I snort. “A glowing endorsement.”
“Sure is.” His green eyes are unfocused as they bounce around my face. “But I’m warning you, you better treat my brother right. Or I’ll sic The Colonel on you.” Squinting one eye, he unloops his arm from Devin and jams his finger in my general direction. The jerky motion throws him off balance, and we careen sideways. I flail, and somehow end up with my face smooshed against Perry’s chest. The scent of freshly cut grass, cinnamon, and whisky overwhelms me, and my stomach somersaults.
Devin grabs Perry’s arm before we topple over, yanking him back—me along with him. “Jesus, Perry. Get it together.”
He holds up a hand. “Sorry, sorry.”
The Uber finally arrives, and loading Perry into the little Ford Fusion without him landing in the gutter is a whole other adventure. After several maneuvering attempts, we manage to get all his limbs into the back seat and clamber in after him. My place is only a few blocks away, so the Uber driver suggests dropping me off first. Perry’s passed out by the time we get to my house, head tipped back against the headrest, snoring softly.
“Is he okay?” I ask Devin.
“Oh yeah, he’s fine. He’ll sleep it off.”
When I step out of the car, Devin follows and walks with me up the sidewalk. We pause on my porch, standing in the pool of light cast by the outdoor sconce.
“Sorry again about Perry,” he says.
“It’s okay. I had a nice time tonight.”
“Me too.” Sauntering closer, he offers me a shy smile. “Look, I know we only met up to try to solve your mystery, but I’d like to take you out. For real.”
Joy flutters like a tiny bird inside my chest. “I’d like that.”
“Good.” A smile tugs at the corner of Devin’s lips as he drops his eyes to my mouth. He leans in, intent unmistakable, and our lips connect.
Mint lingers on his lips as he presses them against mine. Out of our three kisses tonight, this is certainly the most chaste—probably because the Uber driver is waiting with Perry passed out in the back seat—only a swift meeting of breath and bodies. An acknowledgment of more to come. A heartbeat later he steps back with a dazzling smile.
“What are you doing after work on Tuesday?” he asks.
I rack my brain and nothing comes to mind, but I’ve learned I can’t trust my memory at the best of times, let alone after several cocktails and a shot of whisky. I take out my phone and check my calendar app. “Nothing.”
“I’m planning to see my favorite eighties cover band perform on the East Bank of the Flats. Want to come?”
“It’s a date.”
“Great. I’ll text you.” Waving, Devin backs down the stairs and climbs into the waiting Uber.
I watch the car pull away, then unlock the front entrance and step inside. After closing the door, I lean against it and grin up at the ceiling. Tonight was better than I ever could have imagined.
In the living room, I find Brie asleep on the couch. The Netflix home screen shines from the television in the corner, illuminating Xerxes perched above her on the sofa like a bodyguard. Brie must have fallen asleep waiting for me to come home. My gut twists. I should have texted her an update and told her not to wait up. Clicking off the TV, I tug the scrunched blanket at her feet up to her shoulders. Xerxes clicks in warning.
“Oh hush, I’m not hurting her,” I whisper.
In the kitchen, I open and close each cabinet as quietly as I can, searching for a vase for my lilies. The best I can find is a large glass pitcher, so I drop in the stems and fill it with water. I trudge upstairs with my flowers, head pounding with every step. After a quick stop in the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth, I arrange the pitcher of lilies on my desk, peel off my rumpled clothes, yank on my pajamas, and flop onto my bed. My mattress groans in protest.
My door creaks open, and Brie pokes her head inside my room. Her glasses sit lopsided on her nose, and her blond hair is as wild as a lion’s mane. “Hey, how did drinks with Devin go?”
“Good. Really good, actually.”
“Did you guys figure out where you met before?”
I shake my head.
“Bummer.” Leaning against the door frame, she yawns.
I hug my knees to my chest. “I’m seeing him again on Tuesday though.”
She snaps her mouth closed and her eyes go wide. “Like a date?”
“Well… yeah.”
“Holy shit, Cass.” Shuffling into my room, she stretches out on her side along the foot of my bed, propping her head up with her hand. “You know I don’t buy into the spiritual stuff, but maybe you and Devin really are meant to be.”