a thousand creeper eyes on me."
This put Bo on alert. If someone or some fae was following Kenzi it was most likely because of her. "You think someone's following you?"
"Unknown. But…I've just had this feeling for like a week. I can't shake it. Speaking of shake, don't let me forget to order a to-go triple thick chocolate before we leave." She sighed. "And a vanilla for Lauren because we all know how vanilla she is."
Bo smirked and for a split second her eyes flashed blue as the memories of being with Lauren flew through her mind. "Well the side I see isn't so vanilla. Trust me."
Kenzi held up her hand. "The sides of Lauren you see are not the sides of Lauren Kenzi needs to see or hear about."
Bo laughed at her friend as Hale walked up to their table. "Ah two lovely ladies." He smiled his classic smile. "It's good to see you're out and about today, Kenz, especially with the night you had."
Kenzi looked at him curiously. "You saw me?"
He reached up and rubbed the side of his face. "And felt you…when you slapped my face. It still hurts."
Kenzi clearly had no memory of the previous night. "My favorite tender o' bar must have poured me the good stuff by accident. I don't remember jack about last night." She scratched her head. "I remember going to the Dal and drinking. But I only remember having like dos tequilas and then I woke up this morning."
"Why did she slap you, Hale?" Bo asked. This story was getting more and more fascinating.
"It came out of nowhere. But," he turned serious and lowered his voice. "I'm the Ash now and I've got a reputation to uphold. If someone saw that and it gets out that a human…"
"Hey!" Bo stopped him. "It's Kenzi." She really couldn't believe he was being like that.
"Things are different now, Bo." Hale shrugged and started to walk off. He put a hand lightly on Kenzi's shoulder before she pulled away from his touch. He left without another word.
She was speechless—for probably the first time ever.
Even from across the street he could see she was upset. It infuriated him that he couldn't go after The Ash for hurting Kenzi. Any retaliation on his part would surely cause a war. And technically he wasn't supposed to be there anyway.
He watched her play with the hair around her ear and he couldn't help but raise his hand. With the slight twitch of his finger he made her poke herself gently in the ear. It wasn't enough of a manipulation for her to know it was him.
But it made him smile seeing the look on her face.