The Sidekick

Chapter Twenty-Three

Tera

As Max walks away, I take a deeper breath and focus back on Diana, trying my hardest not to show my nerves.

I told someone to kiss my butt. It doesn’t feel half bad, either. She was a total jerk.

My chest has been tight with anxiety ever since Max called me bebé, and I can’t shake it. The feeling got worse when he said he wanted me and not as his friend in a confusing monologue. What does that even mean?

I don’t believe that Satan, AKA the boss man, lied. He didn’t want anything to do with me and made it very clear.

What isn’t so clear is how Max feels. He just laid it out there, and I stood there like a fool, trying to compute it after thinking all he wanted from me was sex. He makes it sound like he wants a lot more than that. How would that work with his boyfriend wanting nothing to do with me?

It wouldn’t.

Diana is going on about her new boyfriend. I struggle to tune back into the conversation but find it difficult. I’m feeling the urge to leave this strangely new yet familiar place. It’s like the alternate dimension of the bar I used to work at. There are a lot more patrons than there were before. I haven’t been around this many people in a long time, and it’s making me nervous. I don’t need a panic attack right now. This is already a mess.

Pat has returned to the new kitchen to make a few orders since a girl I don’t recognize nervously handed her a few tickets. Pat’s dower face halts most people in their tracks, and I’m glad to see at least that hasn’t changed.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I hold up a finger to Diana. She continues talking, ignoring the hold on a second cue, so I check the phone anyway. I can multitask sometimes. Alright, not usually, but I’ll make an effort.

Shade:Location

I frown at his stunted texting skills.

Me: I’m at the bar. Stop being a weirdo and text like a normie.

Shade: What is a normie

Me: A NORMAL PERSON!

Shade: Pick up ETA ten minutes

“This guy,” I mutter under my breath. He’s doing it on purpose, I know it.

“Ooo, a guy?” Diana leans over the counter, much to several patron’s delight, as her breasts try to spill out of her top.

“It’s like he’s never texted before,” I show her, and she giggles.

“That’s hot. He sounds military.”

I stare at her blankly as she calmly concludes that there might be a normal reason for Shade’s weirdness. There is no reason. He exists. That’s the only thing I can think of.

Me: Why? I’m fine here.

Shade:Dinner

Me: I can eat here now.

Shade: Not the plan ETA seven minutes wrap it up

“Why does he have to try and control my life?” I ask in exasperation. I don’t really want to stay here and pretend to eat something. I have no idea why I’m fighting him on this.

“Because alpha males are seriously hot. Is he like that during sex? Please say yes and give me details. I’m dying over here!”

I glance up to tell her she has the wrong idea about this and notice Satan standing behind her with a heavy scowl. He appeared just like a demon. His new name fits him so well.

“Yeah, give us details,” Max’s voice comes right next to my ear, and he doesn’t sound pleased.

I clam up as he reads over my shoulder.

“Back to work, Diana,” Satan says lightly, and she jumps as she realizes she’s been caught by the boss. She hurries away to take drink orders, and he steps into her place, glancing at the now-dark screen of my phone.

“Shade, huh? That didn’t read like a sext,” Max heckles and leans further into me, enveloping me in his warmth.

My heart does a painful twist as I face off with my nemesis. I wish there was a medication that could eradicate old feelings. I would buy that, no matter the cost. Anything to not have this ragey pain settling in my chest as I fight to keep my face blank. I’ve watched Shade do it for the last couple of days, and I’m hoping mine is just as effective in shutting people down. Or I could work on imitating Pat’s resting bee sting face. I feel like that’s an advanced look.

“Tera, I’m glad to see you,” Satan interrupts my thoughts with a kind and gentle tone. I’m not falling for that again. I stay silent and nod stiffly like a weirdo. The feeling isn’t mutual.

His eyes flick to Max behind me as a look of concern passes over his face and returns to me.

“You didn’t feel comfortable speaking to me in the office?”

The scene of the crime? No, thanks. Unless it’s had a facelift, I don’t ever want to go back there. Maybe not even if it is all rearranged and freshly painted. I’d rather drag that couch outside and set it on fire. It’s cursed.

