Page 4 of Halluci-Dating A Demon
I grab a Red Bull, popping the tab before slipping my fingers around the top of the glass. “Morning. How’s business today?”
“Finally picking back up after a slow two hours,” Ian says from behind me, holding two bottles of syrup.
I point to the prickly pear and he puts the other back where he got it, greeting the next customer who enters as he sets the bottle on the counter in front of me.
“Good, good. You can head on home now,” I glance at Leah, emptying the twenty ounce can into my cup and adding four pumps of syrup.
“You sure? I don’t mind staying if you need me to.”
I study the small line forming and shake my head. “Yeah, Ian and I can handle it.”
“Okay, cool, ’cause I could really use some chips and salsa right about now, with a margarita on the side.
I laugh, sipping on my drink before taking her place behind the espresso machine. Ian calls out a familiar tea order, and sure enough, twisting around his earring and being his usual charming self is the incubus who owns the bookstore across the way.
I take another gulp from my cup and set it down before getting started on his drink, taking down the chai mixture from the shelfabove the steamer. I add the milk and foam next, listening to the conversation going on behind me. Kyvian goes on about how draining his day has been and how he’s ready for his pick-me-up. He adds a chicken wrap to his order, and Ian heads to the kitchen area to start on it while I set his drink on the counter.
Kyvian smiles, looking between me and the direction Ian is coming from. “Here you go. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“That you will.” He wraps his long teal fingers around his cup before snatching the small brown sack from Ian. “You two have a good rest of your day.”
“Same to you,” Ian answers for the both of us as the incubus heads out the door, his gaudy jewelry and bright clothing catching in the sunlight.
“Are you ever going to talk to the customers?”
“I talk to them.” I twist the hem of my shirt, averting my gaze from him.
“Yeah, when you absolutely have to.”
I roll my eyes, reaching for my drink again. “Well, you were here, and I had an itch in my throat.”
He laughs. “You could at least smile back or wave or something.”
“You know I’m not good at that stuff. Not with people I don’t know well.”
He wipes the counter down, jutting out his hip. “You know Kyvian well enough. If you keep acting like some wallflower, the non-human customers are going to start thinking this is not as accepting a place as it claims to be.”
I huff out a breath. “Please. I treat our kind the same way. I was like that when I first met you.”
“Yeah, but I happen to like the broody type.”
A short chuckle escapes my lips and I down the rest of my drink, waiting for the surge of energy I need to hit me. I should lay off all the sugar and caffeine, but since my meds aren’tworking as well as they did in the beginning, I needed to find another way to stay awake at work. I go against a lot of the lists of what you shouldn’t do when you have narcolepsy, but unlike articles written by professionals who’ve never lived a day in my shoes, I’m well aware this isn’t a one-size-fits-all disorder. I get by however I can, and all my semi-healthy habits are part of that.
“Is it cool if I go on my break?”
My gaze reverts the opening door and Ian cranes his neck. “Or I can take care of him first and then go.” He stares back at me, forming his lips into a pout.
“Go.” I wave him off. “I’ll be fine.”
“You sure?” He raises his eyes.
“Yeah. I got it. This isn’t my first time covering for someone.”
“I won’t be too long.” He pats my shoulder, offering me an encouraging smile. As he’s waltzing toward the back, I step in front of the cash register, trying to move the corner of my lips into an upright position.
“What can I get started for you today?”
The man looks behind himself and back at me. “I . . . actually . . . I saw a hiring sign out front and wanted to see about applying.”
