I step inside and hang my keys on the hook, then lean back against the closed door and sigh.

"Alright, spill..." Zahra says, appearing from around the corner. I jump as she catches me by surprise.

I figured she wasn't going to let me get away with sneaking Kieran out of the house, but I was hoping she'd be too busy with work to notice.

"Spill what?" I ask with my best innocent smile.

"Good try." She puts a hand on one hip and raises an eyebrow. "Who was the hot guy you had sex with last night?"

"That was the hot bartender."

"From your dreams? Kieran? Holy crap—he's real?!"

"Of course he's real!"

"I'm sorry, it's just... a little crazy, you know? The whole dream walking thing is a lot to process."

"No shit."

I follow her into the living room. She sits down on the couch and tucks her feet beneath herself. I sit across from her in the armchair.

"Why did he leave wearing your sweatpants and T-shirt? What happened to his clothes?"

"Well I didn't think he could pull off the crop top."

"He didn't seem to have any problem filling those pants, that's for sure."

"Zahr!"

"What? I'm a virgin, not a nun."

"You're a pervert is what you are."

"How often have you been having these late-night booty calls, girl? Is this why you've been wearing all those cute silk PJ sets lately?"

"It was a one-time thing."

"Come on, give me something," she groans. "You know I need to live vicariously through your sex life. You've got to get it for the both of us."

"Eww."

She laughs and shakes her head.

"You know what I mean."

"Well, I didn't sleep with him. Sorry to disappoint."

"Sam," she scolds, narrowing her eyes. "I'm sorry about barging in and all last night, but... we all know what I saw."

"He was wearing his boxers!"

And I stabbed him; So you couldn't have been looking that closely.

"Wow, really? He spent the night, but you didn't have sex?"

"Yeah, so? That's not that big of a deal."

"It is for you. You haven't brought home a date in the entire time I've known you."

I didn't exactly bring him here... but I can't really explain that part.

But I did let him sleep in my bed. It's just a sign that I've gotten way too comfortable with him.

I'm doing it again. I'm falling for an actual demon. What is wrong with me?

"It's not serious," I say. "He's not the girlfriend type."

"And you're okay with that? I mean, I know you've sworn off relationships and all that jazz, but do you want something casual with him?"

I don't really know what I want, but I know what I don't—another relationship with someone like Vic. And even if I were interested, I know Kieran isn't. I've accepted that there's no future for us.

What am I gonna do? Be friends with benefits with a demon? Ask an Incubus to "go steady"?

I'm not naïve. I know this ends one of two ways—either he turns out to be just like Vic and I never trust a man again, or he is exactly who he claims to be and I end up falling for the world's most unattainable bachelor.

What then? Drowning my sorrows in a tub of ice cream over yet another failed relationship with a sex demon? No thank you.

"Sam?" Zahra asks. "You do realize you've been staring into space for like, two minutes, right?"

"Huh?"

"Are you going to see him again?"

"I told him I would come by his bar while he's working today."

"What??"

"He has a friend who was looking into Vic's whereabouts. I told him I'd swing by to meet him."

"His friend is looking into Vic? Wha-... Why?"

"He's a... private investigator of sorts. It's a favor for me."

Technically he's investigating and not publicly... so... it's not technically a lie.

"Wow." She pulls a scrunchie off her wrist and pulls her hair up into a bun. "Well maybe he can get rid of your old boyfriend and you can trade in for a new one."

*****

I show up at Pike's around 9 in a black slinky jumpsuit, gold heels, and my favorite gold sequin bomber jacket.

Kieran doesn't seem to notice as I walk in, so I slide into a seat at the bar while he serves a group of women at the other end. One girl plays with her necklace, drawing her fingers along her collarbone and cleavage and biting her bottom lip while he pours a drink. Her friend is practically falling over herself giggling at something he's saying and he seems to be laughing in response.

There's a pang of jealousy in my chest, but I know I don't deserve to feel that way. Kieran is a demon, the King of Lust no less. This is literally who he is.

His eyes catch mine and he grins wide, sliding over the last drink and walking over to me.

"Hey Doll! You're here!"

"You seem surprised. You were the one who said I could come by and talk to your friend."

"Ouch, you're just using me to get to my friends, eh?"

"You caught me," I tease.

"His name's TJ. He'll be here any minute. Can I get you a drink in the meantime?"

"Sure. Whatever you recommend, non-alcoholic."

He smiles and grabs a tall curved glass with a thick stem and fills it with ice. He then pours in a bit of clear soda, yellow juice, and a deep red liquid that I'm guessing is cranberry juice. He finishes it with a cherry and a straw.

"I call it Heavy Petting," he says, sliding the drink over to me with a smile and leaning an elbow on the bar.

"Heavy Petting?" I raise an eyebrow at him.

"It's my take on a virgin Sex on the Beach." I can't help but smile at the joke.

A woman appears from the back room. She's wearing an all-black outfit—a tank, tight jeans, and an apron tied around her waist. When she sees us chatting, she immediately makes her way over.

"Is this her?!" she asks with a boisterous tone and a smile.

Kieran cringes and rubs his forehead.

"Who?" I ask.

"The reason he's been staring at the door all night like an expectant puppy." She reaches out a hand to shake mine. "Carrie, I work here with Kieran. Nice to meet you."

"Sam." I shake her hand.

"I wasn't staring at the door..." he groans.

"Yes, you were!" She playfully smacks his shoulder. "I knew he was waiting for someone. He's been going home alone every night for weeks, the other staffers figured he was either hung up on someone or found out he only had months to live. Honestly, the dying thing seemed more plausible."

