Page 43 of Hooked on a Demon (Leeside Witches #3)

Declan

D eclan lies down on the mechanic’s creeper, making sure he has the head clearance he needs, and pulls himself under the raised car.

The client popped in for a quick oil change, and rather than make them wait until a lift was available, Declan popped a jack underneath and got to work, much like he did in his younger years while doing maintenance on friends’ vehicles in their driveways.

Thankfully, he doesn’t need to crawl around on the ground too often these days.

As the oil drains, he slides back out, wiping his hands on the rag from his pocket. Sebastian pops out from the reception area a moment later. “Boss. Someone’s here to see you.”

“Thanks, Seb,” Declan replies. “Can you check on this in a minute if I’m not back? Filter is ready to go.”

“Got it, Boss.”

Grabbing a new rag from the shelf, he wipes his hands again, trying to get as much of the grease and oil off as he can, as he walks through the door to reception.

“Hey, daddy,” Everest calls from behind the counter.

“Daddy?” Cole, his staff at the desk, asks at the same time Declan gives a firm “nope” and turns to walk back through the door.

Everest runs around the desk, preventing Declan from leaving him behind.

“I kid. I kid.” He laughs with a smug look on his stupid face.

Declan ignores his friend, turning his back on him and facing Cole.

“Do. Not,” he says, pointing a finger at him, “tell anyone what you heard this dipshit say. Last thing I need is a rumor going around the shop that I’m a daddy. ”

Cole smirks, but nods. Good choice, his demon confirms. Evidently, Everest rattled the monster inside a little too.

Everest cackles behind him, drawing Declan’s attention back to the asshat who is supposed to be his best friend. “What do you want?” Declan asks, trying to make his voice as cold as possible, but failing.

“Oh, come on. You know I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Declan steps around him, heading back into the shop area.

Everest’s footsteps quickly follow behind.

It’s definitely not the first time he’s been back here, though Declan tries not to make a habit of it.

He doesn’t want his staff to get the idea that they can bring their friends around to hang out.

Usually, Everest respects that boundary. But not today.

Lowering himself back down on the creeper, Declan slides under the car to check on the drainage.

Noting that it’s done, and that Seb has already put the new filter on and resealed the plug, he slides back out and heads to the shelf to grab the oil he needs.

“Aside from trying to ruin my reputation, why are you here?” Declan eventually asks, his tone friendlier, letting Everest know he’s not really mad.

“I felt like coming to see you.”

“We’re seeing each other tomorrow night, for the showcase thing, remember?”

“Yeah, that. I can’t say I’m particularly excited to see a bunch of kids I don’t know dance around, but Mom seems to think it’s important we all be there.

” He picks up a small, sealed bag of caramel popcorn that was on one of the side benches, which one of the others must have left lying around. “Can I have this?”

Declan laughs. Dude would be lost without snacks. “Yeah, sure.”

“Cool.” He rips open the bag, popping a couple pieces in his mouth, before continuing, “Anyway, I don’t really consider that hanging out. Like, I’ve barely seen you these past couple of weeks, man. If I didn’t know you any better, I’d say you’re avoiding me.”

Shit.

“What’s been going on, Declan?”

Declan’s eyes turn to his friend, and what he sees reflected back at him is hurt.

As much as Everest likes to play the goofball and gives off the air of being an easy-going guy, Declan knows he’s really sensitive underneath.

He should have known that continually giving him excuses to not hang out would come back to bite him in the ass.

Even knowing that his friend is here now, trying to figure out what he’s done wrong to make Declan push him away, Declan can’t say he wouldn’t do it again for the chance to get to be with Eliana.

Turning his back to the car and leaning against it, Declan crosses his arms over his chest. Looking Everest square in the eye, he says the only thing he can do to make it better, “I’m sorry.

” The words are simple, but the weight they carry is heavy.

He knows he’s fucked up and, looking at Everest now, the clown mask dropped, he can see the real harm he’s done.

Even feeling as bad as he does, Declan can’t tell him about Eliana yet, at least not without her approval.

If anything, they should tell him together.

“I’ve missed you. Missed us hanging out.”

“I know. I’ve missed it too. I haven’t been in the right headspace lately for all the nightly games.” Fuck, another lie. “Aren’t you tired of it?”

He watches as Everest rolls the thought around his mind, his eyes closing briefly while he thinks. Opening them again, he says, “Maybe? I don’t know. I still find it fun.”

“What part do you find fun?”

“All of it?” Everest questions. “Why do I feel like you’re judging me and what I, no, what we , do?” His voice takes on a more agitated edge.

“I’m not judging. You can do what you want, as long as you’re still enjoying it and people aren’t getting hurt. But I’ve been feeling at sea with the whole playboy life as of late, and I think it’s time I grow up.” Immediately, he knows the words are wrong.

“Grow up? Really Declan? I’m not the one with rumors swirling around town that he fucks ‘em and leaves ‘em before they even wake up. I at least have the decency to spend the night with the women, so they don’t end up feeling completely used.”

Fucking Hades.

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. I think it’s something I’m not interested in anymore. I’ve been enjoying the quieter nights, the less stress, less booze, and overall, less.”

“Well then, I guess tomorrow night will be right up your alley. A quiet night with the family.” Everest tosses the now-empty popcorn bag into the trash as he walks to the open bay door.

Fuck, he hopes no clients heard their conversation.

“See you at the theater,” Everest says sarcastically as he walks out.

“Fucking hell,” Declan groans to himself, running his hands over his face before locking them behind his head as he looks up at the ceiling.

Pulling out his phone, he opens his ongoing chat with Eliana.

Declan

Just a heads up

Ev was at the shop. He’s upset that me and him haven’t been hanging out as much.

It didn’t go well.

We need to tell him about us.

A response comes quickly.

Eliana

I know. I’m sorry it was a shitshow.

I told my parents about Sam today. I want to talk to Ev about it and about us after the showcase.

I’m proud of you

Do you want to talk to him together?

I don’t know.

I feel like he’ll take it better from me?

Maybe.

Whatever you want to do, I’ll support.

Can I see you tonight?

Do you even need to ask?

silly me.

My place - 8:30?

Can’t wait

Sliding his phone back in his pocket, he’s overcome with a sense of dread. There’s no way Everest is going to take this well. Especially not when he realizes that Declan’s been lying to him to spend time with his sister.

But then… then his mind wanders to Eliana. It eases the feeling of impending doom enough that he can allow himself to be excited to see his girl tonight.

His girl.