Chapter 14

Blondie showed up as Mo arrived back at my table. I stood for Mo to sit, as Blondie took Mo by the arm, elbow to elbow.

Mo smiled at me, and ignored Blondie.

“Hello. I’m Koby, we didn’t get a chance to meet before,” I told Blondie, reaching out to shake her hand.

“I’m Monique.”

“She’s my roommate,” Mo offered.

“Ah, shall we sit and enjoy the music, or do you need to go?” I asked.

“Told you, very reserved,” Blondie said to Mo.

“But he smells like peaches,” Mo replied.

The crowd had dropped, but we were still standing near the stage, even if we were at the side. I leaned my head towards the exit, “Should we talk elsewhere, or sit?”

“Nowhere I want to go right now,” Blondie replied.

I started to sit, but Mo said, “I need to get home, I have school tomorrow.”

I momentarily panicked about it being highschool before remembering I’d read her talents, and she was 26.

I reached out to shake her hand, when she took mine, I put one hand over, the other under, holding her hand gently but firmly.

“Best night I’ve had in years, thank you again,” I told those liquid brown eyes.

“Here, let me give you my number,” she said, as I released her hand. jotting it down on a napkin.

I took the napkin, and looked at Blondie who was smirking.

Then they were both gone, and I sat again. I finished the last of my coffee, now cold, having been forgotten in the wonder of her voice.

I looked at the napkin, and took a photo of the number, then texted it: Thank you for a wonderful afternoon and evening, best time I’ve had in years. Koby, the magician who smells like peaches.

The reply came faster than I expected: You are fun, I enjoyed tonight too, thank you for dinner and dessert. Mo, the singer who likes peaches and magic.

I idly played with the cup as Connor’s piano skills wafted soft music. I sighed, and considered all the choices before me. I had one Mo problem to add to the rest.

I had missed using up all my points to cash in on my daily double, but I had remembered in time to use my forget me skill while I was listening. The effect wasn’t very noticeable when you’re sitting by yourself in a crowded room.

It had been a good night, I’d gotten thousands of points handing out peaches, even if they were all negative, plus thousands more doing magic for Mo.

There was a little crowd at the door as I went to leave, but I didn’t mind spending the 25 points a minute to watch them part like Moses at the Red Sea.

The darkness was disorienting, and it took me extra time to find the car. Downtown traffic was light, but I made a wrong turn and the one way streets kept me running in circles until I got the right road back to the hotel.

I slipped up into the room with no one noticing, then remembered I needed to come back in a wheelchair. I found a dark corner, and put the casts on, and got the wheelchair out. Max was on duty, and called a guy to help me up to the room.

Finally back, I dropped the casts, and left the chair by the door. A hot shower was wanted, but I just fell into bed instead.

I woke late, and looked at my stats: