“Carmen…”

  “I know that you have a lot to do. I know. Give us your afternoon? I haven’t seen you for a week now, and it feels like—”

  Evantra wrapped the woman in a hug. Her hands tightened around her shoulders, and she buried her head into the nook of her neck. For a moment, Evantra just stood there. The words escaped as a whisper.

  “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too, Eva. We all did.”

  “Now come.”

  Evantra relented, as Carmen gently pushed her away. She frowned when she detected a mischievous glint in the woman’s hazel eyes.

  “Everyone will be fighting for your attention. So, this abuela is going to be the first to reserve you. What they don’t know won’t hurt them.”

  Evantra yelped as Carmen pulled her towards her car.

  ***

  “What… are we supposed to be doing?”

  Evantra incredulously watched Carmen pick out a large array of fruits and spirits at the grocery store. Evantra’s eyes slowly narrowed as she was reminded of a familiar cocktail that she had put to particularly good use in a Veilsurge.

  “I’ll give you one guess. If you don’t get it, I’m disowning you this instant.”

  Evantra puzzled over the nonsensical grocery items until her eyes widened. She watched as Carmen grinned at her, and Evantra clasped her hands.

  “You’re finally taking the leap? You’re going to work as a bartender?”

  “You bet I am. And there’s no better time to start than now. Thanks to a certain troublemaker, we’ve got a little bit of extra ectocreds to play with. That’s a bit more security. I figured I should get some practice in before I start applying to places in the outskirts. I’ve still been applying to small businesses for bookkeeping roles. I’ll do both.”

  Evantra’s eyes widened before she slowly nodded.

  “You should apply to Lily—”

  Carmen smiled.

  “Already have. Working at Lilydale would be a dream. Getting to tend to the flowers and plants… making plant-themed cocktails, eating plant-based food—”

  “You wouldn’t last a second without your beloved meat. Wanna make a bet?”

  “Hush.”

  They fell into a comfortable rhythm as they completed their grocery run and returned to Carmen’s vehicle. They drove back to the church, and Carmen realised that Lucas was being supervised by a certain someone who had taken the day off work.

  Trevor was wearing a neat, navy button-down shirt and a black pair of jeans. His moustache was well trimmed, and he gave her a nod. Evantra’s eyes lingered on him as his did on her, and Evantra could sense an undertone of tension.

  I knew he wasn’t happy about me joining Caliburn. I’ll…

  Evantra turned to glance at Carmen, who was happily unloading her groceries from her vehicle.

  I’ll speak to Noelle first. Then figure out what we can do about this.

  ***

  “So…”

  “So what? Spit it out,” Carmen raised a sardonic eyebrow at her, and Evantra rolled her eyes.

  “Don’t make me spell it out to you. How are things between you two?”

  The moment the sly look entered Carmen’s expression, Evantra was already significantly regretting her decision to ask. Evantra proceeded to tune out everything the woman said to her, but she couldn’t help but smile at the way that Carmen spoke about him.

  “He’s got a huge—”

  “CARMEN.”

  “Car, Evantra. Car. What did you think I was going to say?”

  “And Carmen has a huge—”

  “Officer Foster, if you say another word, I swear that you will live to regret it.”

  “House,” Trevor said slowly, his Adam’s apple wobbling as he took in Evantra’s expression.

  “Carmen currently doesn’t have a house. So, I can’t imagine what you’re referring to?”

  “L-Lucas! Hey bud, want to steal one of Evantra’s games?”

  Evantra stared at the man as Lucas dragged him away by the hand, before she let out a smile, the edges of her lips curling upwards into the slightest smile against her will.

  “I was researching magical girls—”

  Evantra’s eyes shot wide with alarm, but Carmen just waved her off.

  “—because I know much you like those games. I came across a term “tsunda” something. I think it suits you well. I’m thinking of giving one of those animes a watch.”

  “Never say that again, abuela. Or you’ll find out the true meaning of the word. Forget that… aren’t you going to ask? About…”

  “Nope.”

  Evantra stared dubiously at the woman, her eyes gradually narrowing. There was nothing in Carmen’s body language that suggested that she was lying.

  “You’re telling me you’re not curious about what happened on the raid? Not at all?”

  “Nope. You’re going to make it about yourself so soon? Hmm?”

  Carmen waved a hand expectantly at her, and Evantra handed her the coconut rum, which would allow her to complete the mojito that was in the making. She watched as Carmen took a sip from the drink, her eyes widening in surprise.

  “Wow. I’d hire me.”

  Evantra lunged for the drink, catching the woman off-guard when she was still in her pride-filled stupor. Evantra took a sip, and her face contorted into an expression like she had just taken a sip from satan’s piss pot itself.

  “Carmen… this is horrible.”

  Evantra coughed and sputtered, lunging to grab a glass of water to flush the taste from her mouth. Carmen hummed, turning over the bottle of coconut rum in her hand thoughtfully. Evantra stared at her incredulously.

  “I didn’t even know it was possible to mess up a mojito.”

  “You aren’t capable of comprehending my brilliance.”

  “Neither will Lilyville if you rock up and make them a drink like that. Oh man, we’re going to have to work on this. Has Trevor tried—”

  Evantra watched as the man glared at her, desperately waving a hand in a cutting gesture across his throat. His message was unequivocal, and so was the panicked twitching in his moustache.

  Carmen just shrugged, unaware of the silent exchange.

  “Eh. We all start somewhere. Hey Eva?”

  “Uh oh, I don’t like that tone. Yes, Miss Alvarez?”

  “You should spend some time with Lucas. He misses you.”

  Evantra’s eyes hovered over Carmen as she prepped another cocktail. Evantra walked forwards, wrapping the woman in another tight hug, before letting go.