When I don’t respond, his brow furrows and his eyes seek out Max again. He’s close enough to my back that I feel his shrug.

“What would you like to drink? On the house,” he steps back as if he’s going to get me something.

“I’m not staying,” my tone comes out flat, and I internally do a fist pump. I just have to do this for what, five more minutes? And then I can escape and curl into a ball of misery.

“You’re going to dinner with him?” Max sounds upset about this, and I’m confused. He’s obviously gotten the wrong impression of my frienemy interaction with Shade. I don’t know if it’s my place to reassure him that we aren’t dating or what.

I don’t see a relationship with Max going anywhere since he’s with Satan. And that’s what I would like to have. A relationship, not a random hookup whenever he’s given permission. They have other waitresses standing in line for that job.

I end up nodding and glancing over my shoulder at his scowling face. It’s none of his business anyway, no matter how he feels. I need to sit down with him and explain why we can’t work. Dr. Robinson has assured me communication can clear up a lot of misunderstandings. Now, all I need is the guts to open my mouth.

I can’t with Satan hovering over me. He’s watching with a slight frown as he takes in my reactions. I’m not seeing a checkmark next to “Tell ‘Satan’ how he made me feel” any time soon.

“Where are you staying?” Satan leans onto the bar, and I instinctively lean back to keep a clear line of personal space between us. It makes me press against the back of the bar stool and Max.

“I’m not sure yet,” I glance away, missing Diana’s easy conversation already, even though I didn’t really talk. That’s normal with Diana, though. She’s oblivious to my hopeful look as she serves drinks and flirts.

“Not with anyone?” He presses with his brows lowered ominously.

That is not his business, so I lift my chin and press my lips together in defiance. If I don’t want someone to know my life, that’s my choice, and he certainly hasn’t earned the right to know about me anymore.

The struggle to keep my lips shut worries me a lot. He isn’t supposed to get to me like this anymore. I worked too hard to fail now, dang it! I’m not letting him interrogate me.

The awkward, anxiety-heightening silence lasts so long that I almost fall over in relief when Shade appears at my side.

“Ready?” He glances back and forth between Max and Satan with narrowed eyes.

“Yes,” I keep my voice flat and slide out of the new chair as if it were greased.

Shade nods and extends his arm out to gesture me forward. I try not to rush as we leave, pausing to wave back at Diana with a forced smile as she yells at me to get my butt back there and confess my sins.

“Tera,” Max’s voice is sharp as he follows me outside.

Shade stops to face him almost defensively like he thinks he’s about to get punched. Max looks mad enough to do it as he eyes him with his lip curled into a snarl.

“Your phone looks new, so let me give you my number,” he insists and holds out his hand for it.

I look down at the pay-as-you-go, debating with myself. If I don’t have his number, how can we have a little sit-down discussion? I can always delete it once that’s over.

I offer it to him, and he quickly adds himself as he frowns, sending himself a text so he’ll have mine.

Someone else exits the bar, and my eyes are drawn to Satan as he watches us with a frown. My first instinct is to run for the car, even though I don’t know where it’s parked.

Do not do that, Tera. This isn’t that dramatic, and you don’t have to let anyone see it is to you. Just keep your cool and walk away.

I can feel Shade’s eyes boring into me as I take the phone back and walk away without a word.

I hear Max mutter something too low for me to hear, and Shade replies without any subtlety.

“Kiss my ass.”

Dang it, he used it, and I didn’t even get to see the look on Max’s face.

Shade catches up with me and clicks the remote for the car. I note the flashing lights on the BMW and glare at him.

“Where did you park my car? Off a cliff somewhere?”

He laughs loudly as if that’s the most hilarious thing he’s ever heard and opens the passenger door for me. Once he’s settled in on the driver’s side, he peels out of the parking lot like a jerk as Max and Trevor watch with narrowed eyes.

“That went well,” he says, slowing down to a more normal speed as we exit their view.

“What went well?” How could any of that train wreck have gone well? Is he just assuming because he wasn’t there?

“Making them jealous,” he replies calmly and turns the radio on. We discovered early on that we have a lot of the same taste in music, so I settle back to enjoy it as I glare at him.

