The grocery store is way too fucking crowded.

Daemon already hates it.

Children screaming in aisle five. Someone’s cart squeaking like a dying animal. Bright fluorescent lights stabbing directly into his skull. Archer wandering around happily like this isn’t one of the worst experiences a human can endure.

“Why are there this many people here,” Daemon mutters.

Archer pushes the cart beside him, completely relaxed. “It’s Saturday.”

“That should be illegal.”

Archer laughs under his breath. “You’re in such a bad mood.”

“I’m always in a bad mood.”

“Yeah, but this one has extra spice.”

Daemon flips him off while grabbing a box of cereal off the shelf.

Black hoodie. Grey sweatpants. Tattoos peeking from under his sleeves. The scar above his eyebrow visible today because he forgot to pull his hood up properly. He looks deeply unapproachable.

Which is exactly how he likes it.

Archer, meanwhile, somehow looks approachable even while wearing a wrinkled hoodie and carrying three energy drinks under one arm. Sandy hair messy, golden skin warm under the ugly store lighting, smiling at strangers like a psychopath.

Daemon doesn’t understand it.

They turn down another aisle.

Archer stops suddenly. “Oh shit.”

“What.”

“That’s Mia.”

Before Daemon can ask who the fuck Mia is, a woman near the freezer section looks over and immediately lights up.

“Archer.”

She walks over fast and hugs him without hesitation.

Daemon’s mood instantly drops another ten levels.

Cool.

Awesome.

Fantastic.

Archer hugs her back briefly, smiling. “Holy shit, it’s been forever.”

Mia laughs. “You disappeared.”

“College hockey kinda took over my life.”

They start talking.

Daemon stands there beside the cart holding pasta sauce like a fucking bodyguard.

Mia is pretty. Confident too. The kind of person who touches Archer’s arm when she laughs.

Daemon notices every single fucking time she does it.

Archer introduces him eventually.

“Oh, this is my husband, Daemon.”

Mia blinks. “You got married.”

“Yeah,” Archer says casually.

Daemon gives a short nod. “Hi.”

Mia smiles politely but immediately turns back toward Archer. “God, remember that beach trip after graduation.”