Page 37 of When I Accidentally Summoned a Demon

Robby draws himself up, one hand settling over his chest in exaggerated offense. “I cannot defend myself against slander in my own workplace.”

“This is my workplace.”

“See?” He tips his chin in my direction, clearly expecting agreement. “Long-suffering.”

I nearly grin and show my teeth, but thankfully, Robby is squeezing Vesper in a hug once more. “Anyway, boss lady, I need you to approve the summer solstice endcap before I finish it.”

Vesper glances toward the rear display. “What’s wrong with it?”

“Approximately seventeen things wrong with the organization.”

“Ugh, fine.” Then, she waves at me. “Come on, Big Guy. You can learn what an endcap is.”

We spend the next several minutes rearranging the display.

Or rather, Vesper and Robby rearrange it while disagreeing about the height of several lanterns, and I stand nearby learning that humans can debate four inches of shelf placement with the intensity of generals discussing battlefield positions.

Vesper is reaching above her head to shift a hanging garland when Robby catches my attention again.

He nods toward her, lowering his voice. “Listen…Vale. Vesper hates people making a fuss over her, but she did something very special here. There were nights she slept on a mattress in the back room because she couldn’t afford to keep driving home after working until three in the morning.”

My attention returns to Vesper. She is standing on her toes now, tongue pressed slightly against one corner of her mouth as she adjusts the garland. The utter humanity of it endears her even more to me.

“She had Bethie then?” I ask quietly.

Robby shakes his head. “Toward the end. She used to call this place her first baby.” His expression sobers. “When things finally went bad with her bastard ex, she was pregnant and lived in the stockroom for a week before I caught her.”

“Here?”

“Air mattress and gym showers. My wife and I practically kidnapped her until she found somewhere permanent.”

My opinion of Robby shifts instantly. Then I notice the ring on his left hand and feel an embarrassing amount of relief. His knowing smirk tells me he notices that too.

“People spent years telling her to sell this place and be a proper wife,” he adds, shoving his hands in his pockets, glancing at her. “She never would.”

“Good.” My spine bristles.

“Damn right.” His jaw hardens. “This was the one thing nobody could convince her belonged to somebody else.” His expression softens. “She doesn’t need anyone to save her. But it’s nice when somebody finally helps carry shit anyway.”

Before I can answer, he spots someone approaching the counter. “Excuse me. Customer.”

I’m still ruminating on the words “bastard ex” when I sense someone observing me. I search the area. There.

Vesper’s mother is still at the bar, watching me with a quiet, calculating awareness. After a moment, she drifts toward the invisible boundary between the coffee bar and the main shop, stopping just short as though this half of the room is cursed or something. I am quite familiar with curses. Vesper’s shop is the opposite. It is blessed—by her presence alone, I’m certain.

“New employee?” her mother asks, glancing between me and the displays.

“I am assisting for the day.” This seems accurate enough.

Eyes narrowed, she tips her head. “She seems fond of you.”

I look toward my summoner. “I hope so,” I answer sincerely.

Her mother opens her mouth, perhaps intending to say more, but Vesper approaches from the display and resumes unpacking the first box. I step closer to help, careful to remain useful without crowding her.

My attention settles almost entirely on Vesper. I consider my conversation with Robby, wondering if I should share it with her. And then, I sense the tingling. Something slipping. The glamour flickers.

I feel the familiar weight of my tail behind me half a second before a sharp inhale sounds from a few feet away. When I look up, Vesper’s mother has gone pale, her gaze fixed somewhere behind my legs.