I check for a card, but there isn't one. Fen clears his throat, like he's guilty of something. "I asked Asher to have them sent regularly, so she'd have something fresh and pretty in her room."
I suck in a breath and try to keep the tears from welling in my eyes at his thoughtfulness. I surprise him with a hug, resting my head on his chest. His arms wrap around me somewhat reluctantly as I thank him.
His reply is gruff and self-conscious, and I pull away to see my mom.
She looks well enough, all things considered. Her color is good and all her machines seem to be clicking along as they are meant to. I take her hand, and she feels colder than I imagined. My fingers trace the outline of her demon mark that matches mine. "Hi, Mom. It's me, Ari. Are you doing okay?"
I know she won't respond, but I talk to her anyways, telling her things I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but she's unconscious and can't hear, and even if she could, she made a deal with a demon, so she obviously knows about this stuff. Fen doesn't stop me, so I just talk and talk until I can't think of anything else to say. We've been there for hours when Fen checks his watch. "We should be going if you want to see your friends."
It's hard to say goodbye, knowing it will be another month before I can see her again. Knowing it will be seven months before she will be free of this curse. But I kiss her head and walk out with Fen by my side.
He takes my hand again. To comfort, of course, but I appreciate it nonetheless.
We take the limo to The Roxy, and though it's the busiest time of night, everyone on duty makes time to say hi. Es is most excited as she hangs up her black apron and shouts that she's leaving for a bit.
She keeps hugging me and grabbing my hands, while simultaneously trying to wipe tears away without messing up her makeup as we walk along the dark streets of Portland. "Girl, I have missed you. You can't even know how much."
I sniffle back my own tears and smile. "I've missed you too. Es, I'd like you to meet Fen. Fen this is Es, my best friend."
Es studies the man next to me, her eyebrow raised high. She holds out her hand for a kiss, and he obliges. She giggles and claps. "Oh Fen, it's such a pleasure to meet you. Tell me, do you work with Ari?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes."
"You know the guy who was here offering me the job?" I ask, speaking of Asher.
"How could I ever forget that tall drink of water?"
"He and Fen are brothers."
I swear Es is about to faint. "You know if I wasn't spoken for, I'd be asking if there are more where you boys came from."
I laugh. There are indeed five more, and I have to marry one.
"How are you, Es? What's been going on?" I don't have a lot of time left, so I have to cram as much BFF bonding in as I can.
"We miss you," she says. "A lot. But things are going well. Living at your place has been an absolute godsend. Thank you for that."
I smile, glad it's helping her.
Then she stops walking and clasps my hands. "And the best news of all... I have enough for my surgery. It's scheduled for next month. I'm hoping you can come back for it."
I hug her and squeal. "That's amazing news. I'm so happy for you." Then I frown and pull away. "Es, I don't know if I can be there. I'll try though, I swear."
Es glances to Fen then back to me. "You know, I keep up the smiles and banter because I love you. But I'm not a fool, Ari. I know when I'm being lied to. What's really going on?"
I suck in a breath and kick myself for being such a fool. Of course I couldn't pull this off without Es knowing something was up. Fen glares at me as if I need further warning not to spill the secret beans. "I'm okay, Es, I swear. It's... complicated, but what I'm doing is helping my mom."
I'm wearing a coat that covers my wrists, but as Es holds my hands her fingers slide over my raised mark. She pulls my sleeve up and stares. "What is this? This is like your mom's!"
I yank my hand back and cover the mark with Fen's coat. "It's nothing. Nothing you should worry about."
Es steps back, her expression one of betrayal and hurt. She walks over to Fen and points at his chest. "Is this your doing? Are you hurting her?"
"Es, he's not hurting me, he's helping me," I say, trying to push between the two of them. I give Fen a warning glare and he nods, seeming to understand my best friend is off limits.
Es looks to me again. "You've changed," she says. "It's like you're a stranger." She turns away, toward a bar with a glowing red open sign. She puts her hand on the door. "I'm going to use the ladies' room to regain my composure. Excuse me."
I stand, stunned, as she enters the bar, leaving us alone on the sidewalk.
"If she figures out the truth, she will be in danger," Fen says.
I swipe at a tear. "No one is to know she suspects something, and I won't tell her a thing. She's to be left alone, Fen. She's the only other family I have besides my mother."
Fen nods. "I will not tell. But be careful with her, Ari."
"I will."
We wait a while longer, but something isn't right. She's taking too long. Fen follows me into the crowded bar, and I navigate to the back alley where the bathrooms are. The air smells of cigarettes and booze.
Three beefy men surround Es. Their words are slurred and their steps wobbly. The biggest pushes against her. "Hey tranny, let's see your pecker!"