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The door slammed open and Bryan stormed through. He headed straight for the stairs, and anger spilled from him.
Paige wasn’t far behind. “It’s not my fault. I didn’t know.” Her voice was raw.
Bryan slammed his bedroom door in response.
“Fuck you too.” Paige screamed and stormed into her own room.
I sighed.
“What were you saying about demons?” Carly’s voice was sympathetic.
“Do you want help? Can we do anything?” Daria asked.
I shook my head. “I’ve got this, but thank you.”
But as Carly and Daria left, I wasn’t sure that I had anything under control.
TWENTY
DEACON
When Adam came backfrom Brooke’s in a foul mood, I tried to ignore the ember of smugness inside. He wouldn’t talk about what happened, which wasn’t unusual. His refusal to smile was strange, though.
I wasn’t going to push the issue.
Saturday he was in his room most of the day editing video of the furniture in the basement. I knew because he sent me clips every so often to check out and approve. Proof he was fine.
Sunday morning he was quiet, but the foul mood was gone as he and I got ready for some of our friends from the block to help us with prepping the basement to be usable as a sales floor. It was weird that Brooke wouldn’t be here, and even more unusual that I hadn’t seen her all week. Obviously I wouldn’t, since she was staying off her feet, but I missed her company.
Which, of course I did—she was a good friend.
Sebastian brought pastries from the bakery down the street, with an apology from the owner for not being here. I didn’t expect them to be. Sundays were huge for the bakery, even though most of the stores on the block were closed today.
Evie, who owned the hardware store, showed up with coffee. It was a universally accepted fact that she made the best coffee. Aubrey brought iced tea for later, which she stored in my fridge.
Sebastian wrinkled his nose when she told us what it was.
“Since when are you a tea snob?” Aubrey asked.
“Since I learned what real tea tasted like.”
Evie made a sound likepft. “Give a guy a store and suddenly he’s a fucking expert.”
“Yes.” Sebastian’s tone saidobviously. “Like none of you know your shit?”
Adam cringed and stuck out his tongue. “Not personally. Gross, dude.”
Evie made a gagging noise and Aubrey threw a pair of work gloves at him.
Adam was back to normal.
We snacked on pastries while Adam explained the plan for the day. Furniture would be pushed to the very middle of the room and covered. We’d buff out the stone floor and cover the wires Brooke put in place.
Something pinged in my chest at her name. Strange.
Evie and Adam got to work on making sure the molding would cover the wiring, while Sebastian, Aubrey and I rearranged furniture.
Sebastian stepped away to take a call.