“I don’t want them to be jealous. Besides, we aren’t even together. It’s obvious to anyone with eyes.”

“People see what they want to see. How did the apology go?”

“How do you know I apologized?” I cross my arms defiantly.

“Because we’re besties.”

“We are not besties. We’re frienemies.”

“Is that any way to treat your sidekick?” He keeps his voice calm while his lips lift into a grin.

I glare and end up blurting out everything that happened after he bailed out on me. I rant because Shade is comfortable with angry Tera, so I can dish it out to him all I want. It’s kind of nice, even if I end up feeling a little guilty afterward.

He listens and nods along with a thoughtful frown until I’m done. I wait expectantly for his advice. He remains quiet.

“Well? What should I do?” I finally snap.

“Don’t ask me, I’m shit at advice.”

“Evan!”

“Don’t call me that. It gives me hives.”

“Evan, Evan, Evan, Evan!” I shout just to be mean.

“We’re here,” he pulls into a parking spot with a tight jerk of the wheel, plastering me against my door.

By the time my frazzled nerves have settled, he’s opening my door for me.

“Where are we?” I ask breathlessly, determined to never say his real name again.

“Le Chique.”

“What? That’s Andi’s favorite… you didn’t.” I stare at him in dismay.

“I did,” he rebuts without a care in the world. Of course, it isn’t his shame to wallow in, so I’m sure he is fine.

“Does she know I’m here?” I glance around the parking lot like she will jump out and start screaming at me any minute now.

“Nope.”

“Wait, you just came and got me, and no one has any idea?” I straightened up in surprise. I’m crashing their weekly meet up dinner? I was never invited to them, and I feel a slight grim relish at the thought of throwing a kink in the works.

“Yup.” He nods and slings his keys around a finger as he looks across the parking lot to the fancy restaurant. His stance is tense despite the casual air he’s trying to present.

My eyes narrow on him in sudden suspicion. “Did you take your car and tell people you were bringing a date so no one would come with you?”

A blush starts working up his neck as he refuses to look at me. “I didn’t say I was bringing a date. I said I was picking someone up to have dinner with us.”

“I thought you weren’t doing the whole make them jealous thing? We agreed, darn it! Nobody needs to be jealous of anyone else,” I stomp my foot to emphasize my anger.

“The opportunity presented itself! Don’t sidekick shame me,” he defends with a glare.

“I’m not lying and saying we’re together. I already told you there’s no way we could fake our way through that! We would vomit just trying it. We fight too much. Like right now, for example!”

“I’m not asking you to,” he insists, pocketing his keys as the blush enters his cheeks. “I just got pissed because they acted like I wasn’t even gone. They didn’t ask where I’d been or anything. They all acted like I never left.”

I’m suddenly feeling a bipolar swing into let’s fake a relationship territory as I glare at the windows where those jerks are sitting somewhere, awaiting my pathetic wrath.

“Ok,” I clap my hands and bounce on my toes to warm up. “What do you want me to do? I can make this believable. Or break their kneecaps. Maybe not that, but I can call someone who will do it with a smile.”

South would be on the first flight out for it.

His grin returns as he watches my warm-up. “Sure you do. Just be yourself. It’ll work out either way.”

He slings an arm around my shoulders to lead me inside. The fact that he’s touching me is a red flag that he isn’t as calm about this as he seems. He’s hurting and needs comfort, not that he would ever admit it.

“I’m serious. I can change their birth certificates. How does changing their genders to eunuch sound? And their height and weight changed to penis size of zero or negative four.”

“That sounds nice, actually,” he nods, and I start making plans.

“I’ll get the new copies mailed to them, but it might take a few weeks.”

“I like my revenge cold anyway,” he agrees with the timeline.

By the time I settle down, he’s leading me past the hostess without acknowledging her in typical Shade style. I let it go because it’s a battle that will never end.

I can see them all at a circular table with two open spots waiting for us to join them, and my feet stumble. The chairs are directly across from Andi, interrogation style. They all look so comfortable with each other without me there. I doubt they missed me at all.

“Deep breaths, you’re doing this,” his arm tightens around me threateningly, and he drags me the last few feet to pull out my chair and practically shove me into it as everyone gapes in shock.

