#bergen_county

"Kourtney? Who.." She rises "Who's Kourtney?"

"Kourtney DeBuke."

"Well, technically it's another surname but DeBuke on mother's side os I just use that when out" Kourtney says "Nice to meet you, Ma'am"

His mom winces a bit at ma'am but smiles "Well, welcome, Kourtney. Can I get you two anything from the kitchen?"

Adam looks to see what Kourtney would like.

"Got any Mountain Dew?" She asks "Water'd be fine."

"We have sprite" She says "That okay?"

"That's be fine, thank you"

"Thanks, mom."

"Welcome, honey" She gets them two sodas..knowing his favorite "have a sit down whever you're comfy"

"Here, or.....?"

"Oh, kitchen is fine. Don't want to crowd your mom I think she's working in the living room" Kourtney says

"Oh just poetry ideas"

"Right this way...." Adam shows the way and offers her a seat at the kitchen table.

And Kourtney sits and ..talks with Adam. "So you play basketball? What position?"

"Center forward. I did, anyway." A sigh.

"Hey, you will again. Soon as this passes over. You should come paly at the farm. Sure, you're short, but we have kinain not just kithain and they can be amazing shots"

"Do you play?"

"I've played, but it's not my strong point" She admits

"Yeah, ok, I'll come play. Thanks for asking."

"If anyone gives you grief yo ulet me know" She says

Then says "But I don't think they will. We're BORED..new faces welcome"

A smile "Specially handsome ones"

"Hey, that's nice of you. Thanks." He beams. "A pretty lady like yourself makes the invite hard to turn down."

A blush then "So... tell me more about how you and Oak defeated the linnorm"

"Well.... I thought it was a pretty bogus assignment, right? Gardner said I had to be on guard duty at the trod, right, some... I don't know, some vision or something he had. So I'm stuck out in the woods but I figured, shit... at least I get -some- action, right? And....." He continues the story. Unexpectedly, perhaps, he doesn't play up his role, he shares credit with Oak and others.

I Can hear the bells! 🎼

"Uh huh, oh my" BIG eyes watching him

Ok, maybe he plays it up a -little-.....

"It spat HATE at you?"

"Yeah, but I'm stronger than that."

Somehwere nearby , Brenda looks pleased as she overhears. He's promoting the hell out of himself, and using cadence. He DOES pay attention to his father and I

".... and then..... They healed me up and I went back on duty." Shrug.

"Just..right back into the danger?" A gasp

"Hey, mission wasn't over, Chief was still away, dragon still out there.... I was healed up so...." Another shrug.

We both will share a tear
And he'll whisper as we're reminiscin'
Listen, I can hear the bells 🎼

"So you went on. That's incredible."

"Hey, I'm surrounded by trolls. I guess it rubs off." A cheeky grin.

"Awwww" She says "that's sweet" A big but feminine hand on his

"Ooo." He shivers a little, grinning.

And they talk

and flirt

Adam's eyes spark, enjoying the interplay and acknowledging with regret when the hour requires he take her back to the Lodge.

she's not as polished as some, but she's sweet and so into him (But what girl isnt'?)

(Only a sad few!) Adam genuinely enjoys the talk and the flirting and walks her to the Lodge before squeezing her hand (he made so bold as to take it for the walk from the parking lot) and saying "So I'll come out to the Farm sometime. Text me and let me know when there's a b-ball game? Or... something?"

"I will.. oh and I should go.. it's late"

"You got my number?"

"Oh.. no. What is it?" She asks

"You want to put it in your phone, text me?"

"Sure. let's test it" She does and sends a wink emoji