Page 46 of Halluci-Dating A Demon
When daylight comes, I have breakfast with my family and skip lunch to nap so I can feel settled before my flight. We don’t finish the book on the plane or during my ride back home, and I can’t read it without him. I try several times while I’m sitting on my couch for over an hour, but I end up turning on the TV instead.
My phone buzzes, and instead of smiling at the silly, sweet hellos from my demon, I see Brody’s name. Going rigid, my jaw clenches.
Brody:I hope you don’t mind but I decided I’d text you first, since I know you were never a fan of being the first to start a conversation.
I do mind. My mouth remains locked together as I write and delete my message several times before hitting send.
Me:Not at all. How’s it going?
Brody: Good. Make it home safely?
Clearly I did if I’m writing back.
Me: Yeah, about to turn in.
Brody: Pleasant dreams, then. I’m sure you need the rest with all the flying you’ve done in the last two days.
Me:Yeah, flying really does wear me down. Night.
I don’t sleep. Instead, I message Arien, telling him I need him so I know what happens in the next chapters of my book, and then I jerk off in the shower, waiting for him to come. His reaction to having to bring a book near steam and water has me smiling on the inside.
“You just had to choose here, didn’t you?” He swipes a hand down my stomach, collecting my cum before it can be washed down the drain. In between reading, he sucks on his fingers, and when I lose him, I trigger more emotions by going through pictures of the fishing trip that took place the same day as the car crash.
Arien rubs my shoulders, crouching down beside me, not saying anything. Showing me he’ll stay for the bad as much as the good, being someone I can lean on as I freeze up from the pain. I needed to see these; I’ve been avoiding them for so long. With the images in front of me spread out on the floor, I see what a good day my brother had, and hope it was the last thing he thought of right before I ruined it.
Eighteen
Arien
Elias brought out his sadness on his own over the last three days, and I was there for him as he worked through everything he’d felt too afraid to face before I’d come around. It’s his way of working through his grief, how he’s choosing to heal. No one ever said it’s easy to lose someone, especially when you feel like their death has fallen on you.
He called his old therapist and booked an appointment for the end of the week, after going through his brother’s boxes that he tried to leave in the back of the closet forever. We all get there in our own time, and Elias is starting to want to live, thinking he must’ve survived for a reason. He’s also mentioned griefcounseling and creating a support group for people struggling with the same battle he fights through daily.
I’ve supported him in all these things, not by pushing but by telling him how far he’s come and how much further he’ll go.
“Ah there you are, Arien.” My boss interrupts my thoughts.
“Hey, did something happen?”
“No.” a gentle smile breaks across his face and he takes two steps closer, shoving his hands into his pocket. “I wanted to tell you some good news.”
“Yeah? Is it about Elias?”
He straightens his shoulders. “Actually, it has to do with you. You’ve made so much progress in such a short time that I decided to put in a good word for you, regarding your visa eval.”
My whole body jolts, my pulse thrumming in my ears. “Really? That’s . . . wow. Thank you.”
“That’s not all. They’re in the process of approving it. I explained you’ve been working one on one with a human patient, and I need you here so you can take on another two soon. They went over your file and spoke with base housing and the guards at the gate. Everyone had nothing but good things to say about you. Employees included.”
My heart shoots up and my first thought is Elias. All the other reasons for being here are still valid, but he’s what I’m most excited about. More lazy days in bed together and dinner dates. More everything. “I . . . I don’t know what to say.” I jump from my seat, feeling like the earth is spinning too fast when I do.
“You don’t have to say anything. You’ve earned this. No one deserves this opportunity more. I expect you to be at this office every day from here on out and there will be no need to show up at the other base anymore. You have been permanently transferred to this location and should get a phone call to complete your visa process in a couple of days.”
I move forward to hug him, and he stiffens in my arms, laughing while awkwardly patting me on the shoulder. “You don’t know how grateful I am.” I slowly drop my arms, breaking away with my face heating.
“Like I said, you earned it, and I can’t wait to see all the great things you do for others here. You’re welcome to go home early for the day, and I think we’re fine to reduce five days a week to three. That way we can see whether Elias really will be okay without the extra sleep therapy by the end of next month.”
He might be, but no way am I letting any other demon step in for me. I’ll figure out a way to be there so it doesn’t come to that. Dr. Peterson pats my shoulder and walks off to talk to someone else. Shaking with happiness, I grab all my things and look up the bus route leading to the Daily Grind. I wait at the stop, looking up monster-friendly housing, and when my ride arrives, I get on, shoving my hand into my pocket for the money to pay the fare.
