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While we’re setting up, we hear a knock on the door.
Trine runs out to greet the rest of her bandmates, throwing her arms around both of them.
“Thank you,” she says to the tallest girl there, who sets a little black cat down. He looks around the place, looking scandalized at his surroundings. He doesn’t seem particularly impressed, but Trine practically has tears in her eyes.
She must’ve been worried sick and I feel bad that I never once thought about her cat.
The girls talk amongst themselves for a little bit as we continue to take instruments from Alana’s garage to the deck.
Rei and Misha go ahead of us, taking as many cables and things with them as they can. Malon and I take the bulk of things, unfortunately, which means that we stay in the back together.
“This is weird,” Malon says. “You realize this is weird, right?”
“No,” I reply. “I would’ve never, not once, thought about how weird it is.”
“You’re really snarky for a priest.”
“How many priests have you met, demon?”
He wrinkles his nose. I wish I couldn’t see the twinkle in his eyes. I don’t think he’s taking me seriously, and I don’t know what kind of magic he’s working on me, but it’s definitely doing the trick. I need to look away from him, but it’s practically impossible.
His eyes are such a light green, they’re practically see-through. I see the creases around them as the corners of his lips turn up, a small smile drawn on his face. “None quite as interesting as you,” he replies.
I clear my throat. “This won’t work,” I say, vaguely aware of how red my cheeks are.
“That’s another bizarre thing,” he says, cocking his head as he does. He’s stopped halfway through the garage just so he can look at me. I don’t know how I know that, but I can feel it in my bones. “You’re lying. Isn’t lying a sin?”
“What do you care about sinning?” I ask him. “Thought it was your favorite thing.”
He laughs. “Yes,” he says. “It’s up there.”
I shake my head, my cheeks still hot with blood.
“C’mon,” Bryony says, brushing past us. “Will you two stop flirting and get the gear to the deck? People are starting to arrive.”
I’m glad she’s broken up the conversation, since I don’t want to continue this conversation. Malon winks at me as I speed up with an amp in my hands. I put it down next to the rest of the instruments on the deck, near the pool.
Bryony is right. Plenty of people have already arrived. I guess I underestimated how much of an audience they have, since I see young men and women standing around with red cups in their hands, their names written in big block letters with black marker.
Trine catches my gaze. She’s fiddling with a volume knob or something for a second. She stops then approaches me slowly, throwing her hair behind her shoulder. “Thank you,” she says. “I really appreciate you doing this.”
“Don’t thank me. My boss made me.”
She rolls her eyes, a smile on her face. “As if you’ve never argued with him before. I’ve seen you defy him before.”
“Yeah, but I do like seeing you happy,” I say. “Plus, I’ve never seen you play. I’m excited.”
She pauses for a second. Malon walks past us, not even looking toward us. She seems to notice it, but doesn’t say anything. We’re alone in the living room. I’m aware that everyone can see us from the deck outside, from behind the double glass doors and the infinity windows.
But I don’t think anyone is paying attention to us.
And if they are, well, fuck, I don’t care.
I grab Trine’s hands between mine. They’re surprisingly cold. Her nails are long, her nail polish chipped. They’re uneven. This is nothing like her. Things are just getting so on top of her.
“You should be doing what you want to do, Trine,” he says softly. “You should get to be happy.”
“You don’t care about the exorcism?”
