Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Between himself and Demmy, they managed to get their core group to agree to meet up at Clarabell’s around six that evening. Zenona had agreed to come, even after he told her what they’d expect her to share. That left them just enough time to clean up before hitting Margie’s for a quick dinner.
Cody showered first, and when it was Demmy’s turn, Cody went out to feed Trevor.
The raccoon was nowhere to be seen, so he left some veggie scraps in the aluminum bowl.
Clouds had returned and thunder rumbled off in the distance.
Cody caught himself grumbling about the timing of storms and monsters as he went back inside.
He sat on the couch, TV off, and tried to corral his racing thoughts.
He’d hoped to have a little more time at home.
The night before with Demmy had been playing on a loop in his mind all day.
He’d been wild last night, hungry for Demmy, to reestablish their connection.
He’d needed his touch, his body, to be inside Demmy, bond with him again and assure each other they were meant to be together.
While the sex had been scorchingly hot and a needed release, he now longed for them to have more time together.
To be able to lie together, slowly work each other up, and then trade off positions.
It had been a few weeks since Cody had bottomed, and he missed that feeling of fullness, of completeness, that came from having Demmy inside him.
But, they had monsters to fight, and something big was coming, Cody could feel it.
Thunder rolled again, still a ways off, but creeping closer.
“You’re deep in thought.”
Demmy’s voice made him look up and smile.
“Thinking about last night.” Cody stood and pulled him close for a kiss. “Wishing we had more time.”
Demmy put his arms around Cody’s neck and smiled. “Me, too. How about we take the weekend off? We have a few jobs, but I can see if Jugs will handle them.”
“A whole weekend together with no critters to catch?” Cody frowned. “What would we even do?”
Demmy ran a hand down his chest, flicking his nipple through his t-shirt before moving lower to cup his bulge. “I think we’d figure something out.”
“You trying to make us late?”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Demmy pulled his hand away and feigned surprise. “Should I not have done that?”
Cody grabbed his hand and pressed it firmly against his crotch. “You should always do that, no matter the time or place.”
“Sounds like you’re giving me free rein to grope you.”
“How are you just now figuring this out?”
They shared a smile and a kiss. Demmy’s phone buzzed where he’d left it on the coffee table, and Cody ducked his head to press his forehead to Demmy’s as they both sighed.
“We’d better leave now if we want to eat first,” Demmy said.
“That is definitely a priority. I’m on the edge of hangry.”
Cody offered to drive while Demmy checked texts and filled him in on the latest. Dave and Oliver would be there, along with Tracey and Lucia. Gayle was going to skip this time.
“Uh oh,” Cody said, glancing at him. “That doesn’t sound good.”
Demmy made a face. “I know.” He looked out the window as they entered the downtown area.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have called Lucia out like that, but it was such a surprise to figure it out.
I mean, I guess it makes sense she’s been going off on her own to handle these kinds of things since the department really hasn’t come around. But it’s dangerous.”
“And it keeps us in the dark.”
“Which may also be a reason she’s done it.”
Cody nodded in agreement as he slowed on Main Street, looking for a space.
It was busy for a Tuesday evening, but he found a spot in front of Hollow Grounds, several doors down from Margie’s.
Cody grabbed quarters from the tray and plugged them into the meter.
From the corner of his eye, he caught Demmy smiling and waving to someone inside the coffee shop, and he turned to look.
Robin, the kid Ollie had met over at Bishop Point University and who now lived with Clarabell, was wiping down tables, their light brown Hollow Grounds apron spattered with stains.
When Robin caught Cody’s eye, they smiled and waved to him as well, and Cody waved back before miming back about the apron.
Robin shook their head, waved him away, then grinned and returned to the counter.
“I like them,” Demmy said, taking Cody’s hand as they walked past The Purple Orchid gift shop.
“Yeah, me, too. They’re a good kid. Took me a while to get used to the pronouns. I think Mrs. Lundquist’s grammar lessons were drilled in deeper than I thought.”
“Oh, man, she was a tyrant, wasn’t she?”
They passed Casually Comfortable, the sweat pants and sweatshirts in the window making Cody feel hot just looking at them.
Two middle-aged women left the store laughing together, each with a bag in hand.
Marvelous Muffins next door was already closed because they opened way earlier than any employee should be expected to clock in, at least in Cody’s mind.
When they reached Margie’s, Cody opened the door for Demmy and followed him inside. Vicki Downing smiled from behind the counter, her blond hair in a ponytail and her white apron showing a few stains.
