Page 4 of Claiming a Demon
“Anytime…” I murmured.
CHAPTER THREE
MALAKAI
I arrived at the bar where the party was being held forty-five minutes after I was supposed to be there. I slipped inside, hoping to go unnoticed, but I should’ve known better. We weren’t such a large group that my friends wouldn’t notice my absence. Callum turned when I came in, frowning at my approach.
“I was getting worried. Where were you?”
“Picking out a gift. My shift ran late and I couldn’t decide.”
He nodded, clapping me on the shoulder when I stopped beside him. Most of the group was chatting and drinking, and no one else called out my lateness. I felt myself relax, quietly listening to the group talk.
“No way!”
“Yes, way! I’m telling you, they’re going all the way this year!”
Isla scoffed, waving away Tyler’s comment. “They haven’t gone all the way in years.”
I wasn’t sure what they were discussing, but while the discussion seemed heated, neither of them looked angry. I watched their faces, taking in their expressions. Neither of them asked my opinion, but I wasn’t bothered by that. I preferred to listen and watch.
Maya, Isla’s now fiancee, wrapped her arms around her girlfriend, squeezing lightly. “Stop arguing with a Yankees fan. They’re die hard and you’re never going to change his mind.”
Isla made a face, clearly still riled by Tyler’s opinions, but when she caught my gaze, she turned her attention to me. “Hey, Mal. You made it.”
“I apologize for running late.” Offering her the envelope, I gave her and Maya a small smile. “Congratulations on your engagement.”
She took it, raising an eyebrow to show her confusion. I didn’t explain, instead waiting for her to open it. I hoped the pixie was right about being a good gift giver. I still wasn’t sure this was what Isla and Maya would like, but I didn't have time to keep looking around.
Isla’s eyebrows flew up and she gaped at the certificate. “Holy crap.”
My brows furrowed, and when Maya peeked over Isla’s shoulder and had a similar reaction, I worried I made a mistake. At least until a smile overtook Maya’s face.
“Did you– Really?”
“Another human suggested it after offering to help me choose something. I wasn’t sure if there was something specific you would want. If you don’t like it–”
Isla’s head whipped up, and she shot me an incredulous look. “Like it? You got us a couple’s massage! Who would say no to that?”
The tension eased from my shoulders as I watched Isla and Maya gush over the certificate. The pixie had been right. They were overjoyed by the gift and already discussing where their days would line up so they could go together.
Hendrix sidled up next to me, a pout on his face. “Man, you just outdid us. All I got them were some matching mugs from the store.”
I bobbed my head. “There was a human who boasted about being the best gift giver. He helped me choose.”
While the group’s discussion turned to the wedding, my mind wandered back to the pixie. I never even asked his name. At the time, I’d been too focused on picking out an appropriate gift. Now I regretted being so forgetful. He at least deserved to know his gift was a hit.
* * *
Over the next few days, my mind strayed constantly to the little pixie. I thought about stopping by his work, since he said he was there often, but I didn't want to interrupt him just to thank him. That felt rude. Then again, it felt rude not to thank him either.
“Heads up! Big group coming in!” one of the servers called into the kitchen. Mikhail, an incubus and the head chef, scowled at the ruckus and turned to me.
“We all prepped?”
I nodded. The porters had done all the prep before we opened and the stations were still clean and orderly since business was slow when we first opened.
“Good. You’re on the grill today with Simon. I’m expecting a crowd and you’re the most experienced.”