Valkyrie waited until she heard the familiar waves lapping against the wooden pier before she let go of Fletcher's hand and rounded on Gabriel. "You want to meet my parents? Really?"
Really?
There was a huge part of Valkyrie that really, really wanted to see this happen, even if she knew she wouldn't be able to keep a straight face. So much of her life had to be kept secret from her own family that the idea of letting them in on a small part of it, however hidden that part had to be, was too good to pass up. She was grinning already just thinking about it.
But she couldn't. Not really. Too much could go wrong, like...
...like...
Well, for one thing, how was she going to explain who Gabriel was? And Fletcher? And Skulduggery, for that matter? She couldn't just bring a living skeleton into her house. You couldn't do that. But even if they found a way to disguise him, or just leave him outside, Valkyrie's parents would definitely question so many mysterious men in her life, and Valkyrie didn't think she would be able to come up with enough believable lies.
"As awesome as that would be," she finally forced herself to say, "it's really not a good idea. They get suspicious enough without me bringing home three guys they've never met before. And they might have trouble with the whole skeleton thing."
"I could wear my disguise," Skulduggery suggested.
"They might also have trouble with a man who won't take off layers of clothes indoors." Valkyrie turned to look at Skulduggery, an uncertain frown on her face. "You're actually okay with this happening?"
Skulduggery shrugged. "I've never had the chance to introduce myself to your parents. This could be an educational experience."
Valkyrie stared. This couldn't be her usual cautious and cynical friend. What happened over there with the Faceless Ones? "And the lies we'd have to come up with?" she tried. "Is there anything they would believe?"
Skulduggery folded his arms. "If you aren't able to fool your parents for ten minutes, Valkyrie, then I have failed in every single capacity as a detective mentor."
"But..." Valkyrie's voice trailed off, and she looked around to Gabriel. "This still isn't a good idea. This can't be a good idea. For God's sake, how am I supposed to explain Skulduggery, let alone the two of you?"
no subject
Really?
There was a huge part of Valkyrie that really, really wanted to see this happen, even if she knew she wouldn't be able to keep a straight face. So much of her life had to be kept secret from her own family that the idea of letting them in on a small part of it, however hidden that part had to be, was too good to pass up. She was grinning already just thinking about it.
But she couldn't. Not really. Too much could go wrong, like...
...like...
Well, for one thing, how was she going to explain who Gabriel was? And Fletcher? And Skulduggery, for that matter? She couldn't just bring a living skeleton into her house. You couldn't do that. But even if they found a way to disguise him, or just leave him outside, Valkyrie's parents would definitely question so many mysterious men in her life, and Valkyrie didn't think she would be able to come up with enough believable lies.
"As awesome as that would be," she finally forced herself to say, "it's really not a good idea. They get suspicious enough without me bringing home three guys they've never met before. And they might have trouble with the whole skeleton thing."
"I could wear my disguise," Skulduggery suggested.
"They might also have trouble with a man who won't take off layers of clothes indoors." Valkyrie turned to look at Skulduggery, an uncertain frown on her face. "You're actually okay with this happening?"
Skulduggery shrugged. "I've never had the chance to introduce myself to your parents. This could be an educational experience."
Valkyrie stared. This couldn't be her usual cautious and cynical friend. What happened over there with the Faceless Ones? "And the lies we'd have to come up with?" she tried. "Is there anything they would believe?"
Skulduggery folded his arms. "If you aren't able to fool your parents for ten minutes, Valkyrie, then I have failed in every single capacity as a detective mentor."
"But..." Valkyrie's voice trailed off, and she looked around to Gabriel. "This still isn't a good idea. This can't be a good idea. For God's sake, how am I supposed to explain Skulduggery, let alone the two of you?"