He laughed, a deep rumbling in his chest. His round belly jiggled. “I could use some help putting the toppings out.”
That was always my job. Chay got the hard ones, like scrubbing the floor, washing down the machines, and lugging the supplies from the car. But Uncle made sure I was on the topping station every time. I had a feeling he was a teensy bit sexist, which was all right with me. I’d pop a piece of chocolate in my mouth when I didn’t think he was watching. The topping station had its benefits.
When I’d finished with the toppings and mixing the ice cream base, I asked Uncle if he had anyone coming to help him during halftime.
“My cousins will be here.” Chay came up beside me and tossed a cherry in his mouth.
“Yeah, yeah, they’ll get here after work. I’ll be fine, dearie, but thanks for checkin’ up on an old man. Come by during halftime and I’ll give you a freebie.” He winked.
“Okay, see ya later.” I waved and followed Chay to meet Drew and Muriel. “Where’s Jen?”
“Parking her car, I think,” Muriel said.
“You left her alone? We’re supposed have someone with us at all times!”
“Calm down, Milayna. She’s okay. Xavier is with her.”
“Pssh, what’s he gonna do? Stare them to death?” Chay muttered under his breath.
I elbowed him in the ribs. “It was his first time. Give him a break.”
“You didn’t freeze your first time and…” His words faded, and he pulled his full bottom lip between his teeth.
“And what, Chay?” I asked with a laugh. “And I’m a girl?”
He pursed his lips to hide a grin. “Something like that.”
“Mm-hmm, thought so. C’mon, let’s find some seats before they fill up.”
“Dude, you got off so freaking easy on that one. I thought she’d go ballistic,” Drew whispered.
“Give her time.”
“I heard that, Chay.” I looked over my shoulder. He blew a kiss at me. “Yeah. That’s not gonna get you anywhere tonight.”
He leaned toward Drew. “What’d I tell you?”
I found an empty row halfway up the bleachers, and we filed in and sat down.
“We could see better farther up,” Chay complained.
“Then go up there.” I wasn’t one for heights. Halfway up the bleachers was pushing my comfort limit as it was. I was not going to sit at the top.
I’d just settled in my seat when I heard my name.
“Well, Milayna. Coming to sit with us?” Lily looked at me with wide, innocent eyes. I had the overwhelming urge to scratch them out.
I’m a demi-angel. I’m passive. Passive. Passive. Yeah, that isn’t working. Passive, my half-angel ass. I still want to claw her eyes out.
I looked at Chay and rolled my eyes. “I told you we should go higher.” Chay shrugged. He was maddening.
“Lily…” I held my hands out, pretending to examine my nail polish before picking an invisible piece of lint off Chay’s shoulder and flicking it in her direction. “Shouldn’t you be down… lower?”
“Funny, Milayna. Have you met Rod?” She gestured to the guy sitting between her and Jake. Judging by the close proximity of Rod’s hand on Lily’s… um… upper thigh, I figured Lily and Rod had done more than just meeting.
“Nope, can’t say I have.”
“Rod, this is Milayna. You know, the one I told you about.”
Rod didn’t look at me when he spoke. I hated that. “Ah, I’ve heard a lot about you.”
The words of the hobgoblins slammed into me: It won’t be long, Milayna. The one that will kill you is here.
“Most of it completely accurate, I’m sure,” I said, sarcasm dripping from my tongue.
He shrugged in answer.
“Well, you must not be held in the same regard as I am. I haven’t heard a thing about you.” I glared at him.
“Or maybe it’s notoriety that you hold rather than regard,” Rod said.
“Huh.”
Rod looked over his shoulder at me then. “What?”
I tilted my head and let one side of my mouth curl up slightly. “I’ve never met one of Azazel’s lackeys that could understand vocabulary well enough to maintain a decent conversation. Kudos to you, Rod.”
He looked me up and down. Chay’s arm tightened around me. Finally, Rod’s gaze landed on mine. The electrical current running up and down my nerve endings went wild as soon as our eyes met. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and a tingling sensation ran up and down my spine like I’d put my tongue on a nine-volt battery. If Chay hadn’t had his arm around me, I would’ve fallen backward off the bench. I’d never picked up a feeling from anyone as strong as the feeling he was throwing at me. Hate. Hate. Hate.
I closed my eyes to break contact, covering my face with my hands to give myself a few seconds to recover.
“What’s wrong?” Chay whispered.
I shook my head.
“Milayna, I feel it. Something’s wrong.” Chay’s breath was warm behind my ear.
I dropped my hands, turned my face toward his, and wrapped my hand around the back of his neck, bringing his lips to mine. He kissed me gently before resting his forehead against mine.
“I think she has a headache, the poor thing.” A knowing look crossed Rod’s features.