Page 5 of My Guardian Demon

Onyx muttered something that sounded like, "If he shows up here, he won't be a problem for long."

"Wait, what?" I stared at the wall. I wasn't sure I'd heard him right.

"Nothing," Onyx said, then he sighed. "Tell me more about your studies. What's your major?"

Shaking my head, sure I'd misheard, I shut the empty suitcase and swapped it for a second one. "Business. Are you still in school?"

"No. I've been out of school for a long time."

Curious. "What do you do?"

"Let's say consulting. I'm also hands-on sometimes when there's a tough client." Curiouser. "You're supposed to be telling me about you."

I tsk tsked at him and leveled a glare at the wall. "It goes both ways, buddy. We're getting to know eachother. You already heard all about my day. Do you feel my glare right now?"

He chuckled. "I do. You'll come to realize, I don't care how much you glare at me."

I went back to folding the clothes from my suitcase. "I have a feeling I'll be glaring a lot if we continue getting to know each other."

"Probably."

I rolled my eyes. Onyx chuckled.

The new suitcase had most of my shirts in it. I crossed to the closet, grabbed an armful of hangers, and carried them to the bed. I began threading my shirts onto the hangers and stacking them on top of each other so I could easily hang them all at once.

"How long have you lived here?" I asked.

"Too long. How long do you intend to stay?"

"I'm a senior. I should graduate this spring. I only plan to stay until graduation. So probably until June. My lease is month to month and I should graduate in May."

"What are you doing after graduation?"

"No plans yet. I'm supposed to intern with a local business this spring for a class. I'm hoping it opens some doors for me."

"Not going home to your family?"

I finished putting shirts on hangers and grabbed the hangers by their hooks. One hand firmly around the hooks, I lifted and carried the shirts to my closet to hang up.

I couldn't go home. Eston had seen to that. I said, "No, Onnie. Stalker ex. I won't be going home for a long time."

Understanding touched his voice. "Ah, that's right. What happened there?"

I sighed. That whole relationship was a train wreck.

I hooked the hangers over the bar in the closet. Job done, I crossed to my dresser, grabbed my apple, then plopped onto the bed. I stared at the ceiling.

I said, "Whatdidn'thappen there?"

There was a moment of silence then Onyx said, "Want to talk about it?"

I laughed. "Want to talk about your day?"

He chuckled. "Touché." He paused and there was silence. I took a bite of my apple. Quietly, he said, "I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

I chewed and settled into my pillow. Did I trust this man with something so personal? Especially when he tiptoed around everything he told me?

My eyes traced the ridges of the popcorn ceiling in my bedroom. I swallowed then said, "I don't know. I'm not sure I trust you enough for that story yet."

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