Page 38 of The Midnight Frequency

She had embraced a full-on goth aesthetic for the evening—complete with an ultra-mini skirt, chunky platform heels, and a barely-there black mesh top over a black bra.

On the complete other end of the spectrum, Tess had gone uncharacteristically coquettish in an overly cutesy floral dress with romantic waves in her hair.

“Speaking of. What are you two wearing?”

“We’re doing a little bit of an experiment,” Tess admitted.

“A kind of ‘who is more unapproachable’ thing,” Margo explained. “My money is on I get hit on more. Goth is a kink. All the skinny gamer types are going to be lining up to kiss my boots. And maybe ask me to tell them what useless little maggots they are. What?” she asked at my raised brows. “I had a goth phase twenty or so years back. Back at the dawn of online dating. All I got were messages looking for a dominatrix.”

“Well, I’m betting on me,” Tess said. She waved down at her outfit. “Because I look cute as hell.” She turned to Silas. “Who is winning?”

“If I were a betting man, I’d bet on Maggie.”

“Why?” Margo asked. And I tried not to feel a little insulted at her tone. No one was more complimentary than Margo on the average day. She just wanted to prove her point.

“I’ve never met a man who didn’t have a weak spot for the sexy teacher aesthetic. Give her glasses and a ruler and she’ll have the whole bar drooling after her.”

“I’ll take that bet,” Margo said.

“No, I wasn’t—”

“Too late. You’re coming with us now,” Tess said. She linked her arm through Silas’s and started to lead him away.

I wasn’t sure if a demon or a vampire was technically stronger. But I did know how much my roommate hated to lose, so if Silas tried to turn away, I had no doubt she would do everything in her power to hold onto him.

“You can’t just kidnap him,” I objected. I had to jog to catch up to their long-legged strides.

“Please, if there is anyone else who needs a night out more than you, it’s him,” Tess said.

“But that needs to be his choice.”

“I believe any objections would be futile,” Silas said.

“See? He gets it.”

“I’m sorry about this,” I said as I walked beside him.

“I have free will,” he said. “I can utilize it at any point.”

My shoulders relaxed at that. He was right. He didn’t need me, the only puny human in the bunch, to defend him.

“That may be true. But I don’t think you’re prepared for Tess and Margo on a night out at a paranormal bar.”

Sensing Silas wasn’t going to turn away, Tess released him to sidle up to Margo and photobomb her selfie.

“Is this what you would have chosen to do?”

“Not at all. I planned to go home to bake and wr… read.” That was close. Too close. I couldn’t let Maggie and Madison have too many matching interests. Right now, he had no reason to suspect the phone woman was me. I didn’t need to give him any.

“You bake?”

“Yes. Just as a hobby. It’s a sort of stress relief. Even after the worst day at the station, something sweet wafting through the apartment can make me feel better.”

He mumbled something under his breath at that, something that sounded suspiciously like ‘cinnamon sugar,’ but that made no sense.

“What is your favorite thing to bake?”

“Oh, that’s impossible. Cookies are always a hit. And turnovers or pastries are a fun change. But I probably end up making sweet breads the most: banana, apple cinnamon streusel, pumpkin, lemon blueberry, or if I’m feeling fancy, Earl Grey tea bread. They’re great because they’re a dessert, but you can totally get away with eating them for breakfast. Which Tess and I do way more than we probably should.”