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  “When I’m done, I expect a proper answer and update between you two. Can you do that for me?”

  “No promises,” Carmen grinned, already working towards her next cocktail.

  “I will say though,” Evantra said softly. She watched as Carmen carefully avoided her gaze, sensing her intention, which only endeared the woman to her more. Evantra took a deep breath and prepared herself for the ridicule.

  Mum… I think I get it.

  Why it was hard for you to speak up.

  “Being back reminds me how much I can be myself around you. I feel like I’ve been constantly on edge for the past few days. Trying to fit a mould that they expected of me. I’m glad to be back.”

  “I’m glad you’re back too,” the woman said matter-of-factly, before fixing her with a stare. “Now, if you don’t pass me that lemon, we’re going to have a problem. Give.”

  “Are you sure you’re not the one who’s a tsundere,” Evantra whispered under her breath, watching Carmen carefully and letting out a sigh of relief when she realised Carmen hadn’t caught it.

  “I heard that, pendejo.”

  Evantra passed her the lemon.

  ***

  “So, which game do you want to get, Lucas?”

  Evantra parked her Himetachi by the curb, getting out together with Lucas. The boy had been jumping in his seat the entire time on their ride to the store. Evantra shoved away the feelings of guilt welling up in her gut at the sight of it, in favour of being present with the boy.

  There would be time to throw a pity party later. Besides, it was her decision to join Caliburn to investigate their motives, and this was the price she had to pay.

  “I don’t really want any games.”

  “Oh? Then why did you want to come here?”

  “To spend time with you.”

  Mills…

  I’ll be joining you in the depths of hell very soon.

  “And to see Noelle!”

  Evantra raised her eyebrows in surprise.

  “Noelle? You’ve gotten closer to her?”

  “Mmhm!”

  Lucas undid his seatbelt and jumped out of the vehicle, pattering towards Archaic Adventures. Evantra rushed to do the same, following him at a slow jog. Catching up to him, she poked him gently in the cheek and gently opened the store door.

  “Welcome to Archaic Adve—”

  They were met with a familiar, bored drone – a voice that she had first heard close to a month ago. It felt like an eternity, now. Noelle Laurent had her dark red hair bound in the very same ponytail, venomous green eyes scanning a Mangekyou catalogue. It seemed as if they were teasing the announcement of a big new product in the near future. Lucas and Evantra watched as the girl impressively blew a large bubble from her bubbleflash gum, which flashed purple before popping across her lips.

  Noelle stared at them in astonishment.

  “You going to call me a sad-looking-sonofa teethling again?”

  She turned red and hurriedly wiped the gum off her face before rounding the counter and—

  Giving Lucas a hug.

  “If she bullies you, let me know, ok?” Noelle whispered under her breath, to which Lucas merely nodded in solemn agreement. Evantra rolled her eyes at the scene, before the girl returned to her chair, chewing her bubbleflash gum once more.

  “You’re still a sad-looking sonofa teethling. Though you may be the first teethling that’s sold out to a megacorporation,” the girl said dryly, making Evantra grin. Finally, Noelle’s eyes met hers and Evantra gave her a subtle nod.

  It’s nice to see her back to her usual self. I guess it was about time.

  Although… I might come to regret thinking that.

  “See you after your shift. There’s a lot to talk about.”

  Noelle gave her nod, as she visibly gulped, conveying her comprehension of Evantra’s intention. Evantra turned her attention towards Lucas, who was tugging her in the direction of a game.

  “Eva! Eva! Can we have this one?”

  Evantra stared at a remastered copy of Doom that the boy was pointing at. She put she scratched her cheek in thought.

  “Hmm… I wonder if I can pass this off as therapeutic. Nope, your mama will flay me alive.”

  Lucas stared up at her with quizzical, wide, brown eyes.

  “Evantra? What’s a ‘flay’?”

  “Uhhh… hey Lucas, why don’t we go to the cozy game section instead?”

  Evantra let out an imperceptible sigh of relief as the boy led the way to the next section of games. He looked up to her with a smile.

  “Noelle has been playing Project Elsecaller Racing 2 with me!”

  “S-she has?”

  Evantra blinked at the boy’s words, and Lucas simply nodded as he continued dragging her on his way.

  “She’s been helping mama find a job too. And trying out different cocktail recipes. And she talks to me when I get scared.”

  Evantra froze, her eyes lingering on Lucas as he pattered over to extract another game, the Haunted Chocolatier. The boy’s emotions were plain on his face, and Evantra let out a sigh of relief.

  “Have you been worried about anything, Lucas?”

  The boy stared at her flatly, and the resemblance to Carmen was uncanny.

  “Hmph.”

  He grabbed the game from the shelf and made it a point to stomp right past her. Guilt pierced her in the chest again as her eyes trailed his path, seeing him cast furtive glances back towards her.

  He’s been worried about me. Again.

  Evantra let out a slow breath as she advanced, and she tugged on Lucas’ hand. The younger boy looked up at her expectantly, with a hint of expectation in his expression. Evantra drew him into a hug and whispered into his ear.

  “I’m sorry for leaving. I’m back, ok? I’m back.”

  “It’s okay,” Lucas said softly. “Noelle told me why you left. It’s for Millie, right?”

  Evantra stared at him as he simply nodded at her, then began pulling her towards the reception. Noelle was staring at them over her magazine, bright green eyes lingering on the scene. She gasped and almost tumbled out of her seat when Evantra caught her looking.

  “Hey, Lucas?”

  The boy paused, and Evantra smiled as she recalled Trevor’s words to her.

  She squeezed his hand.

  “Thanks for waiting for me.”