“Hi guys. Sit where you like and I’ll be right there. Iced teas?”
“I’ll just have water, please,” Demmy said. “Thanks, Vicki.”
“Yeah, water for me, too, Vick,” Cody added.
Their usual booth was taken, so they sat at one by the front window. Cody looked around the place, lingering on the group of twenty-somethings who had crowded into their normal spot.
“I feel really exposed up here by the windows,” Demmy said as he adjusted his position a few times. “And this cushion isn’t worn in the same way.”
“Damn spooky-loos took our booth,” Cody grumbled.
Demmy laughed. “I’m sorry, wait. Spooky-loos?”
Vicki brought their waters and silverware wrapped in paper napkins. “You guys doing anything fun tonight?”
“Meeting up with some friends,” Demmy said.
Cody cleared his throat as he looked over the menu, even though he knew every dish.
Demmy took the cue and said, “Fine, friends and a few acquaintances.”
He could feel the look Demmy was giving him, but didn’t meet his eye. Instead, he ordered chicken parmigiana, after which Demmy asked for fish and chips. Vicki made quick notes, took the menus, and headed for the kitchen.
“Back to this new phrase you casually tossed out. What’s a spooky-loo?”
“It’s like a looky-loo, but refers specifically to the people who come here just for the monster stuff.”
Demmy grinned, shaking his head. “You never cease to amaze me.”
“I like to keep things fresh.”
They talked about their business during dinner, Demmy pulling up the shared calendar on his phone as they planned out the next few days and looked ahead to the weekend. Cody wasn’t surprised when Demmy slipped in a suggestion about looking for more help, but he dreaded having to interview people.
Halfway through their meal, Margie came up to their table. “Evening, boys. How’s everything?”
“Delicious, as always,” Cody said. “How’s business?”
Margie looked around at the full tables and people waiting at the door. “Business is so good I had to help Johnny out in the kitchen for a while.”
“That’s great, right?” Demmy said.
“It is, but I think I’ll need to hire another couple of people if this keeps up. Vicki and I can’t handle all the tables on our own, and Johnny needs another pair of hands in the kitchen.”
“We were just talking about that ourselves,” Cody said, gesturing between Demmy and himself. “Too many critters, not enough catchers.”
She wiped her hands on her apron. “It’s a better problem to have than the alternative, isn’t it? Where are you boys off to after this?”
“We’re meeting up with the group at Clarabell’s,” Demmy said. “We’ve learned some things over the weekend.”
“Oh?” Margie started to sit beside Demmy, but a man at another table waved for her. “I’ll be back. I want to know what’s going on.”
They finished their meals, and Cody checked the time. “We’re going to need to leave.”
“Yeah, I know.” Demmy looked around for Margie. “I think she went back in the kitchen.”
“We can stop in afterwards and update her. Should be less busy then.”
“Good idea. Oh.” He smiled at someone coming through the door behind Cody. “It’s Amelia.”
“Oh, banana trees, are you boys just finishing up?” Amelia stood next to their table.
“We are.” Demmy slid out of the booth to give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “You can have our booth if you like.”
Cody turned to make sure there was no longer a line at the door and saw Amelia’s boyfriend Otis approaching. Behind him, Ollie’s grandmother, Eileen, and her boyfriend, Dieter were coming in.
“Gang’s all here,” Cody said as he left the booth to hug the two women and shake hands with the men. “Is Tuesday the new date night?”
“Every night is date night, Stretch,” Eileen said as she slid into the booth. “And I guess the rest of the town knows it, too, by the look of this place.”
Margie returned, tucking a lock of hair back into place under her hairnet. “Oh, are you boys leaving?”
“We need to go, but we’ll be back later,” Cody said.
Margie nodded before turning her attention to the new arrivals. “What a handsome group. What can I bring everyone to drink?”
Cody took the bill from Margie, waved to the others, and then followed Demmy up to the register where Vicki rang them up.
“Have a good night, guys,” she said before hurrying off to check on her tables.
They slipped outside past another group of people coming in and went to the truck. The storms had shifted, moving to the south, sparing them the rain but trailing humidity behind it. The sticky air didn’t stop Cody from dropping an arm around Demmy’s shoulders, however. He needed that connection.
“I’m glad Margie’s business is doing so well,” Demmy said.
“I hear a ‘but’ in there.”
“Well, I miss our booth, and being able to talk with her.”
“Yeah, me, too.”