The Last Adventure of Constance Verity by A. Lee Martinez Read Free Book Online

you’re not interested. I’m a grown man.”
    â€œNo, I’m interested.”
    â€œSo, we’ll take it slow,” he said.
    â€œLittle late for that, isn’t it? Slow isn’t how I normally do things.”
    â€œIt’ll be a nice change of pace, then.”
    He had her there.
    â€œWe’ll go slow, then,” she said.
    â€œTerrific. How about dinner tonight?”
    â€œThat’s slow?”
    He hugged her. He didn’t have the powerful arms of a barbarian prince, but he had something. Whatever it was, she wanted more of it, but it also scared her. She wasn’t used to being scared.
    Tia knocked on the door. Right on time. Of course she was.
    â€œI’d love to have dinner but I’m in the middle of something; but when I get back, I’ll call you. I swear.”
    He didn’t ask any questions. Either he didn’t believe her or he’d accepted that trying to date Connie meant explanations weren’t always readily available.
    Connie opened the door, and Tia stood there with several suitcases and a fully stocked hiking backpack.
    â€œTia, Byron. Byron, Tia,” said Connie as she half-pushed him out the door. She wasn’t eager to get rid of him, and if Tia wasn’t here, she might have even put this off. But if it worked, she’d be a regular person and be in a better position to date someone like Byron.
    â€œNice to meet you,” said Tia.
    â€œYou, too.”
    â€œYes, it’s very nice for everyone to meet everyone,” said Connie as she pushed Tia inside and hastily threw the suitcases into the apartment. “I swear I’m not blowing you off, Byron. I will call you. Soon.”
    He nodded, slightly bewildered, as she gave him one last kiss and started to close the door.
    â€œOh, and just so you know, I have an evil twin, and she has a tendency to sleep with my boyfriends.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “So, I’m a boyfriend already?”
    â€œNo, but she might not know that. Just something I let all the guys I’m dating know.”
    â€œNow you’re just screwing with me.”
    â€œI told you, Byron. My life is complicated. If you changeyour mind by the time I call you, I’ll understand. In the meantime, if I show up with an inexplicable Yugoslavian accent, walk away.”
    â€œOkay. Thanks for the tip,” he said just as the door clicked shut.
    Tia said nothing. She only stood there, smiling.
    â€œIt just happened,” said Connie. “Don’t start.”
    â€œI’m not starting,” said Tia. “I’m just surprised. Here I spent the morning packing for a globe-spanning adventure, and you were here. With Byron. Letting things just happen. Are you sure he’s a regular person?”
    â€œReasonably sure.”
    She could never be certain, but so far, he hadn’t done anything suspicious, which was in itself sort of suspicious. She switched off her paranoia. She didn’t have time for it.
    â€œWhy do you have so many suitcases?” asked Connie.
    â€œI have more stuff in my car,” she said.
    â€œWhat for?” asked Connie.
    â€œAren’t we going on an adventure? Wasn’t sure what I’d need. Aren’t you the one who is always preaching the value of being prepared?”
    â€œIt’s been fifteen years since I followed that philosophy. Now I mostly wing it.”
    â€œYou’re telling me I didn’t need to get up early today and pack for every conceivable scenario?”
    â€œEvery scenario? How many suitcases did you pack?”
    â€œNine or ten.”
    â€œDo you have a gas mask in all that?”
    Tia frowned. “No. Am I going to need one?”
    â€œProbably not. Have a gun?”
    â€œYou never carry a gun.”
    â€œHow about a bottle of ketchup?”
    â€œYou can’t tell me that you’ve ever needed ketchup to save the day.”
    Connie smiled enigmatically.
    â€œFine,”