16. Van

16

VAN

Four hundred and eighty hours left on my count down. I’ve been with Gabe for twenty days. Eleven days left to live if I don’t get my shit together.

“Stop scratching,” Pike says. The look of horror when flecks of my skin fall onto the bar top makes me laugh.

“It itches.”

“Go somewhere else to scratch it, then. I don’t need your crusties on my bar.”

“Might appeal to a certain kind of clientele, though.” I scratch again.

“Not ones I want. Shoo!” Pike literally waves his hands as if to shoo me away.

“Fine. Fine.” I shoot my shot of HellFire and watch Gabe smile at that dumbass Domhnall. I have to wonder if he always smiles at the gargoyle when I’m not around. I shouldn’t be jealous. Gabe isn’t mine. Not yet, I don’t think, but I want him to be.

I make my way to the couch Frankie plays on and take up residence there. I didn’t want to stay at the apartment. I’d dusted the entire place two days ago, and done a few other chores, and I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.

“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” Someone I don’t recognize saunters over and shimmies up beside me on the couch. “Haven’t seen you for a while. I’ve missed your big cock. Wanna go for a round out back? Or on the roof?” He walks his fingers up my arm and I pull away.

“Sorry, my heart’s been taken.” Even as I say the words, I know them to be true. Gabe has my heart.

The stranger pouts and his shoulders drop. He looks positively devastated. “He’s a lucky man, then.” He squeezes my arm. “Because your cock is a dream.” He sighs and pushes to his feet. “Guess I’ll just have to keep playing with others. Find someone else to fulfill my dreams.”

“Shouldn’t be too hard. You’re a catch.” And I mean it, I really do. I may not remember him, because I’m an asshole, but he’s worthy of finding a partner better than I could be for him.

“You’d think it’d be easy. But no.” His hips sway gently as he walks up to the bar. I can’t hear what Gabe says, but the guy instantly grins wide and his entire attitude changes. That’s just what Gabe does. He makes people happy.

The telltale flash of energy that’s my brother shimmers in the air before he teleports. Wick watches me watch Gabe before scooting in and siting next to me. “You love him, don’t you?”

“I think so, yeah.” I thread a hand through my hair. “He’s everything I’m not, and he doesn’t judge.” I turn to Wick. “Do you have any idea what it’s like not to be judged?”

“Yeah.” Wick sighs. “Ethan never judged me. I’m so lost without him, Van. I just don’t know what to do and it keeps getting worse. I saw the wedding announcement. That’s not what he wanted.” Wick fists his hands and Frankie trots over to him to lay her head in his lap. “Thanks, girl. You’re so good to me.”

“I’m sorry I’ve judged you about Ethan. I wish I knew how to help.”

Wick buries his face in Frankie’s fur and breathes deeply before coming back up. “I can’t bear to think of him with Florence, even if Flo is one of his best friends. He’s gay. Florence is non-binary and aroace. I don’t hate Flo, but I know the two won’t be happy because of the arrangement. He was twelve when he summoned me to help them both, and the stupid rules kept me from making a deal with him until he was eighteen. I understand your frustrations with the rules. I really do. It’s why I get so damn irritated with you about breaking them.”

My heart sinks. I’ve known the story for years, but never put the pieces together like that. Wick wishes he would have broken the rules to get what he wanted. But he didn’t. He was a good little crossroads demon and I never am.

“I’m sorry. Fuck, I’m sorry Wick.” I pull him close and we rock on the couch together like we did when we were kids. Sometimes it helps. I don’t know how long we stay like this before Frankie licks at my elbow and Gabe stands in front of us with a tray.

“Thought you two might be hungry, so I brought some of your favorite bar foods.” Gabe sets the tray on the coffee table in front of us.

“Thanks, angel,” I say as I press a kiss to my brother’s temple. We demons get attached so damn easily. I know if something happened to Gabe, and he disappeared, I’d tear the world apart to find him.

It’s easy to tell Wick to just get over Ethan, but I know it’s not truly that simple. Especially for someone like Warwick who took years to fall for Ethan in the first place. He thought he was aroace himself for the longest time, but he’s demi—romantic and sexual. Once he fell for Ethan, he fell hard. My only concern now is what if Ethan isn’t the Ethan he remembers when they finally meet again?

I watch Gabe’s ass as he walks back to the bar.

Wick snorts next to me as he shovels a mozzarella stick in his mouth. “You have it bad.”

“I do.”

“I’m happy for you. Gabe’s sweet. I think that’s just what you need in your life.”

“I do to.” I bump Wick’s shoulder with mine. “Speaking of which, he wants to be your friend, but he thinks you hate him.”

Wick’s mouth drops open. “What? No. I don’t hate him.”

“That’s what I told him.”

“I’ll have to be nicer. I’ve been a bit of an ass when Domhnall shows up. And he’s always showing up lately.” He clenches his jaw and watches the front door. “Speaking of the asshole.”

“It’s like you summon him with your anger.” I laugh at Wick’s scowl.

“I think I do hate him . He’s always poking fun at everyone. Even Lark and Gabe. Who does that?”

“Assholes, like you said.” I tell him about meeting Domhnall in the laundromat and Gabe’s blow out. “I’m teaching Gabe magic. He’s a quick study.”

“You’re a good teacher.” Wick elbows me a little too sharply.

“I’m really not.”

He leans away and eyes me. “You were the top of your class, don’t you remember? Poe asked you to tutor people, and you turned him down.”

“I’d forgotten about that.”

“Poe said you had the most potential of everyone in centuries and?—”

“I flushed it all down the toilet.”

“No, not yet anyway.” His eyes drop to my chest where the device still counts down beneath my t-shirt. “I know you’re capable of great things, Van. And I think if you let Gabe guide you, you’ll be an amazing king one day. I really do.”

I scratch at my chest again. “But no one thinks I’m ready.”

“Because you’re not. Even now, with Gabe’s influence, you’re not ready. But you’re young. Poe was already two centuries old before he took up the mantle. There’s time. Why are you always wanting to rush things? Enjoy what you have.” His gaze travels down the bar and to Gabe’s smiling face.

“You’re right and wise beyond your years, Wicky.” If I were the king now, I wouldn’t have time to enjoy my angel as much. Poe is single for a reason. Crossroads demons are a handful.

“Dunno about that, but I’ll take it.”