24

I felt more normal after talking to her. She had reminded me I was still a kid; still just as much a teenager as I’d thought before I found out who I was.
And it seemed that being with her brought back more random memories. Nothing useful, nothing in coherent order, but memories nonetheless. Good ones, many of them.

But I felt much more up to talking to Kanesha now. It being a hot day, I called her from a frozen yogurt place.

She showed up in a few minutes. “Gotta love Sunday. And spring.”

“Before it gets abysmally hot.” Which it would be by the middle of May, if things went as they normally did. After the winter, could I be sure they would?

It felt…normal and right, though. If something was unnatural, I knew I’d know it now.

“Yeah.” She ordered the raspberry flavor and I got a scoop of chocolate and a scoop of orange sorbet.

A fantastic combination, that. I mixed it together with my spoon. “I talked to my mom.”

Kanesha nodded. “I’d like to meet her.”

“I’ll see if she will. She’s a bit more…distant…than Loki.”

“Kind of surprising for the goddess of fidelity.”

“Maybe. Maybe it’s easier to watch over relationships if you’re careful which ones you get into.” Or maybe, it occurred to me, Sigyn’s nature came with a tendency to have fewer, deeper friendships.

“Maybe she doesn’t approve of me.”

I considered that. “No, I don’t think that’s it. I think she isn’t sure I’m keeping you and doesn’t want to get attached.”

Kanesha laughed. “You make me sound like a puppy you found at the pound!”

I shivered inwardly. “You’re a lot more than that, but you know, lots of people fall in love at our age and fall out of it right away. I don’t think we will, but…”

“But maybe it’s hard for her to stop liking somebody so she’s careful who she likes.”

“Out. You’re reading my mind again.” And I did have something of that in me, thinking about it.

Something, but not as much. I was capable of enjoying hanging out with somebody without having to be friends with them. I was not sure she was.

“Isn’t that what girlfriends do?”

I tackled my chocolate and orange ice, not answering her right away.

She hopped onto one of the stools at the front of the store. “At least…”

“At least we don’t have to worry about crocodile demons again. But any bets the fire giants will be back?” I regretted those words the instant they were out of my mouth.

“Not taking that.”