Chapter Twenty-Three
Charlotte
I 've tagged along with Reaper on one other kill during the past couple weeks. He didn't make a scene with this one. He simply snapped his neck and stuffed the guy in his trunk. It was time to send his clients requested parts.
I didn't watch him this time. I let him work in the basement while I went upstairs and started the fireplace. It's almost Christmas and I have no idea what to get The Bone Reaper. They don't have those kinds of gift lists online.
A few hours later, I hear him enter down the hall.
“All set?" I ask.
“Yup. All packed away.”
“You wanna watch a movie?” He pauses, probably deciding how to say no to me. “If work is done for the night, come join me. It’s just a movie, Reaper.”
Grunting, he walks over to me. “What movie?”
Feeling giddy that he decided to join me, I say, “Anything you want. You can pick.”
“What’s your favorite movie?” he asks.
“Oh. Um… gosh, I have so many. One of them is Labyrinth. ” He raises an eyebrow at me. “You know, the one with David Bowie?”
“He was in a movie?”
“Oh my god! You've never even heard of it? Okay. That’s it. That’s what we’re watching. You need to meet my first crush.”
Reaper laughs. “If you say so.”
“I do,” I say sternly.
Reaper settles on the large couch with his legs out and tucks his hands behind his head. I take notice of how his biceps are stretched tight with muscles and my eyes travel down to where his shirt rides up just a bit, revealing his toned lower stomach. He looks over to me, and I quickly cast my eyes back to the TV and hit play.
We don't speak for the entire movie, both of us remaining fully absorbed in the story, but as soon as it ends, I’m eager to know what he thought of it.
“What did you think?”
“Terrible.”
“What! What do you mean?” I ask, appalled. “It’s an amazing movie!”
“She didn't choose him. She could have been The Goblin Queen. He would have given her everything and she could have stayed with her new funny-looking friends, she could have lived there instead of returning to her boring mundane life. She chose wrong if you ask me and I feel bad for the dude.”
I stare at him with my mouth open for a few seconds before it pulls into the widest smile.
“What? ”
“You just said what probably ninety percent of people think. They really dropped the ball, this could have been an epic enemies to lovers. We might have to watch Phantom of the Opera next time.”
“Oh, I know about that one. She’s an idiot too.”
I burst into laughter. “Reaper, you really surprise me sometimes.”
“Speaking of surprises. Now is probably a good time. Come with me.” He stands and grabs my hand, pulling me after him.
“What? Where are we going?” I giggle as I scramble to my feet and follow him.
Reaper takes us upstairs and down the hall to the furthest door.
“Go ahead,” he says, motioning for me to open it. I look at the door, then to him and then back to the door, suddenly feeling nervous. I turn the knob and push open the door. I step into the dark room and then I hear a light switch behind me flip up as he enters.
Soft white lights overhead cast a warm glow, illuminating a small room where white sheets are scattered across the wooden floor. Two painting easels dominate the space—one large and the other smaller, perched on a table near an oversized window. Along the walls, more tables are lined with jars brimming with paintbrushes of every size and texture. Bottles of paint, in every color imaginable, are clustered together in chaotic abundance.
Stacks of paper and canvases in various sizes are piled neatly on one table, their sheer volume making the space feel alive with creative energy. The sight of it all—so much possibility in one room—suddenly overwhelms me.
Tears fill my eyes and I bring a hand up to my mouth to stifle a sob.
“I thought, ya know, if you wanted to try to get back into painting, you could. Here. I know jack shit about painting so I don't know what kind of stuff you would need so I just kinda got everything.”
I turn to face him, tears now spilling from my eyes.
“Fuck, Charlotte. I'm sorry. There’s no pressure. I can lock this room up and throw away the key. I didn't mean to upset you.”
I shake my head. “I’m not upset.” I manage to say through a cracked voice. I take another look around the room before I look at him. Then I launch myself at him, wrapping my arms tightly around him with a sob breaking through me.
Reaper holds me, bringing a hand to the back of my head, with his other arm wrapped around my waist.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “It’s amazing. You’re amazing.”
He doesn't respond, just continues holding me against him, just as tight as I'm holding him.
After a long moment, I drop my hands and he lets go at the same time. I take a step back, sniffling. I’m sure I look like a hot mess right now with snot dripping from my nose, but he doesn't seem to care about that.
“How about I give you some time to check things out here.”
I nod, and he offers a soft smile, then leaves me alone with a click of the door closing.
I let out a long breath and I almost begin to start crying again as I look around. I can't believe he did all this. For me. I inspect one of the tables more closely and slowly run my fingertips over the brushes and paints.
I walk over to a set of glass doors and open them to a small balcony that overlooks Reaper’s backyard. I’ve never seen it fully like this before. The bright full moon shines down, illuminating everything it touches. The view from here is beautiful. Trees around his property are high enough that I’m completely secluded from other people's view. Even though there’s currently no leaves, they are so thickly set that I still don't think anyone would be able to see me, even in the brightest daylight. It feels special and peaceful. Like it’s just for me and perhaps out here is where I might decide to paint first.
A cold breeze blows through me and I smile one last time at the moon then walk back into the painting room Reaper created for me.