“That, my friend, isnota vacation.” Paz must have felt Trent’s outrage, because he quickly added, “I’m sure it’s lovely, but it isn’t a vacation.”
My family is great. I moved north, but they stayed south. We all get along. They’re, like, supportive and everything. It is a vacation, Trent defended.
“No, that is not a vacation. That is a family trip.” Paz scrubbed his hands across his face again. It was obviously a nervous tic in the demon, only Trent had no clue what his problem was.
Look, I do have money to spare. If you want a night on the town or whatever, it won’t break the bank. Just use the blue card, ok? They have the best bonus points, Trent instructed.
“Use the… for demons’ sake, did you just tell me to use the blue card for bonus points?” Paz sputtered.
Yeah? Trent asked.I mean, I’d think you’d be thrilled. Go, like, I don’t know, get up to some demon fun and charge my card.
“I can’t… You can’t… This is…” Paz just sort of trailed off. Finally, he said, “Yeah, I can see why you welcomed a possession.”
Hey! Just because I live by a budget and only have a few dishes does not mean I need to be possessed. I’m quite happy with the state of things, Trent argued.
“Hmmm. So happy you told me to ‘have at it’ with your body. You, my friend, are in dire need of help. But don’t worry, because we’ll get everything sorted out,” Paz assured Trent.
Trent felt a little glee. He didn’t have to worry about spending money, after all. No reason to feel guilty. No decisions tomake. Paz would find them something thrilling to do. Maybe a Valentine’s Day trip? He had plenty of leave time saved up (because of course he did), and it really wouldn’t break the bank. It was out of his control.
So where are we going? A mini-vacation? Someplace tropical? Adventurous? Or maybe a night on the town? Clubbing in some exclusive A-list place and ending the night with a hook up?Trent questioned. He had wanted things to be different, and here was an opportunity. He was strangely excited. And he didn’t have to feel bad if things went wrong—Paz was in charge.
“We, my friend, are doing none of those things, at least not yet. We are going shopping—decorations for the walls, maybe some family photos printed onto canvas since your family is so awesome, new furniture, window treatments, tools, pots and pans because you aren’t a college kid anymore, and actual cutlery,” Paz listed off. “I’ll need to make a list, but that’s good for starters. After some sleep, of course. Nothing’s open now.”
Are you, Trent began, but he was actually struck speechless and needed a minute to process. Eventually he continued,Are you telling me that you have access to money and credit cards, and you’re going to take my body shopping for my apartment? I mean, what the hell? I feel like I got the home makeover special of demon possessions here. Aren’t we supposed to be out fucking around and beating up jerks and doing fun things?
“Shopping is loads of fun. And I’ve stayed in hotels with more personality than this apartment. And cheap motels, at that. So yes, tomorrow I’ll spend some of your money, and we’ll decorate, because I cannot live in this soulless apartment until Valentine’s Day,” Paz insisted. Then he got up to head into the bedroom (which also received a sniff of disapproval), and started getting ready for bed.
Well fuck. Here he was looking for mayhem and fun, and it looked like he was going to bed. Then going shopping to decorate his apartment. This was not what he was hoping for when he told the demon to have at it.
Trent mostly ignored the getting ready for bed process since he was cranky, and apparently it wasn’t like anything fun was going to happen. The demon even flossed, for fuck’s sake. Thoroughly. At least his dental hygienist would be happy. It was a relief when his body tumbled into bed and his eyes closed. His last waking thought (because apparently he did still sleep) was that somehow he felt more like he was in for an intervention than a possession.
Of course even being possessed couldn’t spice up Trent’s life. Just his fucking luck.
Chapter
Five
MORNINGS ARE FOR QUIET CONTEMPLATION AND COFFEE (AND SOMEONE DIDN’T GET THAT MEMO)
Trent’s eyes flew open to blaring sunlight. He had a moment where he tried to get his arm to pull the comforter over his head, but then he remembered he didn’t have control over his body; Paz did.
Fuck. Why was it so fucking bright?
The demon hopped out of bed, and Trent saw that Paz must have opened his bedroom shades last night. Maybe he was going to close them…
Except Paz walked out into the living room, turning on the lights as he went. Like, every light. And then he opened the shades.
Huh?Trent mumbled, because his brain couldn’t form a coherent thought after waking up to lights blinding him
“Good morning, sunshine!” Paz called out cheerfully.
Oh no. Hell no. This could not be happening. Trent could not be this unlucky.
Pax practically fucking skipped into the kitchen, and Trent swore the demon was even humming a bit under his breath. He then flipped onevery fucking light. The time on the microwave read 6:27 am.
No, no, no. No way,Trent declared.This is not gonna work. Fuck no.You gotta go, man. I take it back. You can’t have my body. I can’t do this. No fucking way.
Paz stopped dead in the middle of the kitchen and took a deep breath. “Uh, ok, so I guess you woke up and realized you really are possessed by a demon,” Paz murmured.
