The walls around them shifted and re-formed to reveal the interior of a chain coffee shop, decorated with dark wood and accented with sleek fixtures in stylish neutral tones.
“This is definitely a nightmare,” said Andy. “This place has the worst coffee in the world.”
“What is it with you and your coffee snobbery?”
“I’m naturally judgmental.” He winked at her and ruffled his wings.
“Oh, no,” said Erin.
“What?” He followed her gaze across the coffee shop.
“It’s me again.”
Andy stared. “And Genevieve.”
Erin’s face hardened.
Dream-Genevieve, with long blonde hair trailing over the back of her chair, sat with her back to them, deep in conversation with dream-Erin at a table for two. Their words became audible as if someone had suddenly turned up the volume of their voices.
“I don’t know, Genny. Something’s just not right.”
“Don’t overthink it.” Dream-Genevieve sipped from her mocha shake drizzled in ribbons of caramel, then paused to wipe some whipped cream from the tip of her nose. “He’s just busy.”
“I guess … ”
“He just wants to earn more money. Is that so bad?” Dream-Genevieve gazed across the coffee shop rather than make eye contact with Dream-Erin.
“I guess not. But he doesn’t seem too happy with me right now, either.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Dream-Genevieve said, looking down into her drink, which had rapidly dissolved into an unappetizing mess.
The room likewise dissolved, returning Erin and Andy to the darkened dream-house where they’d started.
“Damn it,” said Erin. “No matter how many times I relive that stupid conversation, I can’t believe I bought it. She was lying to me the whole time—and I trusted her. Like an idiot.” She rubbed her hands across her forehead. “She had been cheating with him for months at that point.”
“Would it help to cancel all her credit cards and hide a fish in her car?”
Erin sighed. “I don’t even know.”
Andy patted her back. “Just say the word and she’ll get a box of unlabeled chocolate covered ants mailed right to her door. From Mark.”
Erin snorted. “Not that she needs extra chocolate presents. She’s the one in a relationship right now. You could send me some.”
“I would never send you chocolate covered ants.”
“What kind of chocolates would you send me?”
Andy’s red outline of light deepened in color.
“Are you blushing?” said Erin. “Is that how demons blush?” Why would he blush, anyway?
“I wasn’t blushing. I was just thinking.” Andy attempted to glower at her.
He wasn’t good at glowering. Erin laughed so hard she had to grab on to Andy for support to keep from toppling over.
“This is what I get for living around mortals for a few thousand years,”he muttered to himself. “Hang-ups. I should have minded my business and stayed out of trouble, but no—I was ‘bored’ and ‘needed something to do.’” His fingers shaped the air quotes, which hung in space like afterimages before fading into darkness.
Erin batted her eyelashes at the flustered demon. “You’re not having fun?”
