I stretched in my padded office chair. It felt good to move. My muscles moaned at me. I probably needed to get a better chair, or to stop slouching. I ached after a day at work. At least I was already home. Thank heavens for home offices.
I got to my feet and headed down the hall towards the living room. I really needed to check on Jinx. I’d left him in front of the TV after showing him how to use the remote. He hadn’t watched TV before, aside from the brief glimpse I had given him the other day. He hadn’t seen a single movie or show. There should have been enough to occupy him for a lifetime. I was almost jealous, there were plenty of movies I’d love to be able to see for the first time again.
The living room was empty. The TV talking quietly to itself. My heart sank. What kind of mischief was he up to now? Anxiously I walked around the house, expecting any moment to be confronted with unimaginable chaos and destruction. A flood in the bathroom, a fire in the bedroom. A flock of crows in the kitchen. But there was nothing.
Three complete circuits of the house later and I started to admit he was gone. Dejectedly I flopped down on the sofa. He had stuck around for over twenty-four hours this time and I realized that stupidly, I’d somehow assumed that it was going to turn into forever.
Why on earth had I been thinking that? Jinx wasn’t a pet. He had given no indication that he wanted to stay with me long term. Why had I even thought that? Why had I wanted that?
I sighed heavily. Being upset that he hadn’t said goodbye was also stupid. He wasn’t human. He didn’t think like one. Or feel emotions like one. Who knew how his mysterious, otherworldly mind worked. I could just be an interesting bug to him. An amusing food source.
Still, I couldn’t resist one final check. I reached out with my magic and cast around my house. Just in case he was lurking in shadows or something.
But there was nothing. My house was completely demon free. As it should be. I sighed again. I was all alone in an empty house. It was far too quiet, too still, too lonely.
I’d been looking forward to his company and his stupid grin. Maybe even more than the sex. I was clearly losing my marbles. Most people would understand, even if they did not approve of, keeping an incubus around for sex. But wanting one in your home for company? That was insane. I couldn’t be that lonely.
I jumped to my feet. I needed to go out. Anywhere. I needed people and noise. Chaos and distractions. Pulling out my phone, I tapped on Ezme’s name. She answered almost immediately. I could almost picture her, sprawled on her sofa, wineglass in hand, playing Candy Crush.
“What’s up little bro?”
“Can I come over?”
“Sure, I’ll open up another bottle of wine.”
Twenty minutes later I was knocking on her door. She let me in, giving me a shrewd once over.
“So who has dumped your ass?” she asked.
I sighed heavily as I walked past her. “No one has dumped my ass. I don’t do relationships, remember?”
“Uh huh,” she said with a full eye roll as she took a swig of her red wine.
I looked around the empty living room. It was very tidy and quiet.
“Is Daisy at Henry’s?” I said, trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice.
Ezme shoved a full glass of wine into my hand before flopping herself down onto her plush white sofa.
“You here to see me or her,” she grumbled.
I sat next to Ezme on the sofa. “You of course.”
“Hmph!” Was her reply and she took another gulp of her drink.
“You and Henry getting on okay?” I asked, keen to hear the latest drama. It would certainly be distracting.
Ezme gave me a long level look. “We have a child together. We have to get along.”
I stared back at her until she sighed.
“Take my advice Seb, be careful who you breed with. That asshole will be part of your life for decades.”
“I’m gay,” I reminded her.
She scrunched up her nose. “Doesn’t mean you won’t have kids.”
“True, but having kids will be a carefully planned thing.”
