“I’m so glad you’re back!” Samantha greeted. Her voice was cheery, but there were purple circles under her lashes, her gaze looked bleary, and somehow, her face was bonier. “Lou’s been covering your shifts, and I swear if he tells me one more twenty-minute story about his pet hamster, I will bear no regrets for my actions.”

“Seriously.” Chelsea gagged as she paid for their food. “The other day he showed me an album of the hamster dressed up in costumes, like a tiny sailor suit. I almost committed murder by sporking.”

“Glad you didn’t.” Vera faked a grin as she followed her friends to their table, wondering exactly how to segue the conversation. “Guys, there’s something I gotta tell you—”

“Did I text you about my grandma? We had to put her in hospice,” Chelsea cut in, her voice heavy, but her eyes looked at Vera like she was trying to communicate something else.

Vera’s brow furrowed. “I’m so sorry….”

“Why? Transitioning to the afterlife is the easiest journey she’ll ever take.” Samantha’s voice was flat, lifeless. “She shouldn’t fear it. No one should.”

Vera’s eyes shot toward Samantha, her gaze vacant. She was direct-quoting the Sunshine Crew? How deep had she sunk? Only, before she could ask, Chelsea cut in.

“My dad’s having a really hard time. It sucks, but let’s talk about something less depressing.” Chelsea bit into her pizza, her expression begging, Please. I know what you’re going to say, but don’t.

Vera bit her lip. It was an impossible ask.

“How have you been?” Chelsea grumbled, mouth full. “Why weren’t you at work?”

“Um…” Vera looked down at the table. Blurting My friend’s mom is possessed by a demon or You may be in a cult didn’t feel like the right opening line. “I’ve been busy….”

“Whatever happened with that guy who came here?” Chelsea pressed, working hard to divert the conversation. “You still seeing him?”

“Yeah, actually,” Vera admitted, lies of omission piling up on her shoulders. Maxwell was sleeping on her couch, though that wasn’t what she’d come here to say.

“Ohhh!” Chelsea cheered, clapping her hands. “I need happy news right now! Give me details! What have you guys been doing? Where have you gone?”

Vera glanced out the window, unsure what to say. In the courtyard, patients were creeping along with walkers and gliding in wheelchairs. Fresh air and exercise were intended to lift their moods and promote healing. Meanwhile, Vera’s world had become so dark lately, she’d half forgotten it was summer. Was it wrong to delay the evil details for a few moments, ease them into it?

“We’ve been hanging out at my place mostly,” Vera said, sticking to what was true.

“Your parents are cool with that?” Chelsea raised her brows.

“They’re in Barcelona.”

“What?!” Both girls gasped in unison.

Vera bit her lip, basking in their reaction and knowing she was making this seem way cooler and way less satanic than it was. But the truth was, Vera liked Max. There, she admitted it. She liked him, and maybe she could have one conversation about the new boy in her life that didn’t involve demonic possession. Was that so wrong?