Page 37 of My Demon Neighbor
"Pythor, I..." Codie started, then trailed off, and I waited patiently, but he shook his head. "Never mind. Would you like to stay a while longer?"
"Sure."
We went back into the house, and Codie put on a movie as we sat on the couch with Hella spread out over our laps, eager to be petted by both of us.
Codie was silent as we watched, and I couldn't help sneaking glances at him. He seemed lost in thought, but I didn't question him. He'd talk when he was ready to, and until then, I'd just keep him company.
When he started nodding off, I urged him to go to bed, and he nodded sleepily as he got up and stumbled off to his bedroom after turning off the TV and wishing me a mumbled "Good night," apparently uncaring about the fact that I was still here. It made my chest feel all warm and fuzzy, this simple display of trust.
I lingered for a moment, waiting until I heard him slide into his bed before teleporting back to my place, smiling when I heard his familiar music start up. How was it that a sound that had irritated me so much a few short weeks ago now made me fall asleep with a smile on my face?
Codie
Ever since dinner last night, I hadn't been able to stop thinking about it, about Pythor.
My conversation with Nessa had unlocked something in me, and then Pythor had gone and protected Nessa and Alia like it was the easiest thing to do. How could Inotlike him?
I was still abso-fucking-lutely terrified, but I was tired of letting my fears run my life. Pythor had helped me deal with my fears so much. Wasn't this just another way to do that?
If I ever had a shot at a relationship again, I didn't think I'd find someone better than him to try with. Pythor was warm, kind, and patient, and he might be exactly what I needed. If only I could be brave enough to let myself have him.
I didn't think I could do it without telling him everything, though. I needed him to know what'd happened to me, to know exactly how damaged I was before I even mentioned trying a relationship, which was why I'd invited him over after he finished at the center for the day.
He'd be here any moment, which was why I was starting to rethink the whole thing. What if I told him, and it changed how he saw me? What if he no longer wanted to be my friend, let alone anything more?
I shook my head, knowing that was my fear speaking. In my heart, I knew Pythor was better than that, but sometimes my fear's voice could be much louder than my heart's.
A knock at the door made me jump, and I hurried over to it before stopping short. I knew Pythor was on the other side, and for a brief moment, I entertained the idea of sending him away, but then I shook my head. No. I had to do this.
Taking a deep breath, I reached up and turned the locks, removed the chain, then opened the door.
Pythor smiled at me, but his smile dropped when he got a good look at my face, making me wonder what look I was sporting.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded slowly, closing the door behind him and locking the door up. While he could just teleport straight into my house, he didn't do it because he didn't want to startle me.Just one of the many ways he looked after me without being obvious about it.
"I wanted to talk to you about something. Let's sit."
Pythor followed me into the living room, then sat down on the other side of the couch as Hella hurried over to join us, her head falling into my lap as she settled her lower half on Pythor's.
He sighed fondly as he gave her a few pats, and I buried my fingers in the fur on her scruff, gripping the loose skin as I tried to gather myself.
"Codie," Pythor murmured, clearly sensing my distress, and I swallowed hard.
"I wanted to tell you. About what happened," I said, and he blinked, realization crossing his face.
"Are you sure? You don't have to tell me unless you want to."
I nodded, knowing he meant it. He hadn't once asked me, even though I knew he must be curious.
I'd never told anyone important to me about what'd happened that night, not in so many details. Vanessa was my emergency contact, so she'd been called by the hospital and knew enough through the doctors. I'd also told the cops, not that that was much use. But even Vanessa didn't know all the details, and I preferred it that way.
"Would you like me to refrain from touching you?" he asked before I could start, surprising me.
"Huh?"
"I want to hold your hand, but only if it'll help," he said, and I grabbed his hand, which'd been resting on Hella's flank. He covered my hand with his instead, the warm grip anchoring me to the present, and that was all I needed to start speaking.