“Tera?” Andi shrieks, lurches around the table, and gives me a strangling hug around my neck. I sit there in stunned surprise, patting her arm weakly as she tries to rock me back and forth, choking me.

Shade drops into the seat next to me and picks up a menu.

“You found her!” I cringe as she screams in my ear, and suddenly, I’m smooshed up against Shade as Andi yanks me into him to include him in the strangling. “Thank you so much!”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Felix asks in surprise, but Shade doesn’t answer him as he gets pulled back and forth in Andi’s embrace. His passive-aggressive approach to punishment is admirable. Just stay silent and let them stew.

“Babe?” Alec clears his throat and looks at all the attention she’s garnering. He’s always so straight-laced and easily embarrassed. I smirk at his unease, and he double-takes at the expression.

“I don’t even care,” she starts crying suddenly, and I lower my eyes to the table in shame, my glee running away.

“I’m sorry, Andi,” I mutter as she presses her face awkwardly into my neck, wetting my shirt with her tears.

“I’ll never ignore you again. If anyone says anything bad about you, I’ll break their legs. Or tear out their eyes. I just got my nails done so it’ll be easy. Oh my God, is that why you sent me the spa gift card email yesterday, Shade?”

He inspects his menu without replying.

“It is!” Her harpy shriek makes my eyes water because she’s still so close to my ear.

“You are such a sweetheart! I never knew!” Andi lets me go and wraps her arms around Shade’s neck, crying into his shoulder now. He silently holds out his hand to me, palm up.

I roll my eyes as I dig out the twenty and slap it into his palm. I was sure I wouldn’t have to pay him for our bet. He promptly holds it out to Alec, who grins in delight.

“I told you she had great aim,” he gloats as he snatches the money and slides it into his wallet. I guess that bet was fresh? Or the only one Shade made with him, who knows.

“What was your bet?” Blaze eyes me suspiciously.

“I told him that Andi wasn’t going to be hysterical and cause a scene,” I glare at Shade’s profile. “You cheated with the spa thing. Don’t think you’re getting away with it.”

“May I take your order, miss?” A waiter interrupts Shade’s slow strangulation. The guy’s cheeks are red as his eyes slide from side to side, probably wishing he were anywhere else. Maybe Andi has a reputation for dramatics here, and the staff is fully aware.

Andi straightens abruptly and returns to her seat like she’s walking a runway.

“We need another minute,” Brody grins at the guy’s discomfort.

He hurries away, and I doubt we’ll see him again as I watch him run. Do they draw straws to see who will wait on this table?

“Where were you?” Andi asks quietly. I would love to think it’s because she’s just realized that she’s embarrassed everyone sitting here, but it’s probably because she’s sad. I shift in discomfort as I watch her wipe her eyes with her napkin.

“Are you moving back here?” Damien asks.

“You going to get your old job back?” Blaze leans back to watch me with a judgy expression. “Your boss was pretty invested in us finding you at first.”

Why did he have to mention him? I bet Satan was invested for all of five minutes.

“Can you all give her a moment?” Ira looks around the table, and everyone falls silent.

“I was a couple hundred miles away -”

“In Treble, three states away,” Shade inserts because he knows I have no idea what the town’s name is. Why do I talk to him again?

“I’m not sure if I’m moving back -”

“I’ve found some places for you to look at,” he interrupts.

“I’m not going back to my old job,” I finish with a glare at Shade’s uninterested profile, silently daring him to say anything else. He doesn’t disappoint.

“There’s a porn shop near here you can apply to.”

“It’s an adult store, not a porn shop. How many times do I have to tell you?” I snap in irritation.

“They don’t pay under the counter, so it’s more legit than where you were before.”

“I’m going to murder you.”

“No, you aren’t.”

“I totally am. Sleep with one eye open.” I lean closer to try and be more menacing. He isn’t falling for it.

“I’ll pencil in time on my schedule to be scared. How does three thirty sound to you?”

“No. I’m going to wait you out. Really build the suspense. You’ll never see me coming.”

“Whatever makes you happy.”

I scoff and turn back to the rest of the table, frowning at their shocked looks.

