Page 45

Mom: Be nice to Hayes.

Mom: Have the best day, love to you both.

An unexpected tenderness settles beneath my ribs.

“Mrs. B sends her love.” I turn the screen toward her. “And says to be nice to me.”

“Of course she did.” She snatches it back, checks the time, and immediately starts moving faster. “Crap. I need to go.”

I watch her bounce around the kitchen, collecting everything she needs to survive her first day.

Bag.

Notebook.

Transit pass.

She makes it halfway toward the door before I call her name.

“Laney.”

She turns.

For once, I don’t have a joke. “I’m really proud of you.”

Her expression softens. Her smile disappears, but not in a bad way. Her eyes get a little watery.

Shit.

Maybe I shouldn’t have said it.

Then she gives me a small smile. “Thanks, Bishop.” She turns back for the door.

“Five-thirty,” I call after her.

“I said I can get there myself.” She sasses me over her shoulder.

“And I said I’m picking you up.”

She opens the door.

“Bossy.”

“Five-thirty.”

She looks back at me. “Bye, Ken.”

The door closes before I can even respond.

I stare at it for a second. Then a low growl comes from beside me. I glance down.

Right. Just me and the demon.

I point at him. “Don’t make this weird.”

His tail flicks.

The apartment goes quiet without Laney in it. Too Quiet.