Page 101 of Sherry and Sunflowers
"Did everyone else leave already?" Alara asked.
Willow smirked and jerked her chin toward the bar. "Delaney's still here."
"Yeah, but she doesn't need us to get her a drink," Ollie said with a smile.
"Who's that with her?" Alara asked. "Oh, that's Prince Skye."
The others all laughed.
"Prince Skye?" asked Slade. "I hadn't heard that one before."
Alara was about to start explaining, but then it hit her—all these guys spoke Zia. They all had their own Zia names. Slade was the Growly Dragon. Willow was the Warrior Princess Dragon Tamer. Ollie and Callie were the Sunshine King and Queen. She relaxed and smiled at them.
"Yeah. Skye's his last name, isn't it?"
"That's right," said Reaves.
"I think Zia met him before she even met you guys, since Elliott and Trick fly for Jacob. She likes them a lot," Alara said. "She calls Trick Sir Oak."
"I never figured that one out," said Slade. "Where did the Oak come from?"
"Just because he's tall and strong," Alara explained. "She said he feels like he'll be there forever. Like an oak tree."
"Damn, I love that kid," said Willow.
"Trick and Elliott are the other two Flying Ones," Reaves explained.
"Does she check them for wings?" asked Ollie.
Alara laughed. "I know she's checked them both a couple of times. She really wants to know what you guys are made of." Shesmiled at Becca. "Sorry—I don't know your mom's real name. But Zia calls her Lady Darling. She told Zia that the sky stretches the Flying Ones out. That's why you're so tall."
Becca laughed. "That sounds like my mom."
Alara glanced back over at the bar. As they watched, Delaney and Elliott both knocked back a shot. Then Delaney reached for her purse, grabbed her jacket from the back of her stool, and stalked out.
"Do you think she's okay?" Alara asked.
"She'll be fine," said Willow.
"If I know her—and I think I do," said Jacob, "she's playing with him."
"Playing?" Becca echoed.
Willow laughed. "Yeah. Like a cat plays with a mouse before it eats it."
They all laughed at that. All except Alara.
"Do you thinkElliott’sokay?" She’d chatted with Elliott a few times in the week leading up to Jacob and Becca’s wedding. He was a good guy, kind, fun, and flirty on the surface, but he struck her as sad underneath.
Jacob met her gaze and smiled, as if he appreciated her concern. "He’s fine. They’re both players at the same game."
"Come on. Let's get out of here," said Ollie. "Peanut and Butter will be wondering where we are."
Alara enjoyed every moment of the hugs goodbye, and the promises to see each other soon. As they followed Ollie and Callie outside, Reaves wrapped his arm around her.
"You okay? Did you have a good time?"
She nodded happily. "The best."
