Free Goddesses Don't Get Sick by Victoria Bauld

Wait!” Tuyen ran to catch up and caught Angela by the arm. “Don’t go like this,” he begged. “I’ll come to dinner–” He was cut off as Angela shook her head.
    “I don’t want you to come if you don’t want to, Tuyen,” she interrupted.
    “Will you let me finish?” He sighed and let go of her arm. Pacing in front of her, Tuyen grabbed his hair and tugged on it with a frustrated growl, before he stopped and turned back to face her.
    “I’d love to come, Goddess,” he looked at her earnestly. “Really, I would. I just don’t know if I can because of work, but…” He sighed again, heavily, and shook his head. “Screw it. I’ll come.”
    Angela watched him and chewed her lip as she studied his expression.
    “Seriously?” she asked. Tuyen nodded and took her hands.
    “I’d love to come,” he repeated softly, holding her hands close to his chest. Angela studied him quietly for a moment more, before she nodded hesitantly and began to smile again.
    “T-Thank you,” she stammered. “The reservation’s for seven. It’s…kinda formal so…”
    “I’ll dress accordingly,” Tuyen smiled gently. Kissing her hands, he released them and stepped aside for Angela, before handing her back her acceptance letter. Blushing, she took it from him and smiled nervously.
    “Guess I’ll see you later, then?”
    Tuyen nodded and bowed his head. “I’ll pick you up at six-thirty, Goddess.”
    Waving hesitantly, Angela turned and began to walk home, resisting the urge to break into a nervous run. They both knew this was more than a friendly meeting; there was no point in even trying to his this fact. Despite this—or perhaps because of it—Angela wondered if she was making the right move.

    Tuyen watched the woman he called Goddess leave, like he had many times before. Sighing, he turned his face back to the sky, but the clouds had moved in, and he could feel no heat from the sun any longer.

SEVENTEEN.
    THE RESTAURANT WAS PACKED, the hum of couples talking softly to each other blending into the background with the music that was playing. Tuyen admired the décor before turning back to Angela with a smile.
    “This place seems popular,” he noted with a small grin. “How’d you get a table?”
    “Um, luck?” Angela shrugged and played nervously her water glass. The truth was that she had made the booking months ago, quietly hoping that the right excuse to extend the invitation would arise. If luck had brought her anything, Angela supposed, it had brought her the right excuse. She caught Tuyen’s eye for a moment, before she let it drop again, struggling to find the right words.
    “You look good in a suit,” she eventually commented, trying to control the blush that crept up her neck. Tuyen coughed nervously and smiled, beginning to blush a little himself.
    “You look beautiful, Goddess. That dress looks fantastic on you.”
    Glancing down at the outfit she wore—a simple, figure hugging black dress, Angela’s face broke into an embarrassed smile.
    “Thanks,” she looked back up at him, and forgot what she was going to say as their eyes locked. They held the gaze for what felt like both an eternity and a second, before they were interrupted as the waiter came to take their order.
    Caught off-guard, Angela fumbled for the menu and tried to focus on it, before she gave up and simply ordered the special. Tuyen smiled at her and ordered the same, both of them oblivious to the cynical expression the waiter fixed on them. After he left, they lapsed once more into an uncomfortable silence, Angela’s eyes focused on a spot on the tablecloth as she fidgeted with her napkin.
    Tuyen watched her for a while, his brow furrowed in thought. Eventually he cleared his throat, catching Angela’s attention.
    “You said you had something to talk to me about?” he prompted. Angela nodded and swallowed as she tried to clear her throat.
    “I have to be honest with you; I-I really don’t know how to say this,” she