Page 19 of Demons & Damnation

Dylan gave Kyla a brief look with a hint of a smile before heading over to the counter to order.

“Don’t do that,” Sam said, dropping her voice to a whisper.

Kyla frowned. “Do what?”

“Look at my brother like you’re undressing him with your eyes.”

Kyla sucked in a sharp breath, almost choking on it. “What?”

Sam rolled her eyes and laughed, leaning back in her chair. “Please. I know that look on you, Kyla.”

Kyla couldn’t deny it. The guy was freakishly hot. If she denied it, Sam would know something was up. Kyla grinned at her. “The guy is smoking hot, Sam. I know he’s your brother but Jesus, even you’ve got to admit if you weren’t related, you totally would.”

Sam quirked an eyebrow up. “I’m not even having this hypothetical conversation with you. It’s got so many icks attached to it, it’s unreal. He’s my brother and I think he’s gross. End of.”

Kyla smirked at her and decided to test the water. She had never lied to Sam about anything. Except Dylan. And it killed her. Every time they were around each other, with Dylan present especially, Kyla couldn’t help but feel like the world’s worst friend.

“But he’s not my brother,” Kyla said, licking her lips and wiggling her eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

Sam opened her mouth, then closed it. After a few seconds, she said, “I’d do anything to see you happy, you know that, even if that meant you shacking up with my brother. But you can’t give him what he wants, Kyla, and that’s where my issue is...would be, if it were ever a thing.”

A tsunami of sadness hit Kyla square in my chest, completely consuming her heart and filling her stomach with nausea. With water hazing over her vision, she faked a smile and shrugged her shoulders. “Good job it’s not even a thing then, isn’t it?”

Sam faltered for a second before nodding. “I’m sorry,” she said, leaning over the table and reaching for her friend’s hand but Kyla moved her hand away. “I shouldn’t have said anything. Me and my big mouth.” She buried her face in her hands and shook her head. “I’m a terrible friend.”

Kyla’s mind was racing, wondering if she knew about her and Dylan and was fishing for information or warning her away from him in a subtle way. If she knew Kyla had been lying to her...Kyla stopped that thought as her stomach churned.

It will all come out in the wash sooner or later, the little voice in the back of her mind told her. Dirty laundry has to be washed at some point.

Kyla didn’t know what would happen if Sam found out about her and her brother. Being an only child, Kyla had never shared a sibling bond or been privy to its deep roots, but her relationship with Sam was founded on something so old and loyal, she looked at Sam as if she were her own sister.

They had never had to worry about going after each other’s men as Sam had a tendency for liking the older gentlemen, whilst Kyla preferred them her own age or younger. Sam always claimed if Kyla found an older guy, she’d never look back, but Kyla wholeheartedly disagreed.

“There’s nothing like experience,” Sam would say, with a cheeky wink. “And they know how to be gentlemen. None of this baggy jeans crap with the crotch hanging around their knees and taking you to McDonald’s for a first date.”

However Sam liked to see it, it was as simple as she loved a sugar daddy and liked being taken care of. Kyla could take care of herself and only wanted a man for one thing.

“I think I’ll drive tonight,” Kyla said, smiling at Sam.

Sam pouted. “Why? What fun are we supposed to have if you’re not drinking? Is this because of what I said? I didn’t mean it. You know I didn’t.”

Kyla shook her head and waved her hand dismissively through the air. “Water off a ducks back. It’s just close to pay day and we’ll save a fortune in taxis if I drive.” Kyla shrugged her shoulders. “It’s as simple as that.”

Sam’s green eyes clouded over with worry. “Are you struggling? Do you need some money? I have plenty left from Melvin still.”

Kyla chuckled and shook her head. “I’m good, Sam. I’m being an adult and budgeting accordingly.”

Sam shrugged her shoulders. “Come over to the darkside, Ky, you don’t know the freedom you’re missing out on.” She gave her friend a mischievous wink. “No pervy bosses, no restrictions on what I can do, no one telling me what to wear or who I can see. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Kyla grinned. “Until you take their trousers off. Then you get the worst of it all.”

“Nothing a little blue pill can’t fix.” Sam dropped her voice and leaned forwards. “Plus, then when they’ve finished, they can still go some more.”

Kyla laughed. “But then I’ll just get bored. The whole excitement is getting him to finish.”

Sam rolled her eyes. “Different strokes for different folks. I prefer to indulge.”

Dylan placed three glasses of fresh orange juice down on the table, the glasses covered in water droplets. “And I think that’s the end of that conversation,” Dylan said, narrowing his eyes at his sister. “You keep your girl talk for when I’m well out of ear shot.”

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