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

somewhere with you.” 
    Since this isn’t a date, I pull out my wallet. Before I can get the money to pay my half, Rick slips the waitress some cash and tells her to keep the change. Her eyes enlarge, nearly to the size of golf balls, as she examines how much money he slipped into her hand.
    This so doesn’t feel right. He’s going to get the wrong impression, but I’m not ready to spill my guts about my problems with Stew. I need to explain I just want to be friends. “Rick—”
    “You can pay next time, since we’re friends now.”
    Relief floods me as he slides out of the booth, and I follow his lead while grabbing my bag off the seat. As I sling it over my shoulder, my eyes land on the prep crowd. Stew’s at the table amongst them with Taylor at his side. His gray eyes glare—like they’re about to wage war—when Rick and I pass by. The nerves in my back twitch as I feel Stew’s stare on me. 
    “There’s definitely something going on between you two that you’re not telling me,” Rick whispers in my ear as he opens the door to let me outside. 
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say and avoid direct eye contact with him and zip past. 
    I attempt to rub the tension from my neck as I step out to the parking lot. Damn. Am I that easy to read?
    Rick follows me toward his car. “I’m not the only one who’s noticed, you know.”
    I swallow hard. “What?”
    He opens the car door for me and continues. “Yeah, that Taylor girl made it a point to come talk to me after she noticed us together.”
    I stand before him and fold my arms. “What did she say?” I growl.
    His mouth tweaks to the side in amusement. “Wow. Not a fan, I see.”
    My eyes roll. “Not really, no.”
    “Obviously.” He chuckles. “Well you’ll be happy to know, your nemesis felt compelled to warn me to stay away from ‘The Psycho, Natalie Sugarman’ and wanted to know if you’d said anything about Stewart Masterson. Apparently, she’s afraid you’re obsessed with him because of all the staring.” 
    The blood drains from my face. This is a good reminder on why I hate Taylor Gee. She needs to mind her own damn business. Did he expose my secret about Stew to her? “Is that so? What did you tell her?”
    He holds up his hands defensively. “I didn’t say anything. I didn’t even tell her that the staring is, well, a mutual thing.”
    I laugh nervously. “There’s nothing going on between Stew and me.” 
    I’ll be damned if I get roped into spilling my guts, only to be laughed at later if this whole friendship thing doesn’t work out.
    I hop into Rick’s car, and he props his arm on the roof and leans in. “I’m glad to hear that because I think it’s lame when a guy pursues another guy’s girl, plus Stewart Masterson doesn’t seem too trustworthy. There’s just something about him I don’t like.” He shuts the door and I can’t figure out how to respond as he saunters around the car to his side. Of course he doesn’t like Stew. It’s only logical to talk crap about your competition.
    I wish Stew would let everyone know there’s something between us because then I wouldn’t have to sit here and figure out a way to tell Rick I am taken. I wouldn’t have to lie because everyone would know. Rick definitely likes me, and I’m not ready to jump into something new yet. A big part of me still holds a candle for Stew and maybe using Rick as arm candy will bring Stew to admit to everyone we’re together. 
    I may just end up with a social life before I die, and I don’t care what the junior demon thinks about it. 
     

Chapter Seven
    It’s my turn to clean up the supplies today since Stew and I figured out a schedule so we wouldn’t have to talk as much. Stew bolts from his seat. I stare after him and waves of anger rolls through me. He still hasn’t called me, and I get that we’re over, but it wouldn’t kill him to at least be civil to me. 
    I glance down at my phone after packing