Page 58 of Summoning my Grumpy Demon Boss

I grin. Grumpy Mia is possibly even more adorable than regular Mia.

I glance at my phone on the floor. “Seven.”

She groans again. “Why did I let Tegan talk me into drinking last night?”

I chuckle against her neck. “Want me to go get you a tea?”

“Tegan is a strictly coffee only kind of girl. If I want a tea, I’ll have to walk down the road to Urban Brew.”

I’m already sliding my feet out of bed, searching for my sweatpants. “I’ll go.”

She pushes off the covers and rolls towards me. “Ugh. I’m coming. I’m coming.”

I reach over her and squeeze her arse. “Doesn’t look like it to me, baby. Want me to fix that?”

She halfheartedly throws a pillow at me in retaliation for my terrible innuendo. It bounces off my shoulder. “Not with Tegan around. The last thing I need is her telling everybody what crazy sounds I make when I have an orgasm, and Tegan is the worst at keeping that sort of thing to herself.”

I lean in close. “Don’t worry. You don’t make any crazy sounds. You’re usually too busy holding your breath.”

I give her a wink and dodge the next pillow before pulling up my pants. I’ve escaped down the hall to the bathroom before she’s dragged herself out of bed to come for me.

I’m in such a good mood I’m whistling in the shower and still singing to myself when I get back to the spare room. Mia is sitting on the bed scowling at her phone in her hands when I close the door behind me. “What happened?”

She sighs. “Mum wants to do brunch.”

“And that’s bad?”

“It’s just, public might not be the best place for Mum’s dramatics.”

I try not to be hurt by that. It’s reasonable to think her parents might need time to adjust, after all. “Do you want me to come?”

She looks up at me and she must see some of my feelings in my expression. Tossing aside her phone, she climbs across the bed and jumps into my arms. I’m lucky I catch her in time since I’ve shifted back and I only have two arms to catch her with.

Her legs wrap around my waist, and she kisses my cheek. “Of course, I want you to come. I just hope she’s not awful to you. Mum has a way of being cold even when she likes someone. Heaven help you if she actually dislikes you!”

“Well, now I’m scared,” I joke.

She pulls back to look at me. “It’s no laughing matter! Your family was so lovely to me when I met them. I wish you were going to have the same experience.”

I snort. “Yeah. Noah was real lovely.”

She laughs. “OK, well he took a while to warm up, but you know what I mean.”

“Yeah. I know what you mean. But I’m a big boy. I can handle it.”

She kisses my nose in a ridiculous gesture I find adorable. “Thank you. You always know just what to say.”

I’m not sure she’s got that right. I usually say the wrong thing, particularly around new people. I figure I’ll just keep my mouth shut around her mother, and smile and agree with everyone. Hopefully I can’t cause too much trouble.

“Listen, Mia. We don’t have to mention the whole sea monster thing if you think that will be too much for them this time. Maybe slowly slowly is the best approach.”

“Are you kidding? Of course I’m telling them. I’m not ashamed of you. I’m proud.”

She squeezes me tight and I try to let her enthusiasm reassure me. Truth is, though, I’ve lived with the stigma of human responses all my life and I know all too well it’s rare for people to be as open minded as Mia. Somehow I get the impression she doesn’t take after her parents in that regard.

TWENTY THREE

Mia

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