I could feel his presence as soon as I thought about it, a flickering flame, lighter than fire giants, somehow. “He’s in the food court.”

Clara worried her lower lip as she followed me.

“Look. This guy isn’t human, he’s thousands of years old, whatever he wants isn’t a lasting thing.” I thought about Kanesha and felt guilty.

“My life isn’t lasting for him,” she pointed out.

“I…I know that.” I brushed back my hair, glanced around the mall. I saw him, then. He looked entirely human, of course, wearing jeans and a hideously ugly diamond pattern sweater. “Ugh. Where are the fashion police?”

“Busy arresting frost giants?”

She had a point. Angrboda hadn’t exactly been dressed snappily. “Some of them. Skadi has a sense of style.”

He glanced up. “Clara…”

She sighed. “Say it.” I nudged her with my elbow.

“I’m sorry, Abdul, I’m not interested in…in a second round.”

He looked down. “I was hoping for a few.”

I shook my head. “And when you got bored with her?”

A slightly stricken look, then he pushed out chairs for us. “I was just hoping for…I wanted to take her to some cool places, show her a bit of the world.”

Clara managed a smile. “That does sound like it would appeal, but…look. That night was the lust imps and you know it.”

“Hey, a guy can hope.”

He did seem to be taking it well. “Maybe we can all try being friends?”

Clara frowned. “I said…”

I rolled my eyes again. “The friendzone is something guys make up when they don’t want to accept a no. It doesn’t exist. We can be friends.”

“Maybe,” Abdul said, quietly. “You and I certainly have something in common.”

“Sorry, I’m not interested in playtime either.”

“Fair enough.”

I really wished I could introduce him to Monica. “And Thruor’s dating somebody right now too, but…”

Finally, he grinned. “But if I can’t find somebody in a city this size…”

“Then you’re losing your touch. But a dozen red roses is overkill, okay?”

It was his turn to blush.

“So…while you’re here…I might be able to use your help.”