Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Deciding to just go with something easy, as well as something Penny will eat, Abby fills a pot with water to make Mac ’n Cheese. I go into the library while the water boils, looking over my books. The best thing to do would be to draw the sigil on a piece of paper and send it to Evander. There’s a good chance he or someone else would be able to find the demon it belongs to a lot faster than me, but we left things on an awkward note last time I saw my friends.
And speaking of friends, I should probably plug my phone in, see if anyone contacted me, and then fill them in on what’s going on. I don’t want to, and I know it’s me being stubborn. Things work better when we all communicate, and while I can definitely be a little cocky when it comes to my ability to hunt demons, but I’m not stupid. There are times I need help, and Paimon is more powerful than anything we’ve come up across so far.
My phone is in the kitchen where I left it, and I plug it in the charging drawer. That clever drawer was something I’d had on my Pinterest “dream house” board for years.
“Can I be super petty?” Abby asks, turning the burner down on the stove.
“I’m always going to say yes when it comes to being petty. Unless it’s against me. Then I’d advise against it.
Abby laughs. “I want to take another picture of us and post it.”
“Yes, please do it.” I reach up to smooth out my hair and then remember it’s in a wet messy bun because only a few minutes ago, I was covered in blood. Oh well. Abby gets her phone and takes several photos, trying to get one with Penny smiling.
“What’s the big deal about posting a photo of me?” I ask. “I get Scott doesn’t want people asking, but why care now. You posted photos from Thanksgiving and Christmas too.”
“Because several people asked Mom—sorry, Nancy. It’s weird.”
“It’s okay and yeah, it is weird,” I agree. Until last year, I thought Nancy was my mother too.
“People asked her about the new grand baby and wondered why she didn’t have any photos with her. It not only makes her look bad to have an estranged daughter, but no one can sell the Callie’s doing mission work in Africa thing when you’re standing next to me in your living room holding a baby.”
“Now I want to post a bunch of photos of us. Other than my Novel Grounds accounts, I don’t really do social media,” I add. “But now I want to start a sister TikTok account or something.”
“That might be kinda fun.”
“It would. And a few days after Juliet was born, I noticed Ella watches the store’s Instagram stories. So, I’m guessing it’s Scott using her account to spy on me.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s becoming more and more unpleasant,” Abby says, and I can tell she feels a little guilty talking about him in a bad light. The two of them got along decently throughout our childhood, and even more so as adults.
Abby goes to the fridge, opening it to get milk and butter for the Mac n’ Cheese. “Why do you have so many bags of cut up veggies?”
“They’re for Eliza’s guinea pigs. She has like a dozen of them.”
“Really?” She puts the milk on the counter. “I wouldn’t have guessed that. Wait, they’re all here?”
“Yeah. She’s living with us as our unofficial nanny to help with Juliet and take her when the demons attack.”
“Oh wow. I, uh, I guess that was good planning on your part.”
I shrug. “It’s unavoidable.”
“What’s it like having her live with you guys?” she asks quietly. “Especially while you’re adjusting to having a baby.”
“It’s been nice,” I say honestly. Especially the last few days. I don’t think I would have been able to get through them without her, actually. “She helps with Juliet and housework but pretty much keeps to herself. I think she has a vampire Only Fans account that keeps her busy.”
“Interesting. And I’m sure a lot of people are willing to pay for that.”
“Oh, totally.”
Lucas joins us in the kitchen as I’m putting my bowl in the sink after eating. He slips his arms around me, and I lean back, closing my eyes when his lips touch my neck. My heart is starting to hurt already, missing him when he’s right here.
Because I know it’s coming, and I fucking hate it.
“I remember when Penny was this little.” Abby gently rocks Juliet in her arms. “It seems like so long ago. You are not helping my baby fever,” Abby says to Juliet. “Not at all.”
“I have a good feeling you’ll have another within the next year.” I’m still leaning back against Lucas but turn my head so I can look at my sister. “And there are spells to help with fertility if you’re open to it. Just don’t get mad if you end up with twins or triplets.”