38
Harlow
“LEAH!” the little girl in the threshold—xV’s daughter, Nikki—shrieked. “LEAH!”
“That’s me.” Evie cocked an eyebrow. “And you must be Nikki, right?”
Nikki covered her mouth with both hands and trembled with excitement. “Y-Yes…”
“I knew it was you.” Evie looked over her shoulder suspiciously, then leaned in close to speak to Nikki in hushed tones. “Listen… I need your help. Some of the archdemons found out where I’m hiding, and they’re trying to capture me so they can force me to tell them where the Ascending Elevator is. If that happens, then they’re going to wage war with the archangels, and we can’t let that happen. Can I hide out in your house for a little while until the coast is clear? I know that they’ll never think to look for me here…”
“Yes!” Nikki squeaked. She danced back from the doorway, then visibly shivered and shook her head. “I mean n-no, wait… I gotta… gotta ask my Daddy or Mal if it’s okay…”
“Of course.” Evie nodded gravely. “But please, hurry. I don’t know how much time I have before the archdemons will catch up with me.”
Nikki’s eyes somehow grew wider, and she turned on her heel and bolted into the house, shouting while she did. “DADDY! DADDY?!”
“Nailed it,” Harlow whispered.
Evie smirked. “Totally.”
* * *
Once upon a time,almost a year and a half ago, Harlow had met the Single Dads in person at Gwynn’s wedding. While distance and circumstance had kept him from meeting up with them since, it hadn’t stolen his recollection of their time together. When xV rounded the corner, steered by Nikki, who tugged his arm and pulled him forward in an attempt to get him to move faster, Harlow knew he would have been able to pick his friend out of a crowd no matter how long it’d been. xV was the same online as he was in person—quiet, serious, and nurturing. Even if he were to bleach his hair and swap out his business-casual style for something flashier, Harlow would have been able to recognize him by feeling alone.
“Daddy,” Nikki panted. Her small, socked feet sought purchase against the hardwood and failed. To make up for her lack of traction, she turned to speed, pumping her feet beneath her like if she started running, she might find the force to drag her father along after her. “Daddy,please!Leah is introuble!I have to help her, but first, you have to tell her it’s okay to come in the house!”
xV glanced up from Nikki at Harlow, halfway through a silent laugh, only for his expression to fall. He’d no doubt spotted Evie in the doorway. Laughter turned to stunned disbelief, which wobbled, then cracked. The laughter he’d pushed aside emerged, boisterous and so loud that Harlow was stunned. It had never occurred to him that xV could make so much noise.
Then again, Nikki had to have inherited her lungs fromsomeone.The aftermath of her shriek still rang in Harlow’s ears.
“Well,” xV said once he’d composed himself. “I guess this explains why you’ve been so secretive.”
Harlow grinned sheepishly. “Sorry.”
“Daddy!” Nikki cried. “Daddy, stop talking! Leah is indanger. Can you please say it’s okay for her to come inside?”
“Leah,” xV said, entirely serious. “You’re welcome to come into the house.”
“Thank you, Mr. Nikki’s-Dad.” Evie stepped through the threshold. “As I’m sure you’ve been made aware, there are some archdemons on the loose, and they’re trying to track me down. I’d heard through the grapevine that there was a young, friendly demoness with a heart of gold living here named Nikki, and I knew that I’d be safe hiding with her. Thank you for letting me inside.”
xV smiled. “You’re quite welcome.”
“Close the door!” Nikki begged. Tears streamed down her face. Harlow, who hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from her, stepped inside quickly and closed the door behind him.
“We’re safe from the archdemons now,” Evie promised. She held out her hand to Nikki, who squealed and forgot all about xV, latching onto Evie instead. “Thank you for saving me, Nikki. Your brave deeds have saved all the realms from certain destruction.”
“I saved the day,” Nikki mumbled. Her fingers wove between Evie’s. “Daddy… I saved the day!”
“I’m proud of you, sweet stuff.”
“I’m proud of me, too!” Nikki tucked herself against Evie’s side. “Leah?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re my favoritest ever. Can you teach me how to be a good demon, so I can grow up to be just like you?”
There were very few times when Evie broke character while playing a role. Previous public appearances, as unpredictable as they could be, had failed to shake her. She was a professional, and acting was her business. But with Nikki’s hand in hers, their fingers laced together, a heartfelt question asked, Evie hesitated a moment too long to be surefire, confident Haraleah. Her posture loosened and she dipped her head. Had Harlow been able to see her face, he was sure her expression had softened, too.
