Page 11 of Halluci-Dating A Demon
His face lights up. “Wait . . . You mean the whole ‘helping to bring out good emotions instead of bad ones?’”
I nod, a little too excitedly. “Yup. And I think it’s working well so far.” I tilt my head from side to side, squinting a little. “It’s just a little slow going with this guy. He’s different from any of the people I’ve visited before. So much sadness and trauma there.”
Eyes softening, he lays a hand on my shoulder. “And I bet having you around to lessen the nightmares is exactly what he needs.”
“Yeah . . . I guess we’ll see.” I feel like what Elias really needs is to stop being his own worst enemy. To stop adding to the hurt and pain he’s already endured. It’s not what his brother would want, and I don’t need to have known him in person to seethat. Adam loved him. He showed it in the songs he left on his playlists, the fun notes he left him, and the books he gifted him every time they fought.
“You are. And think of all the people you’ll help after him too. This is only the beginning. You’ll be living down the street from me in no time. I just know it.”
I bark out a laugh. “Down the street, huh? I would be close to work, so I guess there could be worse places to live.”
He slaps a hand to my arm. “Of course there is. Seeing me every day will be a privilege.” He winks. “Come on. It’s almost my coffee-break time. Let’s go across the street for a little caffeine to pick me up. My treat.”
I glance behind me, breathing in a familiar scent when the doors open and a man with dark hair walks in. He has two differently colored eyes and a sweet smile. I breathe in again and the coffee-drenched air sweeps inside my nose. There are other smells with it—sandwiches and fresh bagels. It reminds me of . . . No . . .that can’t be. Can it? Elias does live close by, but I never paid close attention to his address. Could that be his coffee shop across the way?
Butterflies flap in my stomach and I don’t know if they’re from excitement or anxiety. Maybe both?
“Oh hey, Zyn. Perfect timing. I was going to close while I go on break, but having you take over for a little bit will be better. That’s if you’re okay with being on your own for thirty minutes.”
“Of course. I’ll have to be on my own for longer than ten minutes at some point. I’ll be fine. Go on and enjoy your break.”
“Thanks. I’ll just be right across the way.” He reaches for something under the front desk and his eyes bounce between us. “Oh, excuse me for being rude. Arien, this is my new employee, Zyn. He’s been the perfect edition to my bookstore these last couple of days and has been such a gem. Zyn, this is my good friend, Arien. He’s also new to working in the human world.”
“Nice to meet you.” Zyn gives me a brief handshake.
“Same to you.”
The front phone rings and Zyns’s attention shifts.” I better get that. You two enjoy your visit and I’ll see you when you get back.” He shoots Kyvian a smile and then waves me goodbye as he rushes to put an end to the consistent ringing.
Kyvian steps forward first, holding the door open for me and ushering me across the street. Panic sets inside me when an approaching car honks, the driver slamming on his breaks when he almost hits us. Tugging me to his side protectively, Kyvian makes sure I’m okay, all while cursing the guy for not watching out for pedestrians.
I laugh as we hurry to the other side, and my friend doesn’t let me go until we’re safely in the coffee shop. Even then he remains close by. “You okay?”
“I am,” I reassure him. “There aren’t as many cars on base, and the streets . . . they’re different.”
“Yeah, it’s a lot to adjust to, and downtown can get a little busy throughout the day. Especially in the mornings and evenings.”
“I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it with time.”
“You will.” The corners of his lips tilt, and he gently steers me in the direction of the small line forming behind a large counter.
A guy about my height with shaggy brown hair and a bright white smile hands someone their order, while looking in our direction to say, “Welcome to the Daily Grind. We’ll be with you shortly.”
“I can take the next person over here,” a gruff voice says, and my heart slams against my chest when I look up to meet his eyes. Elias is pressing his lips in a thin line, hitting keys on the register. Kyvian drags me in front of him before I realize what’s happening, and I find myself standing here like an open-mouthed idiot.
“Hey, Elias.”
Instead of returning Kyvians’s smile, he grunts and lifts his head. “What can I get you two today?”
“I’ll take an iced caramel macchiato please.”
Elias grabs a cup and scribbles down a name then his gaze shifts to me. “And you?”
“I . . .” My throat closes the longer he looks at me. He looks so much more broken in person. His eyes are so sad and withdrawn. As I lean in closer, I swear I can hear his heart crying. I want to touch him. To pull him into me and tell him it’s going to be okay while having the ability to mean it. I want . . . I want to sing him his favorite song. Has he written it down yet?
Someone clears their throat beside me and Kyvian elbows me. “You gonna tell him what drink you want? Last I checked they have coffee on base and plenty of tea in our world.”
I nibble on my lip, resting my hands on the counter. They’re so close to Elias’s, I can feel his warmth. If I lean forward more, could I smell the candy on his lips too? What would it be like to try flavors directly from them? I clench my teeth. No. He’s a patient. I’m supposed to shut those thoughts down before they come. I’ve been so good about it until now, when he’s standing in front of me somewhere other than his room and the places I took him in his dreams.
