Page 16 of My Blind Date is a Demon

“Oh, sorry. Just…still making sure you were there, I guess.”

“I’m here.”

“Can you see me?”

The top of the cookie jar props open and I see two red, glowing eyes look at me. “I can now.”

“Okay,” I say. “Stop. That’s totally creepy.”

The eyes disappear and the top of the jar closes again. I pick up the jar and move down the hallway to the guest room. I flip on the light and see cobwebs hanging from the ceiling fan. Okay, we haven’t had guests in a while. I’ll need to actually clean this room tomorrow.

I put the jar on the empty dresser. “I know you don’t need a whole room to yourself, but I do,” I say.

“Suit yourself,” Damon says.

I nod definitively and then leave the room, turning off the light and closing the door behind me. When I get to my room, it feels weird being alone. I kind of wish Bella had fallen asleep in my bed. She does that sometimes, though not as often as she used to. My therapist said that it wasn’t healthy for us to sleep together so much. It created too much codependency. So she usually sleeps in her own bed nowadays. I know it’s best for her, but I miss her.

Though, tonight, I guess I’m missing Damon. Which is weird, and kind of freaky. But I guess it’s the bonding spell. Maybe it would have been better to keep his cookie jar in my room. But I’m not going to go get him now. I’ll just do my best to get some sleep tonight. Maybe tomorrow I’ll bring him back in here.

Ugh, I can’t believe I’m feeling so tortured about letting a demon sleep in my room. Maybe I really am cursed after all.

CHAPTER 6

The next morning is as hectic as any other. Moreso, actually, because I slept terribly. And I’m not sure it’s just because I didn’t take enough sleeping pill. I really should have kept the dang cookie jar in my room so I could keep an eye on it—on him. Every sound I heard, whether it was just the wind or the cat going down the stairs, startled me. I have no idea how many times I got up and went to check on Bella, who was sleeping soundly. Too soundly? Ugh, I was totally paranoid. At one point, I even checked to make sure she was still breathing. Of course, she was. She was always a heavy sleeper.

“You have orchestra practice today,” I tell Bella as she puts her shoes on.

“I know,” she says with a sigh. “It’s already in the trunk.”

“Good job,” I say as I dump cat food into the communal bowl. The dog actually prefers cat food, so Dash and Mr. Darcy both eat the same food out of the same bowl. They are both grazers and just eat whenever. I’d been told that such feeding habits were not healthy for them, but anything to make my life easier is a win in my book. Besides, they are both considered senior pets and are in really good shape for their ages, so I don’t worry about it.

“Ready?” I ask Bella, giving her a once-over to make sure her socks match and her hair is brushed.

“Yup.” She steps out the door, and I am just behind her. I look down and realize I am still in my slippers. I grunt and go back inside to put on my shoes. I am halfway out to the car when I feel a tugging at my heart. I’d left the cookie jar on the kitchen counter. I run back inside to get it and then rush out to the car. I hand Bella the cookie jar to hold as I peel out of the driveway.

“Late again,” Bella says, more to herself than to me.

“Yeah, I know,” I say. “You actually sound disappointed.”

She shrugs. “I hear people snicker whenever I walk in late because it happens so often.”

“I’m sorry, honey. We will try to do better. Starting tomorrow, huh?”

“Hey, Damon,” Bella says, shaking the cookie jar. “Can you make sure I’m on time for school tomorrow?”

“Hey, don’t do that,” I tell her. “Don’t shake him. And he’s a demon, not a genie.”

“They are called djinn,” she says. “And there’s not a difference.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask, slapping the steering wheel when I get caught by a red light.

“I was reading about it last night,” she says. “In Islamic folklore, all supernatural beings, including demons, are considered djinn.”

“Hmm, I guess I should have looked at what you were reading. I’m not sure you should be reading up on demons.”

“Umm, we have one in our house, Mom. I think it’s safe to read about them.”

I sigh. “Touché. Just don’t let Grandma Consuela find out.”

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