Chay hesitated. He looked at me and shook his head. “I can’t—”
“He can’t wait to beat you in that new video game you got,” I said with a smile. I moved to let Chay pass.
“Thanks,” he whispered when he walked by.
I shrugged. “I did it for Ben.” After the night Ben had, I was willing to do just about anything for him.
Everyone was happy to see Chay, and my mother immediately set a plate in front of him piled high with food. I was the only one confused by his appearance. He ate and talked with everyone, laughing and joking like nothing was wrong. Like he belonged. Like he never broke my heart.
After breakfast, he played video games with Benjamin most of the afternoon. I tried to stay clear of him, but Ben wouldn’t let me out of his sight, so I was forced to spend the day with Chay—the one I loved but who didn’t love me. The one who kissed me until my head spun and I couldn’t see straight, and then told me it was a mistake. The one I hated… loved. The one who confused the hell out of me.
The one who had visions of killing me.
Finally, when we were getting ready to sit down for dinner, Chay told Ben he had to leave.
“Can’t you stay and eat with us?” Ben asked.
“You’re more than welcome to stay,” my aunt chimed in.
No, he’s not!
“I can’t. My grandparents are coming over for dinner tonight, but thank you.”
“Bummer,” Ben muttered.
Yay!
“Milayna, walk me out?”
Ugh. You know where the door is.
“Sure.” I walked beside him to the door, trying not to inhale in his direction. He smelled so good. I tried not to look at him. He looked amazing. I tried not to look at his arms. They felt so good around me. I tried not to glance at his lips. They caressed my skin like silk. I tried not to think about how great he was with Ben. How he’d played game after game with him that afternoon. My heart softened a little toward him, and I found it hard to remember why I was mad at him. “Thanks,” I muttered. It nearly killed me to have to thank him.
“For what?”
I shrugged. “Being so good with Benjamin.”
“He had a rough night. I thought it might take his mind off things.”
“Yeah.” I stood with my hands in my pockets, rising forward on the balls of my feet before leaning back.
Chay grabbed my arm, pulling me outside with him. He guided me away from the door and out of sight of the window. Cupping my face in his hands, he kissed me. I closed my eyes and felt his fingers thread through my hair. His tongue grazed my lips—I leaned into him.
“Whatcha doin’, Milayna?” Friendly asked. My two hobgoblin buddies sat on the chairs beside us on the porch.
The spell broken, I turned my head away from Chay. He let his hands fall away and muttered a curse.
“Another mistake,” I bit out, throwing his words from Monday night back at him.
“No,” he said.
“Then what?”
He rubbed his hands up and down his face. “I don’t know. I can’t be with you, but I can’t stay away.”
“You are so confusing, Chay. You can’t have it both ways. You either want to be with me or you don’t.”
He reached out and picked up the chain around my neck, pulling it until the ring slipped over the collar of my sweatshirt. “I saw this the other night. And I knew then that I wanted you. And as mad as you are at me… you want me too. I don’t like being apart, Milayna. I wish things could be different.”
“What things?”
“I… it’s me—”
“Oh, don’t give me that ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ crap. If you’re going to tell me there’s no chance for us, then at least come up with a better excuse than that.”
“I have my reasons,” he said, and I shoved his arm away.
“Milayna,” Friendly called.
“What?” I snapped.
“Wanna play?”
“No.”
“Abaddon does,” Scarface said. “He’s here. It’s time. Right, Chay?”
“Go back to Hell,” Chay ground out, taking a step toward the hobgoblins. They disappeared with a laugh.
“What was that about?”
“I don’t know.” Chay rubbed his hand over the back of his head. I knew he was lying. Whatever was going on with him was about to come to an end. Whatever he was hiding was about to be revealed.
Is he working for Abaddon? Is he the one the goblins keep telling me is coming? Is he the one Abaddon sent to kill me?
***
That night, Rod and Jake stood in the shadows, staring at the house like they had nearly every night. I stood at the picture window, looking back at them. I had been sleeping soundly—no nightmares for a change—but something woke me. I knew they’d be there. I could sense their presence. Evil.
Chay was also out there. I could hear the boards creak as he paced the porch. I watched him walk by the window. He didn’t know I was there, or if he did, he didn’t acknowledge me.
Walking to the door, I unlocked it. I knew it was a bad idea, but I wanted to be with him. After the warnings of the hobgoblins, I should’ve known not to let him in. I ignored the part of my brain that told me I was being an idiot and stuck my head out the storm door.