Page 85 of The Sidekick

“I quit.”

“That’s nice. Get back to work,” he says idly, and I burst into laughter again.

“You’re both mean,” he pouts and buries his head in my shoulder again.

I give him a second to wallow and then pat his thigh. “Time to go. Up and at ‘em.”

He starts laughing as he releases me so I can stand and brush off my butt. I turn and offer my hand as Satan steps forward to do the same. Before I can drop mine, Max grabs both and hauls himself up. He obviously uses Satan’s strength for the most part. Otherwise, I would have fallen.

He doesn’t let go of either of us as he begins marching towards the door.

“If I have to go back to work, the both of you are going into the trenches with me,” he says in a false grim tone, ruined by his wink as he looks over his shoulder at me.

I giggle, shuffling my steps as he tugs.

“It’s almost closing time,” Satan chuckles. “I think you’ll last for twenty more minutes.”

“Not twenty minutes!” I gasp in horror, and Max stops to laugh, bent at the waist. “How will we survive?”

“Trevor, hold me! I’m scared,” Max flings himself into Satan’s chest, which causes me to laugh so hard I snort. The sight of Max, who is taller than Satan, clinging to him and whining like a puppy is too much. Not to mention, he hits him hard enough to almost knock them both over.

For a second, I’m laughing at Max’s antics. And then it tapers off when I really study both of them together.

The sheer joy on their faces as they tease each other with a familiarity that speaks of a long relationship. Max’s face buried into Satan’s shoulder as he whines, and Satan’s soft laughter as he pats his back, pretending to comfort him. It’s like I’ve never really watched them interact with each other before. The distance they maintain at work makes them seem like just a boss with his employee. I don’t understand why they hide it. They look happy and honestly perfect together.

It's sobering as they banter as if I’m not there. I’m not jealous, exactly. More envious? I’m not sure. I don’t begrudge them their happiness. Everyone deserves to be loved. It’s blatantly apparent that’s what they have.

I’m uncomfortable with the fact that I want to be in the middle of that. Totally accepted by two people who still mean more to me than they should. How selfish does it make me that I’m willing to risk ruining their happiness for the five minutes of attention they would give me? And how stupid does it make me to want that even though I know it will destroy me completely?

I suddenly want to run from this, them, as far as I can. I stifle the urge sternly. I’m done running, which means I have to face hard facts. If I keep letting Max around, there is a good chance that I will demolish the happiness in front of me, and I don’t want to be that guy. I don’t want to be the wedge that breaks something beautiful. And I don’t want to spend the rest of my life whining about a broken heart, either.

The music cuts off abruptly, leaving us in the quiet of the night, and draws my attention to the doors with the abruptness. I see Emily, watching their interaction with a different conclusion than I came to. She looks angry, almost disgusted, as she stares at them. It raises my hackles and answers the why they hide it question.

“Not to interrupt, but we need help in here,” she makes sure to wipe away the hostile look before she speaks. She totally meant to interrupt, and now I’m mad. The fake sweet smile that crosses her face as they turn towards her really clinches it.

Instead of burying the anger, making a joke, or running away, I step forward and slide in front of them, shielding them from her line of sight. My fists clench at my sides as I return her fake as fudge smile with one of my own.

“Of course!” I chirp and start towards her with stomping steps. I wish I wasn’t doing that, but it’s too late to stop now. “I’m happy to help. These two have worked their butts off all night. I think they deserve a little break together, don’t you?”

By the time I’ve finished speaking, I’m right in her face with my sugary smile, but I make sure that my eyes are telling her what I can’t get my mouth to say. Mainly, go away and leave them alone. I hope that’s what it comes across as, at least.

Her eyes have gone wide in surprise at my approach, and it isn’t until I’m standing two inches away from her that I realize she’s a few inches shorter than I am. I suddenly feel like a bully and want to back out of her personal space. I’ve never really threatened someone before. Obviously, I suck at it if I feel bad, right?

When she doesn’t answer, I loosen one fist to gesture her back inside. “Lead the way!”

Did that come out as loud and ragey? Crap.

Emily quickly backs away from me and twirls to go back inside. I follow her so closely I’m practically breathing down her neck. I think I’ve been around Shade too long. Or maybe his blank face has side effects? I’ll have to ask.

“Uh, Tera?” Max asks, and he sounds like he’s trying not to laugh.

I don’t stop hounding Emily’s steps as my hand jerks out, and I hold up a finger for him to give me a second. Which is dumb because I’m going to help with whatever is going on inside, so I’ll definitely be more than a second.

Once we’re past the threshold, she whirls back to me. I guess she had no idea I was so close because when she turns, her shoulder bumps into me. It startles her bad enough that she stumbles backward. She rights herself quickly and gives me a cold up-and-down inspection that makes me want to wilt. My rage is deserting me at a hyper-speed now that we’re back in enemy territory.

“I don’t know what happened to you while you were gone, but you need to get yourself under control,” she snaps. My stomach shrinks a little. She’s right. I am out of control right now.

“You bailed out on everyone and then came back acting like you’re better than us?” It’s like she senses my weakness because, this time, it’s her to get up close and personal. She has a little lipstick on her teeth. It’s kind of distracting. “Just so you can get attention? It’s pathetic!”

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