Page 67 of Hooked on a Demon
Telling her parents about her history with Sam lifts an invisible weight from her chest. While she knows it didn’t erase the experience from her past, sharing it with them helps her feel lighter. Less consumed by the secret and shame.
Of course, she now has to prepare herself to tell Everest about Sam. And Declan, too. But that will need to wait for another day, as she looks at the clock on the mantle over the fireplace and realizes she needs to get to the theater for the final rehearsal before the showcase tomorrow night.
With a quick hug goodbye, Eliana dashes out of her family home, feeling more hopeful than she has in a long time.
CHAPTER38
Declan
Declan lies down on the mechanic’s creeper, making sure he has the head clearance he needs, and pulls himself under the raised car. The client popped in for a quick oil change, and rather than make them wait until a lift was available, Declan popped a jack underneath and got to work, much like he did in his younger years while doing maintenance on friends’ vehicles in their driveways. Thankfully, he doesn’t need to crawl around on the ground too often these days.
As the oil drains, he slides back out, wiping his hands on the rag from his pocket. Sebastian pops out from the reception area a moment later. “Boss. Someone’s here to see you.”
“Thanks, Seb,” Declan replies. “Can you check on this in a minute if I’m not back? Filter is ready to go.”
“Got it, Boss.”
Grabbing a new rag from the shelf, he wipes his hands again, trying to get as much of the grease and oil off as he can, as he walks through the door to reception.
“Hey, daddy,” Everest calls from behind the counter.
“Daddy?” Cole, his staff at the desk, asks at the same time Declan gives a firm “nope” and turns to walk back through the door.
Everest runs around the desk, preventing Declan from leaving him behind. “I kid. I kid.” He laughs with a smug look on his stupid face. Declan ignores his friend, turning his back on him and facing Cole. “Do. Not,” he says, pointing a finger at him, “tell anyone what you heard this dipshit say. Last thing I need is a rumor going around the shop that I’m a daddy.”
Cole smirks, but nods.Good choice,his demon confirms. Evidently, Everest rattled the monster inside a little too.
Everest cackles behind him, drawing Declan’s attention back to the asshat who is supposed to be his best friend. “What do you want?” Declan asks, trying to make his voice as cold as possible, but failing.
“Oh, come on. You know I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Declan steps around him, heading back into the shop area. Everest’s footsteps quickly follow behind. It’s definitely not the first time he’s been back here, though Declan tries not to make a habit of it. He doesn’t want his staff to get the idea that they can bring their friends around to hang out. Usually, Everest respects that boundary. But not today.
Lowering himself back down on the creeper, Declan slides under the car to check on the drainage. Noting that it’s done, and that Seb has already put the new filter on and resealed the plug, he slides back out and heads to the shelf to grab the oil he needs. “Aside from trying to ruin my reputation, why are you here?” Declan eventually asks, his tone friendlier, letting Everest know he’s not really mad.
“I felt like coming to see you.”
“We’re seeing each other tomorrow night, for the showcase thing, remember?”
“Yeah, that. I can’t say I’m particularly excited to see a bunch of kids I don’t know dance around, but Mom seems to think it’s important we all be there.” He picks up a small, sealed bag of caramel popcorn that was on one of the side benches, which one of the others must have left lying around. “Can I have this?”
Declan laughs. Dude would be lost without snacks. “Yeah, sure.”
“Cool.” He rips open the bag, popping a couple pieces in his mouth, before continuing, “Anyway, I don’t really consider that hanging out. Like, I’ve barely seen you these past couple of weeks, man. If I didn’t know you any better, I’d say you’re avoiding me.”
Shit.
“What’s been going on, Declan?”
Declan’s eyes turn to his friend, and what he sees reflected back at him is hurt. As much as Everest likes to play the goofball and gives off the air of being an easy-going guy, Declan knows he’s really sensitive underneath. He should have known that continually giving him excuses to not hang out would come back to bite him in the ass. Even knowing that his friend is here now, trying to figure out what he’s done wrong to make Declan push him away, Declan can’t say he wouldn’t do it again for the chance to get to be with Eliana.
Turning his back to the car and leaning against it, Declan crosses his arms over his chest. Looking Everest square in the eye, he says the only thing he can do to make it better, “I’m sorry.” The words are simple, but the weight they carry is heavy. He knows he’s fucked up and, looking at Everest now, the clown mask dropped, he can see the real harm he’s done. Even feeling as bad as he does, Declan can’t tell him about Eliana yet, at least not without her approval. If anything, they should tell him together.
“I’ve missed you. Missed us hanging out.”
“I know. I’ve missed it too. I haven’t been in the right headspace lately for all the nightly games.”Fuck, another lie.“Aren’t you tired of it?”
He watches as Everest rolls the thought around his mind, his eyes closing briefly while he thinks. Opening them again, he says, “Maybe? I don’t know. I still find it fun.”
