Page 22 of Lips of an Angel

There wasno way Raleigh had been in that bathroom alone. If he thought I didn’t know his sex voice by now, then he was sorely mistaken. I shuddered, banishing the thought. I didn’t need to get myself all worked up again over Raleigh.

And what he sounded like was horny.

So I fled, and I pretended to be none the wiser when he came up to check on me.

Hours later, I migrated from the couch to the bed, bringing my blankets along with me. I pulled the one over my shoulders tighter, snuggling into my nest. My favorite show played on the TV, but I wasn’t paying much attention to it; it was nothing more than background noise while I watched the time on the clock creep closer to last call. Watching the clock and waiting for Raleigh to come home was pathetic. I knew that. It’d become so normal that I didn’t question it anymore. Eli’s concurrent night shifts left me alone with my thoughts—a dangerous situation on the best of days.

As two a.m. crept closer, I started to feel somewhat sleepy. When the front door shut, however, my eyes popped open and I perked up—until I heard a second voice.

Afamiliarvoice.

I detangled myself from the blankets and rose from the bed, creeping toward my bedroom door. Pressing my ear to the wood, I heard a giggle. Raleigh shushed them, saying I was probably asleep. He referenced me by name, so the person must’ve known me. When they scoffed, it clicked.

Billie.

They hadn’t shown their face around the bar in years, not since Raleigh met Kali and they seemed to vanish without a trace. Raleigh claimed the relationship had run its course. Right, if that “course” was Billie following him around like a lovesick puppy. They wereeverywhere. In our apartment, in the bar. Hell, I even came home one night to find them passed out inmybed.

To make matters worse, Billie had never liked me. Maybe it had something to do with them spending the entirety of their relationship attached to Raleigh’s fucking hip.

That was my spot.

Raleigh was an out and proud pansexual who had no desire to settle down. Over the years there’d been a variety of partners traipsing in and out of our lives, but it never bothered me. I was here when they came, and I was here when they went. They might’ve shared his bed, but I was the only one who shared his life. Some of them tilted their heads a bit at learning I was nonverbal, but most of them were nice about it. Raleigh had absolutely zero patience for the few who weren’t.

Billie, however, was too clever. They never said anything derogatory within earshot of Raleigh, outside of voicing their “concern” about how “weird” our relationship was.

Raleigh brushed off their comments every time. Maybe I should have been comforted by that, but anxiety crept in like winter’s chill, whispering that the next time it happened, Raleigh would think, “You know what, they’re right,” and drop me faster than I could blink.

That said, I could appreciate what Raleigh saw in Billie. Though they weren’tmytype—far too short and not nearly tattooed enough—I could admit they were attractive. Their natural copper hair and striking green eyes could turn anyone’s head. When they smiled—their true, genuine smile—you could sometimes forget their sinister side.

They were wicked smart. I never asked much about their career, but they were some kind of scientist or something.

And at the end of it all, they made Raleigh happy, even if just for a night.

Which was why I never told him about the time Billie confronted me.

There were only three keys to our apartment: mine, Raleigh’s, and the spare that Ryder held onto for emergencies. So imagine my surprise when I was home alone one day and the front door opened to someone else. Thinking it was Raleigh, I left my bedroom, freezing in my tracks when I saw Billie hovering in the middle of the living room. When they saw me they grinned, perching on the arm of the couch and crossing their arms over their chest.

“What are you doing here?” I signed.

They tilted their head. That was another thing about them: They refused to communicate with me. Billie didn’t have much compassion. Even when they understood what I was saying, they often didn’t care enough to address me.

“Oh,” they finally said. “You’re wondering how I got in.” They lifted their hand, Raleigh’s keyring hanging from one finger. “I borrowed Raleigh’s keys. He really should keep an eye on that blazer.”

I swallowed hard, calculating the time it would take to get to my phone. Billie was half my size and a human to boot, but fear was a bitch.

“I’ll make it quick before he comes up here.” They shook their head in disgust. “I can’t believe he leaves his shift to check on you. Like a child.”

I flinched, but it wasn’t like I could say anything to defend myself. It was true, and I liked it when Raleigh went out of his way to make sure I had what I needed.

“You need to back off of Raleigh.” Now it was my turn to tilt my head. They didn’t give me a chance to raise my hands before they continued. “Our relationship can’t flourish if you don’t let go of your schoolboy crush. Get a grip on yourself.”

My heart raced. I picked my hands up, but signs were pointless.

“You think I don’t see how you look at him? All starry-eyed, like he was sent from Heaven just for you?”

Ironic.

Billie pushed off the couch and crossed the room. To prove I wasn’t afraid, I stayed rooted in place, arms crossed over my chest. They probably knew that they’d gotten under my skin, but I didn’t have to prove it to them. “Let me tell you something, Angel. If he wanted you, he would have you.” They shrugged. “He chose me. Either learn to be okay with that and take a back seat so our relationship stands a fighting chance, or get out of the way. I won’t ask again.”

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