As it turns out, the food truck operators’ favorite couple getting engaged means thateveryonewants to give them free food. It’s almost nine-thirty p.m. by the time the flood of international delicacies slows to a trickle and Obie can finally make his excuses for him and Chester to leave.
A chorus of groans rises from the two tables, and Obie can’t help but grin. Ever since JJ excitedly ran back to the table to show them the pocket watch that hisfiancégave him, Cass grinning like an idiot all the while, it’s like all the longstanding tension among the fugitives temporarily vanished. Maggie unfortunately didn’t make an appearance, glamoured or otherwise, but Sawyer and Naomi looked like proud parents as they congratulated JJ and Cass, Roma has given JJ at least three hugs so far, Gregorio and Micah are already recommending venues for the wedding?—
The only outlier, actually, has been Chester. Obie fights back a frown as his fake boyfriend immediately pushes himself to his feet, waving awkwardly at everyone. “I guess that’s a wrap for us. It wasreally nice seeing you all, and JJ—” Chester claps him on the shoulder, his eyes softening the slightest bit. “Congrats again, man.”
JJ beams up at him. He’s not actually wearing his new pocket watch yet, just twirling the chain between his fingers and grinning down at it like a doofus every few minutes, but Obie senses that it’s going to become an integral part of his wardrobe by tomorrow. “Thanks, Kyle. I really appreciate you being here. You’ll be Obie’s plus-one to the wedding, right?”
Something indecipherable flickers across Chester’s face before smoothing over. “As long as he doesn’t get rid of me before then,” he says airily, a tinge of forced casualness to the words.
Obie almost scoffs. As long as he doesn’tget ridof Chester? If Obie could, he would tuck Chester into his pocket and hiss at anyone who got too close. He’s far too attached to his hunter to even entertain the thought of letting him go.
Although Chester probably won’t be Obie’s plus-one. A pang twists through Obie at the thought. Cass and JJ have already started half-planning a wedding for around December, because “fast” is apparently their only speed, but Obie is still hoping that Chester will defect from the Sanctum before then. And once he’s defected, they can break the binding spell, and once they break the binding spell…
Well. There won’t be a need for “Kyle” anymore. JJ will probably ask Chester to be his best man, and Obie?—
Obie will just try not to stare too forlornly at Chester from across the room.
“I don’t think he’s planning on it,” Ez says, shooting Obie an amused smile before finagling a few extra pavlovas into a bag and holding it out. “Here. For the road.”
“That’s really nice of you, Ez,” Chester begins, “but I don’t think?—”
Ignoring him, Obie grabs the bag. “Well, Idothink. I was promisedpavlova, and I willhavemy pavlova,” he says, breaking off a stiff piece of meringue and popping it into his mouth.
Chester gives him a small smile, but there’s a strained edge to it. What’s going on with him tonight? He’s been acting strange ever since the proposal, avoiding Obie’s gaze and talking to him as little as possible and tensing up every time Obie touches him and?—
And did he notwantto see JJ get engaged? Did he not want JJ to say yes?
Does he not want his best friend to marry a demon?
Obie’s good mood sours at the thought. He was so sure that Chester was actively unlearning his old hunting biases, but what if he was wrong? What if Chester’s fury at the Sanctum is only disguising his lingering hatred of demons?
Demons like Obie?
“I guess we’ll take it,” Chester says, shooting one last smile between the two tables. “See you guys around.”
Their friends’ farewells follow them on the breeze as Obie and Chester make their way out of the Courtyard, heading down the winding streets towards the cult on the hill. Obie is so lost in thought that he doesn’t even realize how long they’ve been walking until the pavement fades into their familiar dirt trail, and with a hint of relief, he releases the glamour that’s still clinging to Chester.
Obie will never admit just how much he enjoys seeing Chester’s real face after a night out with “Kyle.” Satisfied, he digs around in his bag for a few pieces of fruit that fell off the pavlovas. “Strawberry?” he offers, holding one out to Chester.
Chester gives him a tight smile. “Thanks, but I’m okay. There was, um, a lot of food tonight.”
“There was,” Obie agrees cautiously, popping the strawberry into his mouth without really tasting it. “You didn’t eat much, though.”
Chester doesn’t look at him. “Wasn’t really hungry.”
“Chester—”
“I’mfine,”Chester snaps, annoyance flashing across his face. “You don’t have to hover.”
Obie fights back a flinch. They’re the same words JJ said to Cass right before Cass proposed, and Obie doesn’t want to admit how much they sting in a different context. “Fine,” he says shortly, snapping himself invisible just before the Sanctum comes into view. He tosses the half-full bag of pavlovas in the nearest trash can, resting his other hand on Chester’s shoulder.Lead the way.
Chester twitches at the contact, but he doesn’t show any other sign of hearing Obie as he walks up to the door where Hawthorne and Massimo are on guard duty. “Hey. Here to check back in.”
“Cutting it close, Locke,” Massimo says without looking up, holding out the tablet for Chester to sign his name.
“Right on time, too,” Hawthorne adds, a cool glint in his eyes. “The prison is short-staffed right now, and we have a few high-priority demons scheduled to arrive on the overnight. The Council wants the spare interrogations rooms set up.”
Obie almost gapes at him. They’re giving Chester an assignment at almost ten p.m. on his day off? That can’t be allowed, can it?
