And with that thought, I’d ruined my mood.
I tore my attention away from the couch and shuffled over to the small kitchen table.I dropped into the nearest chair and sighed.I was due to work in two hours, but a part of me didn’t want to move from this chair.
Going to work meant pretending my life was normal.And right now, my life was anything but.
I had a fallen angel possibly fiddling around inside my head, a vampire living on my couch and professing his love for me, and the literaldevilhunting me down.Most people would crack under that kind of pressure.Thank goodness I wasn’t most people.
I did, however, need to make some changes.
And one of the first changes I needed to make, unfortunately, was quitting my jobs.I didn’ttechnicallyneed the money anymore.My bank account balance was more than enough to support Rathiel, Purrgatory, Vol, and myself for a few years at least.If we were frugal.And seeing as how I was the Queen of Frugal, I was confident we would manage.
I loved my jobs.But with hellspawn and fallen angels strolling around Edmonton like they owned the place and Lucifer plotting my demise, slinging shots and pouring coffee seemed like the least of my concerns.I’d already decided hiding wasn’t an option, nor could I keep pretending like none of this was happening.Ignorance put innocent people in danger—people like Jazz, who didn’t know the first thing about the existence of the paranormal—and they didn’t deserve that.
I’d spent years trying to carve out a normal life for myself.Sure, it involved a chubby ginger cat obsessed with cuddles and a demonic imp with the temperament of a feral raccoon.But it was my life.My chaotic, deceptively normal life.And now it was all crumbling down around me, thanks to Lucifer and his merry band of psychopaths.
I drummed my fingers against the table and glanced at the three snoozing doofuses on the couch.Vol and Purrgatory were my family—maybe even Rathiel—and it was up to me to make smart choices.Choices that wouldn’t endanger their lives.Me working these jobs slapped a target on my back.It made me vulnerable.And it put a lot of normal, human-like people in danger.
So, no more coffee shop, and no more bartending.I’d need to call my bosses and tell them.Family emergency would have to suffice as an explanation.It wasn’t a lie, per se, but it would work.
I’d have to say goodbye to Jazz too.After five years of working together, she deserved more than me just disappearing from her life.The regulars at the bar would understand, and maybe a day would come where I could pop in and visit.Have a drink or two as a paying customer.
A gentle chime echoed from my room, one that I recognized as a phone notification.
I glanced at the clock, noting the early hour, then frowned.Who would be texting me at this time of the morning?
Quietly pushing back my chair, I tiptoed to my room and grabbed my phone before returning to the kitchen.Tapping the screen, Jack’s name popped up.
Jack: Good morning!I assume you’re working today.Maybe I could drop by for a coffee later?What time is your break?
I stared at the message a little longer, a dull ache forming in my chest.Jack, with his sweet texts and well-meaning gestures, was such a stark contrast to the utter madness consuming my life right now.The truth was, I liked him.A lot.But…he wasn’t Rathiel.
I slowly turned and glanced at the couch.Rathiel had shifted his weight, and Vol had slid between him and the couch.The poor imp looked to be struggling for his life, his hands and feet kicking about in the air.
I bit my lip to quiet my laughter, then hurried over and rescued him before he suffocated to death.I freed him from Rathiel’s side, and Vol sucked in a sputtering breath the second he popped free.
He stared up at me with utterly wide eyes, his fangs on full display.
I held a finger to my lips, shushing him so he didn’t wake Rathiel, then placed him on top of one of the couch cushions.Vol glared at Rathiel, then tucked into a little ball and drifted back to sleep.
My phone chimed again, and I returned to the kitchen to read the new message, noting that Jack had sent a little coffee and heart emoji.I released a long, slow breath.If I were human, I could have easily fallen for a guy like him.He was perfect.He just wasn’t perfect for me.And like Jazz, he was another innocent I couldn’t afford to drag any deeper into my shit-show of a life.
I tapped our message and waited for the keyboard to pop up.
Me: Hey, good morning to you too.Hope you slept well.I’m actually off work today.
Ididactuallyhave a shift today, provided I didn’t quit.I hit send before I could overthink the message, then turned my phone onto vibrate mode so as not to disturb the rest of the household.A second later, my phone buzzed.
Jack: Oh?Want to do something together then?
I ran a hand through my mussed hair and considered my options.None were pleasant.
“You need to break things off with him,” Rathiel’s sleep-laden voice rumbled behind me.
I jumped, having not heard him stir or rise from the couch.I clutched my phone to my chest and whirled around.“You scared me!”
Rathiel stood in the kitchen, his piercing eyes studying me intently.Even though he’d just woken up, he was still unfairly beautiful, even with his sleep-tousled hair and rumpled clothes.
“I didn’t mean to,” he commented.Then he gestured to my phone.“But you know I’m right.”
