I walked Carl to the station for the last train back to his place as we talked about the bar. Accounts weren't up to me which means he was eventually bound to notice the increased expenditure on alcohol. I would have to ask Lou to keep his door open for humans that night and invite all the demons as well. I can't have him wonder what's going on when I can't even show the customer's presence.
The station was in the opposite direction from my apartment. Which meant it took much longer than usual to get back. I've gotten used to demon hours now while it stayed midnight in the human world. My body would always run on their time now to the point I couldn't pass out easily on my days off. But today, I think I'd be able to sleep. The terror from Lou's... anger yesterday had fizzled a bit.
I greeted the night guard and the receptionist on my way up. It felt good to be home early for once. While I was had started to get used to their presence, it felt nice to just be by myself for once.
Started to get used to...
I looked over my tired form in reflective elevator doors. Used to... right. I was back at square one with the entrance of those new fellows yesterday. Angels, backup for Mike— but did he really need others? Lou was harmless to them. He had done his fair share of jerking me around about as much as the angels... actually, it's more.
My body tensed up as I ran through everything he'd done to me. Rubbing my face tiredly, I stepped out of the lift and towards my apartment. I needed sleep, and now Lou's face was going to haunt me again. I was so tired of this.
Unlocking the door, I dumped my bag to the side as I moved towards the kitchen. I had some chocolate milk in fridge, that's all I needed before sleeping. There was absolutely no app-
"Hey, Ryleigh."
"Fuck!" I spat out, the clear voice rang through my not-empty apartment. I twisted to face a smug Lou at my kitchen island, chin in his palm as his finger tapped the marble.
"Good evening, Ryleigh. Or should I say good morning?"
"Go fuck yourself." I hissed as I closed the fridge door behind me to lean against it. My hand rose to press against my heart, I could feel it trying to thud out of my chest.
"Wouldn't that be a real miracle." Lou replied easily, amusement lined his handsome features.
I looked away from him to take deep breaths and calm myself. My exhaustion had vanished, but now my head was spun. I felt slightly nauseous.
"Is it possible to get a drink?"
"You'll only get a kick to the nuts at this hour."
"Oh, please. You normally serving drinks at this time anyway."
"Normally!" I snapped, my head turned to face him. Anger replaced my surprise. "I go home early one day, and you come here to torture me! Go away, Lou."
Lou scoffed. "I know you don't mean that." He smiled warmly. "Now, about that really well stocked mini bar..."
"No. You're not touching it." My legs shook now. "I don't keep open bottles of alcohol."
"Right, right." Lou sighed, the smile vanished into a dull look of boredom. "Your sobriety thing. How annoying."
"Yes, it's annoying. Now, please leave."
"I want a drink." He pouted. "Give me a drink."
"No. Shut up." I pushed off from the fridge to walk around the counter and stand beside him. "I'm serious, Lou. Get out. I'm not working tonight. I need sleep."
"Drinking with you is the only time of the day I can relax." Lou looked up at me to plead once more. "Come on, give me a drink, Ryleigh."
"No. I refuse." His face fell as I pointed at the door. "Get out."
Lou let a smirk cross his face as he stood up. His full height was intimidating this close. "No. I refuse." He mimicked, his arms went across his chest.
I hated this. Being up against him without a counter to separate us. His black eyes held mine with confidence and a sense of smugness. "Lou, I am not serving you tonight."
"That's a shame." He smiled and revealed a hint of teeth. My stomach curled. "It just means I'll have to find some other way to entertain myself."
As if reading my moves, Lou took a step towards me right as I took one back. I felt my heart still in my chest. No. No, this is not happening. I can't move my body again.
My breath hitched as Lou placed his hand on my waist. Chills ran down my body at the point of contact as he turned me around till my back bumped against the counter. "Maybe closing up the bar early today wasn't such a bad idea now, was it?"
"Lou..." I whispered softly as his lips curled up into a smirk. "I don't sleep with..."
"Customers. I know." He leaned in, my heart lost the rest of it's composure at his proximity. "Tonight, over here, I'm not a customer. And you're not just a bartender." One hand rose to trail down the side of my face, his eyes flickered to o my lips. "Besides, I know you want me. You try to hide it, but I see... everything."
His whisper brushed against my lips and I felt my body react. He wasn't wrong. I was very attracted to him. Tall, dark, handsome- exactly what every woman wants. But I... I can't sleep... I should-
"Don't fight it." He pressed his finger against my lower lip, releasing it from my teeth. "Let go, Ryleigh. I-"
"So, there you are."
My eyes widened in surprise once more as Lou's lips turned down into a sneer. He turned his head to side, to reveal a partial view of Mike. He was right behind Lou with his arms across his chest.
"Why are you here?" Lou growled. I could see his pupils start to expand this close.
"Following you. You vanished after we left the bar." Mike's eyes flickered to me. "And it seems like I'm interrupting."
"Yes. You are." Lou's hand tightened on my waist. "Leave."
"No. I'm not leaving you alone with Ryleigh." Mike met my eyes once more and held them for a few moments. A wave of warmth passed through me and I felt my body's control return.
