Page 15 of A Sip of Sin

“I wanted to know how your day went,” said Adair, turning back to the kitchen as a timer went off. There was a faint burning smell as Hollen followed after him into the tiny space that had barely enough room for two people and a miniature table. “I’m surprised you’re home so early. Is that good or bad?”

“Umm, good?” said Hollen, scratching the back of his head. He couldn’t tell Adair that he’d lost another job so soon. They were one step away from being out on the streets, then Adair would have to drop out of dance school. All that time and passion wasted.

“They let me go home early because it was my first day,” said Hollen, reaching for a cookie. There was red jam pressed into the middle of it, and he swiped it with his tongue before he shoved the rest in his mouth. “It was really—uh—busy, so the big bosssaid it would be too hard to train me today. I mostly just did paperwork and all the safety quizzes I’ve done a hundred times. You know how it goes.”

When did it get so easy to lie?Hollen smoothed his hand over his shirt as he took a seat. There was still sweat clinging to him, right along with the clamminess he had yet to shake. His bones ached, the cold so pure that he wasn’t sure how long it would linger.

“Are we celebrating?” asked Adair, going to his toes as he reached for the wine glasses in the top cupboard. They clinked together, the cheap glass polished enough that they could almost pass for something expensive when they were really a set that Hollen had discovered in a clearance bin one day.

“Not until my probation is up,” said Hollen, ducking his head to avoid Adair’s gaze. “I don’t want to jinx it.”

A moment of silence passed, but Hollen refused to look up, plucking at the edge of his shirt and toying with the seam. Gnawing at his lip, he found some sweetness there from the few cookie crumbs that remained. Adair always tried so damn hard, and yet…

“Hollen.”

He looked up, meeting Adair’s gaze. Adair had taken a seat across from him at the tiny two-person table they used for breakfast and lunch. His hands were clasped, the oven mitts next to them. “Why are you lying?”

“He’s smart,” said George unhelpfully. Hollen shook the comment off with a roll of his eyes before letting his shoulders slump.

“I’m sorry,” said Hollen, ducking his head again. The table was beaten up after so much use, a burn in the surface from when Hollen had accidentally almost started it on fire.

“Why did they let you go?” asked Adair. He pushed himself off his chair, looping around the table before crouching at Hollen’sfeet. Seemingly without hesitation, he threw his arms around Hollen’s shoulders, pulling him in for a hug. He was a few inches taller than Hollen, his hair smelling of cinnamon and butter.

“I…” Hollen had no idea how to answer that one.Their laundry facility had a serious vampire infestation? I’m pretty sure Rhys, who I assume is the assistant manager, threatened to kill me?

He’d covered up his messes so many times, but Adair was right. He wasn’t sure why he was trying to lie anymore. Every day it grated on him, each lost job just another failure to add to the tally. It wasn’t his fault, even if he took all the blame.

“Remember how you got into a fight with your grandma because she wanted us to go to church on Christmas?” asked Hollen, clasping his hands together. He was so cold, but sweat was pouring down his back, probably soaking into Adair’s arm as he tightened his grip.

“Yeah.” Adair looked up hesitantly. “That’s the only time we’ve fought in years. I cried for a week straight when she refused to speak to me like I was some sort of evil man. She just didn’t see the point. I’ve told her so many times that I don’t believe in God.”

Hollen held out his hands before Adair could get worked up. His beliefs werehisbeliefs. Unfortunately, Hollen didn’t have a choice but to believe in angels. “Okay, and that’s fair. But what aboutotherstuff?”

Adair blinked, leaning on his heels and staring up at him. “Other what?”

“You know…” Hollen bit his lip, his stomach twisting. “The stuff that you might not be able to see, but some people believe they exist.” When he said it like that, he sounded like an absolute lunatic.

“Like ghosts?” Adair looked over his shoulder, his eyes going wide. “Oh shit, is this place haunted? Hell, no.” He lungedat Hollen, squeezing him tight as he trembled. “I’m sorry if someone died here. I didn’t know—I swear!” He lowered his voice into a whisper. “Did it tell us to get out?”

Hollen squeezed back, his stomach rolling. “I’m not sure if ghosts exist—I’ll have to ask.” He combed his hand through Adair’s hair until he relaxed. “But what I mean is like demons and werewolves…orvampires.”

“Oh.” Adair let out a soft sigh. “No, not at all.” There was pure relief etched onto his face when he looked up. “I think some of that stuff did exist, but they were medical conditions or mental health disorders. The women they burned as witches were probably just a little strange and progressive, but I don’t believe in magic. Did you want to binge fantasy movies or something?” Adair grinned, putting a hand on each of Hollen’s shoulders. “I hate to be the one to tell you this, but there is no Santa Claus. I’m the one who fills your Christmas stocking with chocolate.”

“Magic died out a long time ago,” said George, the voice in his head startling Hollen. Sometimes he was so loud that Hollen wondered how other people couldn’t hear him.

“Why did you flinch?” asked Adair, looking Hollen over. “If you got hurt on your first shift, I’m suing the owner.” He narrowed his eyes, his gaze settling on Hollen’s nose. Even after he’d tried to clean himself up in the alley, there was probably still blood there.

Hollen took a deep breath, his limbs quivering. “Umm.”It’s now or never.“I may or may not be slightly possessed by a teeny-tiny little demon that talks to me almost constantly.”

A beat passed, the kitchen still until Adair smiled, a laugh pushing through his lips. His eyes sparkled, and he squeezed Hollen tight, giggling as he held him.

“Funny joke,” said Adair, squeezing Hollen one last time before he released him. With the smoothness and agility of a dancer, he stood, turning to the stove and taking a peek throughthe door. A wave of heat and a few wisps of smoke escaped before Adair clicked the oven off with a few button pushes, donning oven mitts to retrieve the steaming pizza.

George grumbled his hatred of pizza at the same time Hollen’s stomach protested. All that melted cheese and pure carbs were exactly what he needed to warm him up, George’s hatred for it beside the point.

Hollen took a deep breath, trying to ignore the hunger in his gut. “I’m serious.” I’m possessed by a demon named George. I’m not exactly surehowit happened, but a few months ago I started hearing his voice in my head.”

Adair gave him a sharp look, letting the pizza fall to the stove top with a clatter. “You shouldn’t joke around like that. I was taken away from my mom when I was little because she was schizophrenic. You know that.”

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