“What?” I snap, still fully engaged in arguing with Shade mode.

Shade promptly stands and walks away.

“What’s happening?” Brian, Andi’s third boyfriend, asks in confusion as he watches him leave.

“He has to ‘take a piss,’” I use my fingers to quote him. “I guess he can’t say that in a fancy restaurant. He said it plenty of times at the rest stops and fast-food places.”

“Did you just say piss?” Damien asks in surprise.

“It isn’t a cuss word,” I glare at him. “Stop being dramatic.”

“Who are you? Because you are not the Tera we know,” Ira says with a frown.

“Are you two dating?” Andi asks gleefully. I note down for later that I get a couple of death glares for that question. Shade will be excited.

“No, we’re frienemies,” I shrug.

“What the fuck is that?” Felix snaps, losing his frigid tone in his anger. Noting that, too.

“You’re dating,” Andi gives a quiet squeal.

“No, we’re not,” I frown. “I’m convinced he is a demon sent to torment me. He’s found his true calling.”

“That’s the most I’ve ever heard that man speak. And I’ve never heard you be angry before. Something is up,” Alec explains as if I’m a child. I know he’s quiet to them.

“Consider yourself lucky he doesn’t talk to you,” I assure him.

“Stop talking shit and look at your menu,” Shade says as he slides into his seat.

I give a huff of frustration and eye the different options. My stomach is too queasy with nerves to be able to eat anything at this point. “Nothing sounds good.”

“I’ll pick for you.”

I glare at him, “Stop trying to control my life.”

“They have escargot. How do you like snails?”

“I’ll have a salad.”

He gives me his signature flat look and says, “You’ll have a cheeseburger and greasy fries.”

I grab the first thing my hand finds and wave it at him threateningly. It’s a measly spoon.

“Do not start -”

He cuts me off by blocking my face with his menu, smacking my cheek as he pretends he’s handing it off to someone.

“She’s having a cheeseburger,” he says flatly.

“Of course, sir,” a different waiter’s voice replies.

Once the menu is removed, I glare across from me at Brian, who fidgets nervously at the look. I calmly pick up the glass of iced water in front of Shade and pour it into his lap.

“Oops,” I say so sarcastically no one would take me seriously.

He clenches his jaw and pops his neck as the liquid soaks into his pants. He ignores the ice cubes slowly melting as he stares off at nothing, and I give Andi a triumphant grin.

Andi starts giggling, and it’s like a wave that rounds the table as everyone but Shade and I start laughing. I use the opportunity to lean close and whisper to him.

“Andi asked if we were dating and if looks could kill, I’d be a dead sidekick.”

He doesn’t respond as the laughter dies, but he grins evilly.

The rest of the dinner is enjoyable as I listen to what everyone has been up to while I’ve been gone. I even manage to eat a quarter of my burger before my stomach protests. Andi is eyeing what’s left of my food with a frown, but thankfully, she doesn’t say anything.

Other people don’t have that much restraint.

“Did he pick you up from rehab or something?” Blaze looks at the leftover food with a suspicious scowl.

An uncomfortable silence falls around the table as their eyes turn to me in varying degrees of discomfort. Typical.

I give Blaze my flat look and stare. He leans back in surprise. Shade really needs to patent this look and give training classes. It’s amazing.

“Not even close to twenty-four hours,” Shade huffs a hollow laugh and digs into his pocket, pulling out some money to offer me.

My flat look turns into concern as I stare at the twenty-dollar bill. I don’t want to take it. I made that bet out of sheer meanness. I instinctively want to brush it off and say this doesn’t count, and he can see it in my eyes.

“We made a bet,” Shade insists and stands up. “I said no one would say anything shitty for at least forty-eight hours. You bet at least one wouldn’t make it past three. You won. Take it, and let’s get the fuck out of here.”

“Go on,” Andi says and begins taking her earrings out. “I’ve got this handled.”

My eyes widen as Shade pulls me up from the chair and escorts me out. I’m convinced the earring thing was just for show until I hear breaking glass and Blaze’s shout of surprise.

“Do we need to go back?” I gasp out as he pulls me along.

“No.” He responds grimly and opens the door for me.