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New phones? Clothes?
They said they didn’t have money—or maybe I assumed they didn’t since they weren’t from Earth. If they intended to return to Elyrdin, why worry about new clothes? Why did demons need phones? Who would they call?
“Uh, Rae?”
I whipped my head around to look at Maya. I’d almost forgotten she was still there. Clearing my throat, I sipped my drink to buy time. How did I explain these two to her? Were the others here?
“Maya, this is Zeke and Ash. They’re visiting from out of town.”
Not a lie, but I still felt a twinge of guilt over the misdirect.
Maya dropped into her seat, her mother forgotten. Not that I could blame her. With Zeke’s platinum hair and bright eyes, and Ash’s build, tattoos, and long hair with intricate braids, they resembled models. I’d already noticed a few heads turn since they’d arrived.
But wasn’t the devil supposed to be tempting?
“Nice to meet you,” Ash said.
“Holy balls, you’re huge.” Maya gawked up at him.
“Oh my god, Maya!” I rubbed my forehead, pinching the skin between my brows. “I apologize for my friend. She’s apparently twelve.”
“What? He is!” She looked from me to Ash. “No offense, but you are.”
Zeke snorted, swiping another piece of steak.
Ash chuckled. “None taken.” His gaze slid to the group of teenagers who’d overheard Maya. “May I?” He gestured at the empty chair. The girl closest nodded, face flushed, and he pulled it over to the end of our table.
I pushed my burrito bowl toward Zeke. “He’s not that big.”
Maya gave Ash another once-over. “What are you? Six-five?”
“I think I’m only six-three.”
“Close enough. Add in the muscle, and yeah, you’re a big guy.”
I shook my head.
“You seriously don’t think he’s big?”
I glanced over at Ash. He stood the same height as Ezra, just broader. “I mean, sure, but you can’t go around saying stuff like that about people.”
Maya rolled her eyes. “I thought gym bros liked it when women fawned over their big muscles. Right?” Not giving him the chance to answer, she added, “I assume Zeke is short for Ezekiel?”
Zeke lowered his fork. “What? No. Why would you think that?”
“The name isn’t uncommon around here,” Ash said. “It’s from the Bible.”
Maya rolled her eyes. “Good ol’ Bible Belt. Met plenty of Michaels, Johns, and Matthews, but never an Ezekiel.”
Zeke swallowed the last bite and wiped his mouth. “It means Zekarias.”
She hummed, looking him over as if assessing whether the name suited him before turning her attention back to Ash. “So what’s Ash short for? Is it a nickname too?”
“Ashryn.”
“Different. Both names are. I like it.”
I buried my face in my hand and groaned. “Maya, stop being nosy.”