Part of me is happy that he hasn't been sleeping around while we've been hanging out, but her words also just confirm what I already know—the odds of Kieran settling down are slim to none.

"Nobody's seeing anybody, Carrie." He sighs and his cheeks redden slightly as he tries to avoid eye contact with me.

He's being honest—we're not seeing each other. We're hanging out in my dreams and we made out last night; that doesn't mean we're dating.

"Excuse me!" a patron calls from down the bar.

"I'll get it," he says, jumping at the opportunity to get out of the conversation. He makes his way there and Carrie just snickers to herself.

"I don't believe him for a minute. He likes you. He's been really different lately. You should see the number of willing sorority girls he's turned down lately."

Should this be making me feel better? Because it isn't.

"We're just friends," I say, taking a sip of my drink in hopes that she'll leave me to it.

"Yeah, okay, but nobody is just friends with Kieran." She waggles her eyebrows. "But I get it, you're keeping it casual. Nobody's expecting him to get married or anything, but it's adorable to see him with a real crush on someone."

"Mmhmm."

I can't think of any proper response, so I just kind of hum instead.

Another customer steps up to the bar on my right and she gives me a quick wave, hopping over to take their order.

Well that was really fucking uncomfortable.

I look around the room, seeing if I can spot Kieran's friend, but nobody looks particularly demon-y anyway. I'm not really even sure what I'm looking for.

As I turn back around I see a man approaching me. He's very handsome with warm brown skin and curly black hair that's shaved on the sides but long on top. Between his gaze and body language, it's obvious that he has his eyes set on me.

I guess this will be a way to pass the time.

"Hey! Is anyone sitting here?" he asks, gesturing to the stool beside me.

"No, go ahead."

He sits down and sets his drink down on the bar.

"Do I know you from somewhere?"

For such a cute guy, I'm surprised he's going for such an overused pickup line.

"I don't think so."

"Are you a model?" he asks.

"Nope."

"Ahh, when did you quit?"

I fight back a laugh, trying not to be mean about the cheesy attempt.

"That's the line you're going with?" Kieran says, returning to his spot behind the bar.

The guy clears his throat and gives Kieran an uncomfortable smile.

"He's right," the guy says, turning back to me and raking his hand through his hair. "I'm not very good at this sort of thing. I don't usually approach women in bars, but I saw you... I had to try."

"Well, flattery will get you everywhere," I say.

I giggle and stir my drink with its straw. Maybe this cute guy is exactly what I need to get my mind off Kieran.

Even though he's literally right next to me.

"Can I get you something?" Kieran asks the man.

He holds up his full glass of what appears to be whiskey and gives him a tight smile.

"I'm good, thanks."

Kieran nods and grabs a white washcloth, wiping down the various surfaces of the bar near us.

"I'm Amir," he says, a smile bringing out the dimples on his cheeks.

"Sam," I say with a nod.

"Where are you from, Sam?"

"Chicago originally, but I've lived a lot of places. I was in San Fran for a while, then moved up here."

"Cool. Why'd you move?"

There's a can of worms I won't be opening.

"My grandma lives here. I wanted to be closer to her."

"That's quite sweet of you. Are you and your grandma close?"

"Yeah, we've always gotten along. My dad always said I got my wild personality from her."

"Wild personality, eh? L-"

He's interrupted by Kieran wiping the bar immediately next to his arm. I look over at Kieran to figure out what he's doing, but he acts like he's not paying attention and keeps wiping.

"I don't think I'm particularly wild, but my dad is very...bland. He likes to listen to jazz and always wears ties. When I told him I had Instagram he freaked out because he thought I was going to become an influencer."

He's staring at me with an enamored look on his face.

"You're so beautiful," he says. It's like he didn't hear a word I just said.

"Thanks." I push a strand of hair behind my ear and look down.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

I hate when men do this. I thought we were having a conversation, but he's clearly just focused on seducing me.

"Nope."

"That's impossible." He shakes his head, then puts his hand atop mine so that just a couple of our fingers overlap. "No really, you're like... the perfect woman. How in the world has someone not snatched you up yet."

"Kay, bro, why don't you just hump her leg?" Kieran mumbles. "Jesus."

"What is your problem?" Amir snaps, puffing out his chest as he turns toward Kieran.

"No problem. Just unimpressed with your technique." He shoots me a mischievous half-smile before looking back at Amir.

"Just fuck off and give us some privacy."

It's clear that Kieran has pushed his buttons at this point.

"Whoa, do you kiss your mother with that mouth? 'Cause you do look like the kind of guy who kisses his mother, if you know what I mean."

Amir quickly rises to his feet and leans toward him.

"Suck my dick!"

"Interesting..." Kieran says, smirking. "You say that like it's a bad thing. What's going on with your dick? Is it really weird?"

Amir swings a fist over the bar, but Kieran dodges it easily, clearly choking down a laugh.

"Sam," Kieran says to me, "I think your weird-dicked friend is mad at me."

Amir launches at him with both hands, nearly making it completely across the bar. A couple of guys, maybe his friends, appear and start pulling him back.

"Fucking asshole!" he curses. Kieran just crosses his arms and continues to laugh.

A tall man appears behind a fuming Amir and with a quick tug of his shirt, tosses him to the floor.

"Get out," the man says with a serious voice. Amir stumbles to his feet as his friends take a step back. They seem to decide it's a fight they can't win, because they quickly bail.

I turn back to Kieran and he just shrugs, like it explains everything.

"Sam," he says, "meet TJ."

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