His students may have had two days of break left, but for Kyle, summer vacation was over. As much as he loved his job, he wasn’t ready to go back to work yet. He never really was, but this year was particularly challenging. He could have used another week, at least. To recover. Because between himself and Ryka using it, his body hadn’t gotten much rest over the summer.

You seemed to enjoy it.

It wasn’t the late August heat making him feel flush. “I did,” he mumbled. Even in the privacy of his own car, he was embarrassed talking about it. Since the end of the last school year, his relationship with Ryka had changed drastically. If they hadn’t been stuck in the same body, he might not have thought it was so strange. But he had never expected to fall in love with a parasitic demon, much less have a weird sort of physical relationship with one. “Incubus,” he breathed.

I’m just good with my hands. But I’ll behave. Like you told me before: if you don’t work, I don’t drink.

“Mm.” He felt a little bad about being such a poor conversationalist, but it was difficult enough trying to drive half-asleep, never mind talk to Ryka. Feeling himself start to drowse, he cranked the air conditioner, hoping the air blowing on his face would help keep him awake. Only when Ryka started shouting at him did he realize it wasn’t working.

Hey! This isn’t really a good time for a nap. I’m not ready to go home yet.

“Oh, shit,” Kyle said, snapping back to consciousness just before passing the school. A horn blared behind him as slammed on the brakes and squealed through the turn at the last possible second. “I’m not ready for this.”

Why do they make you go back before the kids, anyhow?

“Setting up our rooms. But mostly meetings. You know that.” Except for the interview, he hadn’t done this job without Ryka along for the ride.

Boring.

“You’re telling me.”

But I meant you specifically. Do you think they’d dare say something if you skipped?

Too exhausted to try and explain that, boring or not, he didn’t hate his job, he parked next to the only other car in the lot. He recognized it as Adam Brissette’s. They simultaneously rolled down their windows. “Hey, it’s been a few weeks,” Adam called over his radio. “How’re you guys doing? Been well?” He asked it so easily, as if there was nothing strange about inquiring about the wellbeing of one’s parasitic demon. Kyle wondered if it was some sort of self-preservation instinct, either to protect his sanity or spare his soul.

“We’re good. You?”

“I’d be better if we weren’t here.”

Kyle forced a laugh, hoping it didn’t sound that way.

It had happened by accident, this tenuous friendship. After their initial trip to O’Rourke’s, he had run into Adam at the grocery store and been invited out again. Even though he had told himself that one time had been enough, his desire for human contact won out, and he had found himself back at the bar with Adam. Although Kyle really did enjoy grabbing a few beers here and there with his co-worker, he truly hoped Adam only invited him out to be polite. And would learn to stop asking before Ryka felt compelled to teach him.

Because Kyle didn’t want friends. Not when he knew he’d outlive them, and certainly not while he played host to a demon. Ryka could be relaxed, even friendly under the right circumstances, but there was no denying how dangerous he really was. He was short-tempered, over-protective, and since the trip to Salem, no longer needed Kyle to summon him. That on top of their new relationship made for a very bad combination.

It had come too close for comfort the second time they had gone out. Adam had offered to pick Kyle up, and Ryka had decided to help his host get a generous head start. Walking through the door to find the demon seated on the couch, wings fully open behind him, Adam had nearly fainted. But Ryka had controlled himself, only glaring at him over a beer can and offering a curt “Watch yourself” before making himself scarce.

There were worse ways he could have caught them than trying to get drunk. And Kyle wasn’t ready to go there quite yet, not when things were still so new. He worried how Adam would react, and what Ryka would do to him if he didn’t approve of the response.

Because Ryka’s civility was conditional. There was no denying the fact that one wrong move would have brought out Ryka’s true nature. And there would have been little Kyle could have done about it. He didn’t really want to have to keep people at a distance, but neither did he want them to get hurt because of him.

He saw Adam open his mouth to say something else, but they spotted Dr. Taylor pulling into the parking lot at the same time, and their conversation was cut short. Reluctantly, they followed him into the building, and it wasn’t long before the rest of the staff arrived.

By the time their lunch break rolled around, Kyle was fading fast. Before anyone could attempt to interact with him, he slipped out of the room and snuck out to the parking lot.

His car had been baking in the sun all morning, but he didn’t even feel the heat as he settled himself in the driver’s seat. He only cracked the window so he didn’t suffocate. “Are you awake, Ryka?”

Hardly. Shit, that was boring.

“If I take a nap, can you wake me up in a half an hour? If I don’t sleep now, I won’t make it through the rest of the day.”

Yes, Master.

Now Kyle felt warm, heat spreading on his cheeks. “You don’t have to keep calling me that.”

There was a laugh, and Kyle could see Ryka’s naughty smile. But it turns you on a little, doesn’t it?

“I’m going to sleep now. Half an hour, remember?”

Sure thing, Master.

