Those words struck me like a harpoon in the center of my chest.
“Luci,” I whispered as all traces of anger deflated inside.
“You have forty-eight hours to deliver the last soul, seeing as you’re incapable of delivering the vengeance you begged for in death. Then we can be done with one another.” He straightened the black, cotton lapels of his coat and, before he stepped back into the shadows, Lucifer glanced over his shoulder and delivered the blow that sent me to my knees. “Enjoy your humble morning as nothing more than a fleeting memory in time.”
Pot and Aqua Net formed an acrid cloud in the shag pad Andrew and I had been partying at for the last hour.
Though it wasn’t my normal scene, I adjusted quickly. The Bud Light in my hand was lukewarm and still full, but I felt too awkward to ditch it on the counter, pretty sure I was the only one sporting less than a heavy buzz.
Thankfully, Andrew hadn’t left my side.
His hand covered mine where it rested in the crook of his elbow and I beamed up at him as I watched him talk to what had to be the 20th person since we first arrived. Andrew‘s flamboyant personality had a way of capturing anyone who walked by. I got the impression that he was meeting some of them for the first time, even though he talked to them like he’d known them forever.
When we finally had a second alone, I reached up on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear, “Who are all of these people?”
“To be honest,” he answered with a huff of laughter. “I have no idea. A couple of my buddies were supposed to meet me here.” Andrew searched the crowd and frowned a little as he looked. “It would seem they either forgot or are running way behind.”
“Well good thing you have me here instead. You know. To keep you company.” I kept my tone light and teasing even though something about his words hurt just a little. Somewhere in my delusion I guess I thought I’d be his only entertainment for the night.
“Of course you are,” he said with a smile. “You’re more fun than them anyway. And definitely better to look at.”
I slapped himlightly on the shoulder as I laughed. “ You’re such a dog.”
“Woof, woof, baby.”
We had a moment to laugh together before another person approached and stole his attention.
As the night went on, I learned that this was a college party hosted by one of Andrew’s fraternity brothers. I don’t know why, but he didn’t strike me as a frat boy. Andrew was so put together. Like he woke up early in the morning, every morning, and took care to curate his appearance for the day. Even after our midnight drive with the top down, not a single hair on his head was out of place.
“Andrew!” Someone shouted across the room.
I followed his gaze and landed on two men wading through the crowd toward us.
“Hey man!”
Without warning, Andrew pulled me along until we met the new arrivals on the edge of the crowd.
“What’s up man?” Andrew said as he pulled the first man into a bro hug. “I didn’t think you were gonna make it.”
The new arrival ran a hand through his disheveled brown hair and clapped in on the shoulder. “You know it’s almost impossible to get this guy out the door sometimes.” He pointed over his shoulder at the second man standing quietly behind him.
“Hey Andrew,” the second one said, his voice and eyes dodgy.
“Callen.” Some flicker of emotion crossed Andrew‘s face, but it was gone before I had time to identify what it was.
Callen, however, must have been a pro at reading expressions because his cheeks flushed, eyes darting around to look at anything other than Andrew.
I could feel my eyes narrow as I tried to determine what the silent exchange was.
“It’s all good bro.” The one whose name I didn’t know stepped between Andrew and Callen, creating some sort of neutral space to ease the building tension. “Damien was just a little nervous about his first college party. Isn’t that right?” he directed the question toward Damien.
“Yeah,” Damien answered.
Andrew scrutinized him for another moment before the tension eased in his shoulders, and he said, “Well sack up next time. You know I don’t like to be kept waiting.”
Silent stretched between the three men, and, I couldn’t tell how they were feeling, but it was way too fucking awkward for my liking so I cleared my throat and asked, “Andrew? Are you going to introduce me to your friends?”
“Yeah, baby. Of course. Dany, this is Callen.” Andrew clapped his hand around Callen’s shoulder again.
