Page 35 of Forbidden! Exorcist Roommate
“You started it.”
I scoffed. “Now you sound childish. How old are you again?”
“Twenty-nine.”
That surprised me. He was two years older than me, but he looked younger. Maybe while I applied myself to weightlifting, he was applying moisturizer instead.
Faust gasped in horror. “I can’t believe you had a mildly rude thought about Hot Stranger.”
“Stop calling him that,” I said out loud before I could stop myself.
Sagitta shot me a sharp, withering glare.
“Sorry,” I muttered.
His dubious expression told me he wasn’t convinced. And he was right not to be because I wasn’t that sorry. Everyone in the shop was rowdy and loud, so nobody except Sagitta heard me anyway. He didn’t need to be so nasty.
As we moved up in line, a pair of young boys ran by us. They giggled and ran excitedly towards the display case, slapping their palms against the domed glass as they ogled the colourful variety of donuts.
I didn’t miss Sagitta’s pained wince. He turned his head, trying to hide it, but it was too late. I’d already noticed his reaction.
Now I felt awkward broaching the topic. I was an only child, so I didn’t share his experience. Since it was clearly a touchy subject for him, maybe I was better off avoiding it.
Faust clicked his tongue. “You’re no fun. I wanted to know more about Sagitta’s sordid past.”
I didn’t want to encourage his mindless comments, so I fought to keep my mind clear of any response.
We remained silent as the queue moved forward. Only a few customers remained between us and the counter.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to make things weird,” I mumbled. “My bad if I upset you.”
“I’m not that weak-willed. It takes more than that to upset me.”
My brow inched higher. I’d seen the hurt flash across his face clear as day, but I didn’t bring it up.
“How much do you remember?” Sagitta asked. Because of the crowd, the rest of his question went unsaid: ‘When Faust possessed you?’
I scratched my head. “It was like being behind a sheer curtain, or walking through mist. You can see and hear everything, but it’s kinda vague.”
I wondered if it was similar on Faust’s end, too.
“Not at all,” he chimed in. “Thanks to my fabulous demonic senses, my experience through your body is perfectly clear.”
Well, that was that.
Sagitta crossed his arms thoughtfully. “I see. Then do you recall what I told Cygnet?”
“Something about going to my place?” I offered.
“I’m staying over. For at least a week.”
“A week?” I exclaimed.
A cheery voice cut in in a fake American Southern accent. “Howdy y’all! Welcome to Dustin’s Donuts! How may I help you folks today?” the girl behind the counter greeted us.
My head was swimming from what Sagitta just told me. I was in no state to order donuts. Or function like a human being at all. I stood there with my jaw hanging open, thinking about Sagitta in my apartment. Alone. With me. For an entire week.
Since it was clear that my brain felt like soup, Sagitta stepped in and took over. Flashing a charming smile at the worker, he said, “We’d like two dozen donuts. Assorted. No jelly-filled ones, please.”
