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Her eyes lit up. “I guess you can text.”

He sent her more messages. I’m good with machines. They’re fun. Play with me.

“I don’t know the game.”

It’s easy. Just talk about anything. What are your plans for the day?

“I’m working. I’m baking Gion’s birthday cake. And I have to supervise a doomed triple-date.” She answered out loud. “We will be the most stable couple there. Consider what that means.”

It means we’re the best. No surprise. Rye and Julius simply couldn’t keep up with him, when it came to wooing a Match.

“It means dinner is doomed.” She reiterated, but she was close to smiling again.

And what are you going to wear for this doomed dinner?

She sent him a look through her lashes. “I suppose you’ll just have to wait and see.”

He grinned at her almost-flirting. What should I wear for the doomed dinner?

Randa leaned closer to him, her breasts ever-so-slightly brushing against his arm. It was probably an accident. His libido didn’t care. Any tiny overture from her was enough to turn him into a drooling idiot.

“There’s one thing I really want to see you in, Kahn.” She admitted, sounding a little breathless.

The top nearly blew off of his head. “And what’s that?” He whispered back, hypnotized.

His phone promptly binged with her answer.

Alligator shirt.

Kahn gave a mock groan. He toppled back onto the porch, his legs still on the steps. You just like to torture me!!!! He typed out some extra exclamation marks to play along with her joke.

She’d texted him her teasing response. That was all that mattered. Randa was joining the game. …Even if she cheated.

The joyful sound of her amusement surrounded him, caressing against his soul and soothing his energy. Kahn’s chest expanded in awe. This was the first time he’d made her really laugh and it was his greatest triumph. When Randa was happy, everything in the world was right.

She lay down on the step beside him, her shoulders shaking with mirth. Her hand slid over to find his again, and she squeezed.

And Kahn knew he was hopelessly in love with his Match.

Chapter Twenty

All four elements were happening in equal measure-

The cuisine, the wine, the service, and the overall ambience.

Charlie Trotter

Dinner really was doomed.

First off, it had been a huge mistake to let the triple-date happen at the fanciest restaurant in town. Or at any restaurant. If Randa hadn’t been so discombobulated by her new Match, she would have realized it sooner.

The Light Phases didn’t eat food unless the people preparing it were family.

They didn’t consider any human chefs family.

Human chefs were about to cook their dinner.

Following that logic, this was about to be a very awkward meal.