Page 33 of Dark Obsession

CHAPTER SIX

Cody was getting hungry as he waited for Demmy to return to the office. How many groundhogs was he wrangling? To pass the time, he lobbed his football-shaped stress ball to Jugs who sat across the office from him. Jugs tossed it back, and they continued the casual throws as they talked.

“Aggie do anything special last night for your first night without the shock collar?” Cody asked. “Break out the Candyland board?”

“I regret saying that.” Jugs almost fumbled the ball but managed to save it. “She did have something planned, and it almost put me back into a neck brace.”

Cody made a face. “TMI.”

“Hey, if I have to hear you and Demetrius talk all lovey dovey every day⁠—”

“Lovey dovey?” Cody said, getting some good height on his next throw.

“—you can handle me talking about my relationship with Aggie.”

Demmy came through the door behind Cody, followed by a wave of humid air.

“Hi guys,” Demmy said. He squeezed Cody’s shoulder but only glanced at him before ducking beneath Jugs’s lob and heading for the bathroom.

Something felt off. Cody tossed the ball back to Jugs and called after Demmy, “How’d the groundhog treat you?”

“Seriously?” Jugs said. “He’s in the bathroom.”

“You and Aggie don’t talk through the bathroom door?”

“No, Aggie and I are adults who respect boundaries.”

Cody snorted and muttered, “Adults.”

Demmy stepped out of the bathroom and looked at Jugs as he crossed to his desk. “Thanks for that, Jugs.”

“You’re welcome. Everyone should be able to poop in peace.”

Demmy sat at his desk directly across from Cody, but turned to face Jugs. “No, I wasn’t pooping.”

“It’s all right,” Jugs said, softening his eyes and cocking his head slightly as he nodded. “Everybody poops.”

“No, I…” Demmy sighed and waved him off before turning around, cheeks red. But he still didn’t give Cody more than a glance.

Cody remained leaning back, feet propped on his desk, but his senses had shifted to alert mode. He continued playing catch with Jugs but watched Demmy from the corner of his eye. They knew each other more intimately than most couples, thanks to the body swapping they endured in the spring courtesy of that dick of a witch. But long before their wedding and the body swap, before the cryptids and monsters, they’d been friends. Best friends. And they’d shared everything with each other. So as he sat there casually tossing the ball to Jugs, Cody knew something was troubling Demmy. And he had a feeling it was more than likely monster related.

He fumbled the next catch on purpose, cursing as he watched it roll away from him.

“Nice drop, butterfingers.” Jugs got to his feet and pushed in his chair. “I’m heading home.”

“Tell Aggie I said…” Cody paused, putting his feet on the floor and leaning forward in his chair. He rested his elbows on his knees and looked up at Jugs through his lashes, saying in a low, rough voice, “Hey girl, ‘sup?”

Demmy laughed quietly but kept his eyes averted.

Jugs shook his head and walked past him to the door. “I’m not saying that. And don’t ever say that to me again.”

Cody sat up, calling after him, “You could try it yourself, no cost.”

The door thunked closed behind him. Humid air circled for a few seconds then dissipated. Demmy was clicking his mouse and tapping his keyboard, intent on the computer monitor. Cody leaned back again, fingers steepled beneath his chin.

“What’s up?” Cody finally said.

“What?” Demmy glanced at him. “Oh, nothing. Just logging some business expenses before I forget.”