Chapter 20: [17] Drip, Drop
Xavier swung the boutique's glass door open with his foot, arms loaded with glossy shopping bags emblazoned with the Divine Threads logo. The weighted door caught the afternoon sunlight, casting prismatic reflections across the sidewalk as it swung shut behind them.
"You're insane," Calypso said, but her face betrayed her delight. She twirled on the sidewalk, her new silver-blue dress catching the light in ripples. Pedestrians slowed to stare at the goddess-turned-mortal, some walking into each other when she flashed them a smile.
"Probably," Xavier agreed, shifting the bags to distribute their weight. His credit chip was several thousand dollars lighter, with twelve more monthly payments to follow. "But so what? We'll make it work."
The sales associate had been all too happy to set up a payment plan—$2,000 down, with another $2,000 per month for the next year. Highway robbery, but the look on Calypso's face when he'd agreed had been worth it.
Mostly worth it.
Maybe.
Shit.
Xavier pushed the creeping buyer's remorse aside. Money was just money. In his previous life, he'd made and lost fortunes with equal disregard. This world couldn't be that different.
"Besides," he said, more to himself than to Calypso, "there are plenty of ways to make money in a place like this."
Calypso whirled to face him. "Like what? Getting a job?" She pronounced the word "job" like it was some obscure, vaguely distasteful foreign custom.
"If necessary." Xavier smirked. "Though I prefer alternative revenue streams."