Chapter 19 - Fortune

Neo joined us in the lounge for excellent Chinese from Cyrildene, a sweet plum wine, and Monday-night television. As we flipped channels and laughed over the ridiculous names of some of the reality shows, I watched two of the most important men in my life enjoy some downtime and each other. They got on well, ribbing and playfully insulting each other in the way men had. I'd never seen that side of Menzi before and I loved it.

While I hogged one whole side of our corner couch, the two of them sat cross-legged on the floor and used the coffee table as a dining table. Both were wearing loose tracksuit pants and fitted T-shirts, and I appreciated the view. Was I a lucky girl or what?

Cracking his knuckles, Neo dramatically prepared to open his fortune cookie. "Let's see. Will I be rich? Famous? About to meet Mr or Ms Tall, Dark and Tasty? Travelling to distant lands? What'd you two get?"

"Mine's lame," I said. "In the end all things will be known. Duh. I didn't need a fortune to work that out."

Menzi opened his and read, "Prosperity will knock on your door soon."

I snorted. Neo shot me a look. "I know, right? You took someone else's cookie, Shezi."

"He better not be anywhere near someone else's cookie," I said dryly.

Reaching over, Menzi plucked half of mine out of my fingers. "Don't worry, angel. Your cookie is the only one I want." He popped it into his mouth with a wink.

"Ag, sies," Neo muttered. "Get a room."

He cracked his fortune with a flourish, and then scowled. "What the fuck?"

I leaned forward. "What's it say?"

"Confucius say," Menzi ad-libbed, "man with hand in pocket feel cocky all day."