The shower is nice, relaxing, but by the time I get out, I can barely keep my eyes open.
I dry myself and get dressed, “borrowing” a bit of Ash’s deodorant as I didn’t bother to pack any in my bag before I left for the fight, and I shuffle my way back to the living room.
Ash is sitting back on the couch with a large bowl of buttered popcorn and I sit next to her, leaning all the way back and letting gravity and the couch beneath me do the work of holding me upright.
“Feel better?” she asks, but I’m halfway to sleep.
“What was that?” I ask.
“Never mind,” she says. “Just sit back and I’ll get the movie going.”
That’s about the last thing I remember before losing the battle against sleep.
* * *
When my eyes open again, they’re greeted with another pair about an inch away from my face.
“I think he’s awake,” the strange woman in front of me calls out loudly. “Have you been travelling the realms?” she asks.
Despite her unnerving proximity, I still have to ask, “Are you talking to me?”
The woman stands up straight and says, “You need more kale in your diet. It’ll help you stay sharp in the morning.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I tell her.
I take a quick glance around, finding Jana standing over the sink, pouring herself a glass of water. Ash isn’t in the room.
“Where’s Ash?” I ask.
“Such a silly name for a beautiful young goddess, don’t you think?” the woman who can only be Starbright asks.
From Ash’s descriptions of Jana’s mother, I was expecting paisley and peace signs, but the only outward indication of Starbright’s eccentricity is the vivid purple and pink hair.
“She had to run to the store,” Starbright says. “We were out of hummus.”
“I love hummus,” I say, not knowing how else to respond.
“Great,” she says. “You should stick around. Have you ever had your palms read?”
I rub my eyes.
“No,” I answer.
“Well, I charge twenty for a full read
ing, ten for an overview, but since you’re practically family, I think I could cut you a discount if you’d like.”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that,” I tell her, making my way to my feet, hoping it’s not too obvious how uncomfortable I am right now.
“All right,” Starbright says, “full price, then. I do appreciate those who appreciate things,” she says and she’s staring at me as if she’s looking for some sort of approval.
“Me too,” I say, slowly making my way toward my bag and then, or so the plan goes, the door.
Jana’s mom seems nice enough, but she’s a little intense for my tastes. She’s just glaring at me.
“When was the last time you had your aura cleansed?” she asks.
“Mom,” Jana calls, “Ash made you promise not to do that in the apartment anymore after you spilled your frankincense all over the couch and burned holes in the cushions.”