I inhaled sharply, placed my hands against Lou's chest and slipping under the hand he still had raised to my face. I took a step to the side and stumbled over the stool's leg. But I'd managed to get away from him. "For fuck's sake, you two!" My heart could beated out of my chest, my face felt hot and red. "Stop this! Stop playing with me like this! Lou and all you fucking angels! I don't want to sleep with any of you!"
Mike raised an eyebrow. "You're welcome. And I'm not interested in bedding you either."
Lou scoffed as he shifted to lean against the counter. "Are you trying to say that Ryleigh isn't hot?"
"She's fairly attractive for a human." Mike drawled as he turned away from me and walked over to the kitchen stools. "But no. I'm not interested in engaging sexual relations with a human."
Lou snickered. "Virgin."
Mike's shoulders tensed at that simple remark. "I am, however, not inexperienced in it."
"That's what a virgin would say." Lou let his head fall back so he could meet Mike's eyes. "Virgin."
"Nothing wrong with being one." He shrugged.
"Pfft. Such a virgin." Lou shook his head to himself.
Mike turned his head to look at Lou. I couldn't see his expression from where I was but he sounded peeved. "I am not a virgin. I have had to, unfortunately enough, sleep with both male and female humans."
"You make it sound like such a chore." Lou sighed, dark eyes stared somewhere off into the distance outside my glass walls. "Sex is fun. It's invigorating. It's exciting."
"It's absolutely mundane and only a tool for the propagation of one's species."
"Just because it's a tool doesn't mean it isn't a fun tool." Lou glanced sideways at me. "Right, Ryleigh?"
I raised an eyebrow at that. "I refuse to be dragged into this conversation. And I want you both to leave."
"That's so mean." Lou sighed again. "Where am I supposed to go now?"
"Home, hell, another bar, wherever- I don't care. I don't want you here."
Mike turned to look at me, blue eyes slightly confused. "Does this mean I won't get any gin here?"
"Yes, that's what it means." I replied exasperatedly. "My place is private and only for me. Supernatural beings not allowed."
"Ouch." Lou mumbled. His frown aimed off into the distance. "Fine. I get it when I'm not wanted."
Mike's brows furrowed as he heard that. He turned his head to look at Lou again, only to spit out a string of harsh epithets upon find an empty space where the demon was formerly leaning. "Not again!" Mike hopped up off his stool. There was a gust of warm wind and he vanished too.
I ran a hand through my hair. My legs walked me over to the kitchen stool to take a seat on the stool Mike had just abandoned. I placed my elbows on the counter, my forehead in both my hands. Peace. Finally.
I woke up the next morning to my phone ringing. Squinting at the clock, I mumbled some curses as I sat up. It wasn't even late. In fact, it wasn't even time for me to get up yet. It better not be Dottie calling.
"Hello?" I mumbled through a yawn.
"Morning, Ryleigh. You free right now?"
I frowned to myself. "Trace?"
There was a short pause, followed by a laugh. "Yes, it's me. Don't tell me you already forgot me."
"No. No, I haven't." I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my head on top of them. "Hey."
"Hey." His voice sounded slightly more warmer with that. "Did you just wake up?"
"No." I lied. "I've been up for a while."
"Doesn't sound like it."
"I've just been roaming around the apartment doing nothing."
"Ah..." I sighed away from the phone. I just made myself sound like such a weirdo. "Anyway, you want to catch breakfast right now?"
I glanced at the clock again. "Now... seems doable. Where?"
"Is there a good cafe or something you know about near your place?"
"My place? What about yours?"
"You have to work in a few hours. I don't want you to be late."
I couldn't help another smile at that. "Alright. Thanks. I'll come to your place next time."
Trace chuckled to himself. "That's a bit quick, Ryleigh."
I was quiet for a few seconds to let my brain comprehend my words before letting out a telltale groan. "I didn't mean that."
"I don't mind even if you meant it."
"Shut up!" I laughed. "No! I just woke up! I don't know what I'm saying."
"What a shame." I could hear a smile in his voice too. "Anyway, how long do you need to get ready?"
"Not a lot, normally." I paused. "But that depends."
"On?"
"If this is a 'date' date or 'catching up with friends' date."
"Well... isn't there a mix of the two?"
I pressed my lips together but I could feel my smile getting wider. "There might be."
"Great. Then that's the one." He had a grin on his face. I could hear it. "I want to catch up with you, and I want it to be our first date."
I felt a warmth rise up to my cheeks as he said that outright. Cupping my cheek in one hand, I let myself smile. "That sounds nice." Don't sound too excited. "When do you want to meet?"
"About... an hour from now? It'll take a while to drive over."
"Sure. I'll text you the address of the place."
"I could pick you up on the way there."
"No. I'll meet you there."
"Sounds good to me." He went quiet again. "So..."
"So?" I repeated.
"What are you wearing?"
I burst into laughter. I could hear the mischief in his voice. It was familiar. "Go change. I'll meet you there."
"See you, Ryleigh."
"Bye, Trace."
"Bye."
