He’d hated it, but he’d tried.
At first, he’d thought something was wrong with him for not wanting casual sex the way most people seemed to, but like everything else pertaining to his sexuality, he’d taken it in stride and moved on. Maybe he was a little demisexual, or maybe he just had a lower libido than average. Either way, he was simply himself, and that was fine with him.
Sex wasn’t everything, after all, right?
Outside the station, Bryce blinked against the harsh light coming from the blue sun shining in the mustard yellow sky. The late October breeze was cool, but not biting the way it was back home in Montana.
At the thought, Bryce’s chest panged with longing. He’d never been this far from home before, and not only because he was currently standing in another dimension. He’d vacationed out of state before, but he’d never gone far. He’d seen the redwoods of California and the Seattle Space Needle. He’d even crossed the border to Canada a time or two, but that was nothing compared to the distance now.
“It’s only temporary,” his mother had said, cupping his face in her soft hands. “You’ll regret it if you don’t try.”
“And think of all you’ll experience,” his nan had added as she pulled a pie from the oven. “You’ll see things you’ve never even dreamed of. I wish I could go too. You think they have a spot for an old lady?”
Ah heck, he’d barely been gone two days, and he already missed his family terribly. But they were right. He was going to see and experience so many new things, and in the grand scheme of things, it was only a year, right?
The car they piled into a few minutes later was sleek and shiny. Liel mentioned that he’d borrowed it from his boss for the day, so Bryce was extra careful as he crawled into the back seat beside Jude. Oliver buckled up, then twisted in his chair so he could continue his conversation with Jude. The four of them chatted away amicably, and Bryce settled back in his seat, content to listen in.
Liel drove through the busy streets, the traffic eventually thinning as the shopping malls and businesses faded into more residential neighborhoods. Oliver commented on how sexy Liel was while driving, to which the demon replied, “I make anything I do sexy.”
Jude and Toni exchanged matching looks of disgust as Oliver lunged in and planted a wet kiss to Liel’s cheek. Bryce checked his phone, finding several texts from his family.
[Mom] Did you make it? Have you eaten? Make sure you get enough sleep. You know how your migraines can get.
[Nan] You’re mother’s a right wreck, but don’t let her stress you out. I’ve got her well taken care of. You have fun.
[Pop] Do you remember where I left the keys to the tractor?
Chuckling quietly, Bryce responded to each text.
I made it to Envy. In the car on our way to Zef’s. I ate a sandwich on the train, and I slept pretty good last night. Head feels fine.
I wouldn’t have left if I didn’t think you’d hold down the fort for me, Nan.
Hanging next to the garage door opener. Or you left them in the ignition.
“Parents worried?” Jude asked, and Bryce tucked away his phone.
“Not worried, but I’ve never been this far from home before. And we’re a pretty close family, so it’s… an adjustment.”
Something passed through Jude’s eyes quicker than Bryce could interpret, but he covered it with a stiff smile. “It’s good they miss you. Parents should miss their kids.”
He didn’t quite know what to say to that, but Jude didn’t seem to expect a response. He simply turned and pressed a kiss to Toni’s shoulder, twining his fingers with the demon’s and squeezing tight. Toni’s brows drew down as he studied the top of Jude’s head, but he didn’t say anything either. Nuzzling Jude’s scalp, Toni covered their laced hands with his other one, whispering something in a language Bryce didn’t understand.
“Myri je entwyn,” Jude echoed, and Toni’s gills flared, his arm fins fluttering as he beamed down at the human man.
Aware he was witnessing something intimate, Bryce looked out the window instead and watched the houses pass. Eventually, the car rolled toa stop in front of a tall rectangular building. It looked like it was separated into four apartments, two ground-level, two above, and Bryce recognized the front door with the decorative wreath of black vines and orange leaves from the video tour Zef had sent him last month.
On the sidewalk in front of the building sat a very tall figure with six arms and dark gray skin covered in red swirls. The spider’s—er, Araknis’s—head shot up as Liel put the car in park, and in one fluid motion, Gem stood. The demon was so tall, which for Bryce was saying something. He was six-two and ten pounds shy of three hundred—give or take—and he felt small as the demon skipped over to them, his eight eyes swiveling wildly around to look at everyone at once.
“Oh my gods, finally! I’ve been waiting forever, and I have to pee,” Gem cried to no one in particular before he offered Bryce a blinding smile, revealing two short little fangs. “Hi, Bryce, so great to see you again. I would hug you, but seriously, one squeeze and I’m peeing all over you. And even though I’m hella open-minded, I’m not really one for water sports.”
Not even fully out of the car yet, Bryce blinked and swallowed thickly. “Okay.”
“You could have just gone in and peed,” Oliver said.
“I was going to, but then I saw Tad crawl into Zef’s house through their window wielding scissors, and there was no way I was going in there alone. What if she finally decided to kill Zef? I don’t want to be the one who discovers their body! I am not built for that kind of trauma.” Dancing in place, Gem fidgeted with the hem of his hoodie and the frayed ends of his shorts. “And I also wasn’t going to risk being her next victim. I figured my only chance of survival is facing her with someone she likes even less than me. C’mon, Ollie, you’re going in first.”
“What?” Oliver barked as Gem dragged him toward the house. “You’re not sacrificing me to Tad!”
