Page 79 of I Accidentally Summoned A Demon
Lucian frowned, his gaze darting to Nex, who was thankful to have the awkwardness directed at someone other than him.
“Are you speaking to me?” Lucian asked. She couldn’t be. She was too pretty.
“Yeah. What,” Frida cocked her head, “no one’s ever given you a nickname?”
“I . . .” Lucian swallowed, unable to keep eye contact with the lovely woman in front of him. “No.”
“I guess that’s fair.” She shrugged. “Lucian is a pretty sexy name. Better to sound it all out.”
“Frida.” David covered his ears. “Filter, darling, filter. At least around me.”
Frida sent Lucian a wink that made his brain malfunction.
“Here comes Katherine.” Lucian’s voice cracked at the end, and he moved back, disappearing into the crowd of demons.
Kat’s focus landed on Nex immediately, and a smile spread over her face as she walked faster, then slower when she noticed who he was standing beside. She hadn’t expected to see them at all this year, especially not at her play. Tears filled her eyes, and she ran toward David with open arms.
“There’s our star.” David grinned and caught Kat in a hug.
“No way. I can’t believe you’re here!” Kat squealed, throwing her arms around him. “What are you doing here?”
“We wanted to surprise you. You did amazing, sweetheart. I can’t believe how beautifully you sing.”
“Thank you.” Kat breathed in his familiar cologne. “Feels like forever since I’ve seen you. I’m so glad you’re here!”
David chuckled and rested his head on hers. The last time he saw her was during the month they’d stayed after his brother and sister-in-law died. He was afraid he’d never see his niece smile again, and, although he was nervous about her having a boyfriend living in the house, he hadn’t missed the smile she gave Nex.
Nex happily stood aside. There were too many hugs for his liking. After Kat got over the shock of her family being there, she thanked all the demons individually, which took a lot of time. Nex sped it up because she hadn’t eaten before the play, and thankfully, the rest of her family was hungry too. He suggested a bar and grill where the bartender poured generously. If he was going to sit through his first family dinner, he needed a drink.
At the bar and grill, they sat at a table, and Nex avoided engaging in conversation. He didn’t know the first thing about speaking to humans in an appropriate manner. Unfortunately, when Kat got caught up talking to Frida and Alice, it left him open for attack.
“So, Nex.” David leaned over the table and sipped his beer. “What is it you do for a living?”
Nex froze.Fuck, what are normal human jobs?
“Dad, don’t do the interrogation thing.” Frida rolled her eyes. “He’s a sweetie. Besides, Kat told you Nex is a model. You’re not senile yet, are you?” She bumped David’s shoulder.
Nex stiffened and turned toward Kat, who had a guilty expression. Frida and David teased and bickered amongst each other until they were distracted. Between that and the volume in the crowded bar, Nex was confident they couldn’t hear him.
He dropped his head next to Kat’s. “A model? Are you fucking kidding me?”
Kat smiled meekly and rubbed her hands over her legs. “I panicked. I was on FaceTime with them, and I didn’t know what to say.” She wrung her hands together under his narrowing eyes. “Then Frida told them you were hot enough to be a model, so I said you were.”
“For fuck’s sake.” Nex scrunched his face up. “Of all the fucking human jobs.”
“I’m sorry.” Kat rested her chin on his shoulder and gazed up at him. “Are you mad at me?”
“Like that’s fucking possible.” He scowled and set his hand on her lower back. “But rest assured, you’re going to make it up to me later.”
“Yeah?” Kat’s eyes drifted to his lips. “How?”
Nex leaned over and kissed her. “However I want you to.”
“Hey, Nex,” Frida said. “My dude, I don’t care what your religious affiliation is or isn’t. You need to go to church with Kat to get that guy to stop bothering her every Sunday. Pretty sure he wants her or something. Best mark your territory, boy.”
“Frida,” Alice scolded.
“What?” Frida shrugged. “It’s true.”