I cut the call and stared down at the phone screen with my wide smile reflected back at me. Trace... I'd had a bit of a crush on him in sixth grade because he was so cool— going to all the parties, friends with everyone, getting into fights... It used to seem like he never cared for anything. Anything but us anyway— his 'brothers' and 'sisters' at the foster home we were in at the time. They were one of the nicer families I remembered staying with.
Texting him the address took a few seconds. I already had an outfit in mind so it wouldn't take long to change either. I don't normally wear skirts to work but I hadn't gotten a chance to wear some of my new clothes yet.
Stretching easily as I got up, I laid out the clothes on the bed before I headed off to the washroom. Makeup was minimal anyway so I was ready in less than half an hour. The cab arrived immediately. I didn't want to walk and get sweaty.
I spotted Trace almost immediately as I reached there. He was already seated at a table, saying something to a waitress. He didn't really see me till I walked up to him. His face split into a wide smile as he spotted me and he stood up as I approached him. "Hey, Ryleigh."
"Hey." I replied, returning his smile as well. He looked g-
He leaned in before I could say anything else and wraoped his arms around me in a warm hug. Surprise passed through me, my reaction was delayed. All I could manage was one arm around him before he pulled away away.
Trace still had a smile till saw the look on my face. Immediate regret crossed his face. "Oh... I forgot you don't like hugs."
I shook my head and laughed through the fading discomfort. "I don't hate hugs. I like hugs." Taking a step forward, I patted his chest. "I also like a little prior warning before one." Wow, that's a hard chest.
"Sorry." He laughed sheepishly as he raided an arm to scratch his head. What a way to show the guns. "I didn't remember."
"I never made it known." I replied easily and took a seat across his. My bag went on an empty chair.
He sat down again, still with that sheepish smile. "I already ordered if you don't mind. I changed and came here after a workout, I'm starving."
"It's okay. I wasn't that hungry anyway."
"Really?" Trace raised a brow. "What did you eat last night?"
Yikes. "Uh... I had chocolate milk after I got back home.
"And?"
"And... sleep. I went to sleep."
Trace sighed exasperatedly. "You still don't eat properly. Some habits really don't die, do they?"
"I do eat." I mumbled, now feeling sheepish. "I just don't have the appetite."
"And that's like 90% of the time if I remember right." Trace raised his hand to signal to the waitress. "You seem fairly healthy, so I figured you're taking care of yourself but it's same ol', same ol', isn't it?"
I frowned as I heard some steps approach. "I do eat! The cook makes me lunch!"
"And what about breakfast? Dinner?" He raised the other brow as he picked up the menu again. My silence was enough of an answer to make him click his tongue. "That's what I thought. Do you even buy groceries?"
"I-I do. I cook for myself on my day off... and sometimes if I'm hungry when I get home from work or exercise."
"'sometimes'." Trace scoffed again. "You should really eat a b-"
"Uh, yes." I cut him off, turning to waitress as he flipped through the menu for the third time. He was too annoyed and distracted by how annoyed he was. "I'll have the English breakfast with extra sausages, no tomatoes and a chocolate milkshake."
"Got it." She nodded at me. "Give it a while, Ryleigh."
"I know. Tell Antonio hi from me."
"Yup." She nodded again and turned away as she did. "I'll also tell him you're on a date so he doesn't come out and yell at you."
I grimaced and turned slightly red as Trace watched our interaction. She was still nodding as she walked away while he eyed me in confusion. "Who's Antonio?"
"The owner." I shrugged easily, trying to play it off. "We've worked out a few times."
"As... a couple?"
"No. Just worked out." I reached for the glass of water. "I don't have a fixed workout timing but he wakes up very early. We worked out a few days together, and then we got to talking. He's just a friend."
"And why will he be mad?"
"I'm too tired these days to wake up early to work out. Haven't seen him in a while."
"Shame." Trace replied dryly.
I raised an eyebrow at that. "We're just friends."
"Alright, I never said anything." He shrugged as he put the menu down and leaned forward. "How was your day yesterday?"
"Great. Was a bit longer than normal because the owner was there. Had to update him."
"Does he come often?"
"Atleast once a month. He's pretty old so he has a caretaker at home and he can't move about much. Apparently, the restaurant will get passed down to his daughter after he's gone and she has no plans to keep it running." I sighed tiredly as I remembered the ruckus she'd caused with just one visit. "She wants to renovate it into a café as she believes it will appeal more to the youth. I'll be out of a job."
"That's a shame." Trace rested his chin in his palm. "I like the old school vibes of that place."
"Thanks." I smiled down at the table. "Carl would be happy to hear that."
"Does this mean you guys aren't turning a profit?"
"We do. But it's just not high." I scratched the table. "With the newer customers coming in at night, it has been a formidable increase. However, it's going to take a few more months for it to be visible."
"Late night customers? Don't you only work till midnight?"
Well, hell.
****
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Aaay, sorry for the missed update I had exams the entirely of last week.
It's my last year of college, and my finals are in March so I'm already preparing chapters to keep y'all updated whenever I'm not able to write.
Hope you guys can bear with these erratic updates for a while more!
Thanks for reading! And welcome to all the new readers! It's nice to have y'all here!
Vote and comment!