Demon at My Door by Michelle A. Valentine Read Free Book Online Page A

mysterious, yet familiar, stormy gray eyes. They kind of remind me of Stew’s color a little. Have I seen Rick before? 
    “I hoped those rumors were true,” he says. 
    After a split second of uneasiness about the odd color eyes, I shake my head. “And why’s that?”
    His smirk becomes a genuine smile, and he makes a swirling motion around his temple with his index finger. “Because I’m a little nuts myself. Demon obsession, remember?”
    He lets out a deep belly laugh, and after a few seconds of me trying not to be amused, I let a smile slip. He has no clue he’s not the only demon obsessed person here.
    His laugh invites me in and I crave to know more about him. “So what’s your deal? What brings you to the big town of Columbus, Ohio?”
    He leans back against the booth seat and stretches his toned arm along the back of the seat again. His boot touches my foot under the table. “You.” 
    My mouth drops as I’m stunned by his answer, but then I feel foolish as he starts to laugh. “Jerk.”
    He smiles as me and then sighs. “Well, if you must know I needed a fresh start.”
    My eyebrows crunch in. “Why?” That sounded a little invasive, so I try to recover. “I mean, that’s cool.”
    He rolls his eyes. “I had a bit of a mess and I needed to get my shit straightened out.”
    At that moment the waitress brings our food—completely interrupting the juicy details he was ready to spill. Rick tears into his burger, taking huge bite after bite. It’s like he’s a wild animal that hasn’t eaten for days. 
    I grimace and wonder if he was raised by wolves. “Jeez, breathe, Rick.”
    He swallows and wipes a huge glob of ketchup from the corner of his mouth with his finger, then licks it clean. “Sorry, it’s just really good.”
    “I see that.” Totally grossed out, I try to get back on track and try to push the image of Rick eating out my brain. “So, anyway, what kind of mess?”
    He swallows down his drink. “A mess with a girl.” He states without hesitation. 
    I go into a coughing fit as I choke on my Coke. My eyes water from the sting in my throat, but I still ask, “You got a girl pregnant?” This is drama I don’t need to get tangled up with. 
    He laughs and shakes his head. “No. Nothing like that. It’s nothing really.”
    Talk in circles much?
    I wrinkle my brow. “What is it then?”
    He shrugs. “It’s nothing, honestly. Forget I even said anything.”
    After pondering what that could mean, I decide it’s best to let it go at that and not push him about it. God knows I don’t need my only almost-friend frustrated with me. I suppose he’ll tell me when he’s ready. 
    Rick polishes off everything on his plate in record time and pushes it to the side of the table. The waitress clears out the plates and lays the bill face down in the center of the table. I reach into my satchel, dig for my wallet, and hope I have enough money. Mom is so crazy. Even though I know she can’t legally control my money as an adult, I allow her just to keep her off my back. Sometimes she can be so damn overbearing. She only gives me enough money for lunch for that day because she thinks if I have an excessive amount I might try to buy more weapons. 
    There have been a couple times that the demon unfroze time at the most inopportune moments for me right in public view. I’ve been arrested three times for menacing and possession of a deadly weapon. Mom always makes sure my doctors know that I am constantly arming myself to battle a demon, which makes me sound completely fucking insane.  
    “Stop looking for your money. You’re my date, so my treat,” Rick says.
    My hand goes still and I meet his stare. “This is not a date.”
    He lifts an eyebrow. “No?”
    I shake my head. “No.” I can’t have him thinking this is more than a friendship thing. The last thing I want to do is give the boy demon another target. 
    His lips twitch. “Well damn, just when I thought I was getting