Page 160 of The Sidekick

I’m reaching to close it out when Shade comes in, keys in hand.

“Oh, Shade,” I whisper.

When he looks up, Felix is staring at him in complete horror. Something draws Shade’s attention to the steps. He stands perfectly still as Blaze says something and leans back from the woman, revealing her nude body.

I watch Shade shut down, glancing back and forth between the two. Felix says something but remains paralyzed in place, hands up as if he can stop what’s happening. Shade says something. Blaze pushes himself up off of the woman to say something back with a smarmy grin.

Shade nods once, turns, and leaves.

As he pulls away from the house, the twins talk for a second. Then Felix joins them on the stairs to help Melissa up and escort her to a different bedroom than the one she messed up.

I can’t watch anymore after they start kissing.

I pause it and sit there, trying to think over the building anger inside.

“They told him it was exclusive. No other people. They lied to him. Oh gosh. I have to tell him. Why? Why lie to him? I don’t get it. Just be honest!”

The door opens behind us. It startles me into silence as I close the window I have open. We all turn to see Sal standing with her mouth dropped open as she takes me in.

“You’re really back,” she takes a step forward and looks at me like I’m a bug under a microscope.

“What did you need, Sal?” Satan asks in his fake friendly voice.

“I was just going to let you both know we’re opening up for the night.” She shifts, glancing between us with narrowed eyes.

“Thanks,” he says and turns back to the computer.

“You want to get ready, Max?” Sal turns to him with a sweet smile. His lip curls in disgust.

“He has the night off, Sal. Remember?” Satan says lightly. She can’t see his face, but I can. He is not happy about her being here.

“Oh, yeah,” she lets out a fake laugh and then stands there.

“Hey, boss man,” Pat interrupts the awkwardness with her perpetual frown. “Tera, what’s up? There’s a guy out front asking for you. Blond hottie covered in tattoos?”

“Really?” I blink in surprise. He actually came here for me? I’m so thankful. I need some support.

She gives me an eye roll, “Yeah, really. Can I send him back, boss man?”

“Go ahead,” Satan grumbles without turning. He looks even more irritated.

Pat disappears, but Sal continues to linger. It’s weird. I turn and fiddle with my laptop. We weren’t friends before. I don’t see that changing.

“Boyfriend, Tera?” She asks as if it’s any of her business.

She brings up a good point. Is Asher my boyfriend? We are way too new to have a boxed-up perfect relationship, but it feels like more than dating. It also feels more than a boyfriend and girlfriend thing. I don’t know how to answer.

There’s also the fact that both Max and Satan have turned to look at me with matching frowns as they wait for my answer.

“I am,” Asher’s calm voice washes over me. I feel my shoulders relax at the sound. Satan’s frown stays, but Max relaxes back with a grin. “I was asked to tell you to get your lazy ass to work.”

Max chokes in surprise and turns away from them to cover his laughter. Asher said it in such a mellow tone it takes a second for me to realize what he said. My first instinct is to tell him not to say that to her. I squish it. She’s always been mean to me, and he can say whatever he wants. I’m not in the mood to defend anyone right now.

She makes a disgruntled huffing sound, and a pair of warm hands settle over my shoulders, trying to massage away my tension.

“It’s bad, angel.”

“I know,” I look down at the hands twisting uselessly in my lap.

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