Page 43 of Demons & Damnation

Kyla ended the call and threw her phone down on the table, letting out a sigh.

“Why agree to it if you don’t want to do it?” Sam asked. “You moan about him all the time but whenever he asks for more, you’re always there. I don’t get it? I thought you’d avoid him as much as possible.”

Kyla pressed her lips together. She quickly debated whether to be honest or not. Had Adam and Ben not been present, it wouldn’t have been an issue, but admitting the truth in front of two smoking hot guys was nothing short of embarrassing.

“Is it money?” Sam asked, reaching her hand across the table. “Just let me lend you some. Please.”

Kyla shook her head. “No, Sam. This is my mess and my issue. I can’t keep going through life relying on your handouts when I fuck things up. One day, you’ll need all that money for yourself and you won’t be able to give it to me so just keep it, ok?”

Sam grinned. “Exactly. So take it whilst I offer it.”

Kyla smiled. “Like I said, my mess, let me figure it out. Thank you though.”

Sam pushed her car keys over the table. “Take my car. I’ll get Dylan to come pick me up.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Kyla finished her breakfast in a hurry before grabbing Sam’s keys and standing to head out. Just as she stood up, Miranda came over with Adam and Ben’s food.

“Thank you,” Kyla said, looking between the pair. “For saving us last night. We owe you.”

Adam grinned, a mischievous glint flashing through his eyes. “Yes, you do.”

Kyla ignored him and headed out to work.

As soon as the café door shut, Adam said to Sam, “She’s quite the fiery one, isn’t she?”

Sam nodded. “She’s not had an easy life so far. She is the way she is for a reason. Deep down, she has a heart of gold. You’ve just got to give her time to show it.”

“That,” Adam said, biting into a mushroom. “Sounds like a polite way of saying she’s a bitch.”

“Stop it,” Ben said, narrowing his eyes at his brother. “Stop it now.”

“I’m not wrong, though, am I?” Adam asked, looking at Sam.

“That woman is my best friend. She’s my sister from another mister. She can be challenging at times, yes, but you just have to understand her, that’s all. She had another setback recently and it’s kind of put her on edge.” Sam’s eyes glistened over with water. “I’m actually quite worried about her.”

“What’s happened then to make her life so horrible? Her pet goldfish die or something?”

Sam glared at Adam, mentally cursing him to high heaven. “As if I’m going to tell you, an all but stranger, my best friend’s deepest darkest secrets.” Sam took a sip of her tea. “And especially with your attitude.”

Ben placed his hand on Sam’s forearm, causing her to look at him. When their eyes met, her breath hitched in her throat. Her heart started pounding as a cold sweat broke out all over her body. A shiver ran down her spine as she stared into Ben’s chocolate eyes, instantly captivated by his dark, swirling depths.

“Ignore him,” he said. “We just want to understand you both better, nothing more. We’re going to be sticking around for a while yet and I would like to think we’ll become quite good friends.”

Warmth and hope flowered inside Sam, filling her stomach with butterflies. “I’d really like that,” she said, her face flushing bright red.

“So please, help us understand Kyla a little better.”

Sam nodded, and after a few seconds, she tore her eyes from Ben’s and took a deep breath, her voice shaking as she spoke. “Kyla started dating this sleaze ball called Tony Wilkins. He’s three years older than us, which to a young eighteen-year-old girl is a big deal. Not only was he highly desired by most women because his father is an MP, but he was also her first love.” Sam squeezed her eyes shut and ran her hands over her face. Wringing her hands together on the table, she continued. “And he was also her last. She’s damaged not only physically, but mentally, too. The last time I ever saw this attitude on her was when she had a meltdown.”

“A meltdown?” Ben asked.

“As in she ended up in a straight jacket and locked in a psychiatric unit for six weeks. She’s been in intense therapy and under strict psychiatric care until eighteen months ago. Everything’s been fine. Medication hasn’t been needed for two years. She’s done so well.”

Feeling overwhelmed and utterly hopeless, Sam couldn’t hold back the wave of tears any longer. Ben looked to the table behind him, hoping to find some napkins. Seeing none, he glanced around quickly before deciding to manifest his own.

He slid a hand under the table. A brief, but affirmative thought of what he wanted appeared in his mind’s eye. Blocking everything else out for just that second, he focused his energy on white napkins in his open hand. Hot tingles heated his palm before the white tissues pieced themselves together on top of his skin, as soft as velvet and as thick as a winter duvet.

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