That gives me hope that if it’s not today, it could be another day.
“Come on. Let’s actually watch a movie,” he says before he sits up, drawing me up with him. I want to kiss him again. I want to feel him, touch him… but I know I’m getting greedy when simply leaning against him feels better than I ever imagined. Pocket Lint prances around on the couch and he doesn’t even bitch about it. We sit shoulder to shoulder as the movie starts and I try not to think about everything that’s happened.
Instead, I do my best to focus on him. I try to fill my mind with thoughts of him. And when the words of my elders try to creep into my mind, I fight to push them away.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
ELLISON
Somewhere around the hour mark, Asmodeus falls asleep. It seemed like he’d been enjoying the movie, so I switch to something else so we can finish it when he wakes up later. His ferret is curled in his lap, surely leaving fur all over my furniture.
I rub my head, questioning what I’m doing, why I’m letting him into my life when I know that it comes with risks. But would it be okay for someone like him?
My phone beeps, and I glance at it and see that it’s a message from Landon.
Landon: Is Deus okay?
Me: I think he will be.
Landon: I’ve grown rather attached to our demon-worshiping weirdo. If either of you need me, I suppose I’ll stop reading long enough to come over. That should show you how much I care about you two.
Me: Thank you, but you are safe to continue reading. He’s sleeping right now.
Landon: Good because I’m at a really good part in my book and I hate how distracted I’ve been while worrying about his ass. I don’t like being distracted.
Me: We’re all good here.
Landon: I’m going to plan something fun for us to do tomorrow. That’ll help distract him. I’m actually going to make someone else plan it, but if it’s a good plan, you better give me the credit.
Me: Sounds good.
I stare at my phone for a moment before I click my mother’s number.
Me: Can you give me the phone number of the detective who was working on Asmodeus’s case?
Mother: Finally coming to your senses, I see.
Once I have the number, I contemplate it for a minute before glancing over at Asmodeus. Gently, I slip away from the couch and go into another room where I click the number and make the call.
“Where are we going?” Asmodeus asks as I drive about forty minutes from my house.
“Some place,” I say.
Asmodeus doesn’t seem thrilled with that answer as he stares at me. He’d woken up this morning reserved and looking exhausted and that’s how he’s remained all day until now at six o’clock, and it makes me wonder if I’m making the right decision. I could be fucking everything up, for all I know.
Maybe he just needs time and not something like this.
I don’t know the answer but I know that if I’d asked him ahead of time, he wouldn’t have come with me. I pull into the parking lot and he looks up at the restaurant I’ve pulled into.
“Pizza?” he asks.
“Yeah.”
“We drove forty minutes for pizza? You must really like this place.”
“Never been here before,” I admit.
He raises an eyebrow.
