“You like to collect strays.”
“Strays?”
“Yeah.” I grinned and pointed to myself. “Like me. Now Seraphia.”
Mac shrugged. “What can I say? There aren’t really any stray cats in town, and you’re the next best thing.”
I laughed, and the four of us headed up to my place, taking the stairs two at a time.
When we passed Mac’s door, she paused. “Do you have wine?”
I scoffed. “Do I have wine? Only the finest adult juice boxes in all the land.”
Mac laughed. “Those little single-serving boxes?”
“The very same. If you’re lucky, I’ll give you a straw.”
Her brows rose, interest gleaming in her eyes. “Fantastic. I’ll get some crisps.”
“If Cordelia hasn’t eaten them all.”
“Fingers crossed.” She darted into her place.
“Thanks.”
Eve and Seraphia reached my door first. “Let yourself in,” I said, gesturing. “It’s unlocked.”
“You
should lock it,” Seraphia said. “This place isn’t as safe as it seems.”
I frowned at her. She wasn’t wrong, but the way she said it…
She shifted and looked away, then followed Eve into the flat.
Yeah, Seraphia had a tricky past, all right. But it was none of my business unless she wanted to share, so I put it aside.
“Make yourself at home.” I gestured to the couches. “How do you feel about kebabs?”
“Fantastic,” Eve said.
Seraphia nodded. “Love them.”
I went to the window and set the history book on the little table. I grabbed the paper menu from the restaurant below us, then picked up a pen and pad of paper. I handed the goods off to Eve and Seraphia. “Jot down what you want.”
I already knew my order by heart…and Cordelia’s. I no sooner placed an order with the restaurant than Cordelia appeared, no matter where she was in the city. I swore she could hear the scratching of the pen.
Mac appeared at the door. “Ooh, good idea,” she said, spotting the menu and pad of paper. “Get me a Donner Kebab, please.”
“No problem.”
Orders completed, I placed the paper in the bucket by the window and lowered it by the attached rope. Leaning out, I watched Berat, the restaurant owner, grab the bucket.
“Mission complete,” I said, pulling my head from the window.
“That’s a handy system,” Seraphia said.
I grinned. “All Mac’s idea. She came up with it.”