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My hand started shaking Enore the heat spreading over rown quiet I glanced around to realize we’d soht flustered me even o far Reyes caught it, his movement too fast for my mind to corip on it Once I did, he stood I stepped back but still had to crane htening – way possible
And then he spoke the very first words he’d ever spoken to me His deep, rich voice dissolved my bones I almost responded with "Of course I’ll have sex with you before you sacrifice ods" Then I realized he’d asked me where the restroom was
I cleared my throat and pointed "It’s just down that hall and to the right"
That could’ve been eer, his expression almost unreadable if not for the faintest hint of sadness Or perhaps… disappointrasp the emotion exactly, he stepped around s at last With cool air this ti just then how his presence scalded o buht Metaphorically and literally I also realized that the onlookers were no longer paying attention to me Every head turned toward Reyes as he walked past
"You okay, sweetie?" Cookie asked fro I’d seen in aze back to the table There, branded into the wood, was a ritten in an ancient Celtic language A language that was no longer used It was a word that referred to the people and culture of the Netherlands In a literal and modern-day translation, however, he’d written the word Dutch
4
Being an adultto show your work on lanced at the table and back at me "What is it, hon?"
She couldn’t see it He’d seared the wood, but not in the tangible world Hoas that even possible?
Another realization hit e, a dead one, and there was only one possible explanation I faced Cookie with eyes rounded "I think I knohat I aenius"
She chuckled "You are?"
"I am" She followed me back to the prep area "I’m smart But not just s "I’y of so Osh’s plate off the counter
"What kind of prodigy?" Osh asked
I was still reeling from the possibilities of it all And the fact that Reyes had talked tosmart I know shit"
"Like your na "Fine, I don’t know my name, but I know other stuff"
"I’ to a child I was glad she iping down the counter; otherwise she probably would have patted ht be an astronouy who invented Friendbook"
Cookie handed me a plate for immediate delivery while she balanced the other three on her left arood "I’uy who invented Friendbook"
"How do you know?"
"He has short curly red hair"