***

Worried as he was that Ryka wouldn’t wake him in time, Kyle hardly slept at all. The few minutes he scrounged were apparently enough, because he was able to make it through another three hours of lecturing by the principal without once nodding off. Glancing around the table at the other teachers to see most stifling yawns made him feel a little better.

When three o’clock finally rolled around, he was one of the first out the door. Adam was close behind, and stopped him before they got into their cars. “Want to grab a beer? Since it’s going to be the last night for a while we won’t have correcting to do.” They still had more meetings, and needed to set up their rooms, but just like their students, their free nights were rapidly dwindling.

“Sure,” Kyle answered after a brief moment of panicking about which option was worse. The guilt would plague him regardless, so he thought maybe it was better to risk a few hours socialization with someone that didn’t share every waking moment with him. “I’ll follow you to O’Rourke’s, then?”

“Sounds good.”

Since most people were still at work, the pub was nearly empty. Down the other end of the bar, a group of older men were loudly discussing a recent baseball game. Obnoxious as they were, Kyle didn’t mind the noise; their racket did a wonderful job drowning out he and Adam’s conversation. 

For a few minutes, they savored their beers in silence. Adam was the first to put his down. Turning to Kyle, he asked, “You mentioned you go to the library in town pretty regularly, right?”

This was certainly an unexpected topic, and one Kyle was already worried was going to head in a risky direction. “Yeah. Why do you ask?”

“You probably know the younger woman that works there, then, right? Kate.” 

Kyle managed not to choke on his drink. A sound like rumbling thunder echoed his head, and he hoped desperately it was only in his head. Since no one suddenly looked their way, he assumed Ryka was somehow managing to keep a lid on his anger. This was just what Kyle had been worried about.

When the young lady in question had asked if he wanted to join her for dinner a few weeks earlier, he hadn’t been sure he’d be able to make it out of the building fast enough. Ryka had all but forced him back into the library. He’d wanted revenge. No matter that Kyle had no romantic interest in her. She had dared to covet something that wasn’t hers to covet.

“I do,” Kyle answered with a sigh. This was exactly the discussion he had been hoping to avoid indefinitely. He was going to have to admit to several things, and quickly drained half of his beer in anticipation. Liquid courage, indeed.

“You don’t sound too excited about it. Something happen?”

“I’m fine. It’s just kind of a sore subject, I guess.” Before Adam could ask, Kyle decided to head him off. “She asked me out a couple weeks ago.”

Now not only was he dealing with Ryka’s unnecessary jealousy, but Adam looked more than a little wounded as well. “Oh,” was all the other man said, looking for solace in the bottom of his glass.

“I turned her down,” Kyle explained. He’d been able to at least manage that much before having to flee the premises. “I mean, there’s Ryka, so ….”

More growling, but Kyle hadn’t meant it to sound that way. This wasn’t getting any easier. Time to bite the bullet.

“Are you feeling okay? You’re awfully red.”

He knew he’d started to blush the moment he’d opened his mouth. There was really no point in denying it. Easier to admit it before Ryka made him any more uncomfortable. “What I was trying to say is that, well ….” Kyle took a deep breath, bracing himself. “I’m gay. And when I said ‘there’s Ryka,’ I meant that we’re together. Dating? I don’t know what word to use, of course we’re together,” he finished, feebly motioning at himself.

“Oh. And I get what you’re trying to say,” Adam assured him. “I’m sorry for bringing it up, and for making you say any of that if you weren’t ready. So please, forgive me. I really don’t want either of you pissed at me. Him, mostly, but still.”

“It’s not a big deal. Seriously.” It did feel better to get it out in the open. Maybe it would actually make things safer for Adam, if he knew. “It’s not like no one knows. Well, about me and Ryka it’s just you.” He knew his cousin had certainly had his suspicions, and maybe one day he’d confirm them, but admitting to Adam that he was in love with a parasitic demon was more than enough for the moment.

“Well, then, I feel honored to know. Cheers.”

Still reeling, Kyle lifted his glass and clinked it to Adam’s before taking a swig. How was Adam not remotely put off by any of this? His coworker wasn’t just taking the news in stride, he looked genuinely happy for Kyle. As though continuing to risk his life, and possibly his afterlife, by spending time with Kyle hadn’t been enough.

He has a disgustingly pure soul. Makes me want to gag.

Kyle stifled a laugh. To his relief, Adam didn’t notice. But putting down his drink, he turned his attention back to his co-worker. “Thanks. It’s been kind of a crazy summer.”

“I can’t even imagine.” He genuinely hoped Adam wasn’t trying to. Conversation halted while they finished their beers. Now, Adam was the one who looked embarrassed. “Can I ask you something?”

“Um, sure.”

“I’ve kind of been crushing on Kate for a while, but I guess she didn’t notice. Um, do you think you could maybe drop my name next time you’re there?”