“No joke.” Drew shook his head. We’d gathered our things, turned in our bowling balls and the gorgeous shoes, and were walking through the parking lot to our car. “Well, I don’t think you ruined anything tonight, Milayna.”
“Me either. In fact, I think you deserve a big chocolate shake,” Chay said.
I smiled. Yeah, that does sound like a good idea.
“Oh, I could go for a visit to your uncle’s,” Drew said.
“Now that everything is over and that guy still has both his hands and all, I gotta say, Milayna, you looked hilarious running down that bowling lane. You plowed through like you were the bowling ball.” Muriel laughed.
“Don’t forget her fighting over the bowling pin with the machine. That was priceless,” Drew chimed in. “Too bad we didn’t have our phones out to get it on video.”
Chay wrapped his arm around me and squeezed. I looked up at him and smiled before breaking out into a fit of giggles. It was probably the stress of the vision, but I couldn’t stop laughing. I knew I must have looked like a fool running down the bowling lane and sliding into the pins like I was sliding into home base in a softball game.
Chay chuckled, which made me laugh harder. Soon, we were all laughing. The harder the three of them laughed… the harder I laughed, until my sides ached and cheeks hurt.
“Yeah, well, I’m used to looking like a fool when it comes to my visions,” I said between hiccups of laughter. “I never know what stupid thing I’m gonna have to do—it’s a job requirement.”
***
When Chay brought me home that evening, the hobgoblins were sitting in the driveway.
“Should I just run over them and save us the trouble?”
“Sure. Why not?” I shrugged a shoulder.
“‘Kay.”
They darted out of the way and ran into the backyard.
“They’re fast little things considering how stumpy their legs are,” Chay said with a laugh.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t think something so round and fat could move like that without rolling.”
“Do you want to go see what they want?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I have a headache already. I just want to go inside and climb into bed with two aspirin.”
Chay got out of the car and walked around to open my door. Sliding out, I sucked in a sharp breath. Jake was sitting in the shadows on my front porch.
“I think I’ll use the side door.” I flicked my gaze in Jake’s direction.
“Ah. Good call.”
“Milayna,” Jake called.
I ignored him and walked to the door at the side of the house. There stood Lily and Shayla.
Great. Jake and the bitchy duo. Can things get any better tonight?
“Looks like our night is going to end with a bang.” I looked up at Chay. His jaw was working.
“Literally,” I said with a sigh. “What’s up, guys? Just normal troublemaking?” I called to the three of them.
“Azazel sent us,” Jake said.
“And? I gotta say, I’m getting bored with the whole Azazel thing.”
“He wants you.”
“He can’t get to my powers, Jake. You know that, and he knows that.”
“You can still join his side. Use your powers for him,” Lily said.
“Not gonna happen. It didn’t happen three months ago, and it won’t happen now. And it’s getting pretty pathetic that he keeps sending you here to beg.”
“You know he’s sent someone.” Lily looked at her perfectly groomed fingernails. Those suckers hurt in a fight.
“So I’ve heard.”
Chay stepped in front of me, shielding me from them, but I nudged him out of the way. I wasn’t scared of them. I didn’t particularly want to end up in a fight, because they hurt like hell. But I wasn’t afraid of Jake or his crew. Well, maybe of Jake.
“Your little angel friend can’t protect you,” Lily said.
“I don’t know where you get off thinking I need protection. Last I knew, I turned eighteen. Azazel missed his opportunity—”
“For your powers. He didn’t miss his opportunity to end your life. It’s true he can’t do it himself, but he can… hire it out.”
“And that’s what he’s done? Hired a hit man to take me out?” I laughed hard at the thought.
“Yes,” Jake answered and walked toward Chay and me.
Chay looked over his shoulder and squeezed my fingers. I followed his gaze. Steven and Rod walked up the drive toward us.
Five of them. Two of us. Not good odds. Not good at all.
“Hey,” Drew said, walking toward the house from Muriel’s. Muriel was right on his heels. “Jen’s on her way.”
“I’m here,” Jen said, coming around the house from the backyard. “I was just listening to the babblings of the goblin fools back there. So… what’s up?”
“Threats. Just empty, pathetic threats.” I looked at Jake, careful not to meet his gaze straight on. I didn’t want my power to kick in. I was still learning how to control it—how to turn it on and off. I knew what feeling I would read from him. I didn’t need my connection to tell me. Jake was evil. Pure evil.
“Oh, Azazel, he’s so great. He’ll treat you like a princess. He’ll make your life wonderful,” Jen said in a singsong voice, mocking Jake and Lily.
“Jen,” Chay said under his breath. “Shut up. Antagonizing them won’t help anything. I don’t feel like fighting tonight.”