Chapter 18
Eighteen
Gareth
Three months later
I walk up from the basement and wash my face in the bathroom, reaching for my toothbrush so Riley doesn’t taste my last meal on my mouth.
I stopped being super careless when it came to finding my food, though he wasn’t the only one helping me.
We came clean to Leo, who works in a morgue.
I ate the people who were set to be cremated, and they were after I was done enjoying all the parts I liked.
His freak-out only lasted two days before he showed up at our house wanting to understand more. Riley told him about the ritual, and then he put all the rest together after he was told where the spell book came from.
“I took you to that shop. Does that make me responsible?”
Riley told him no, of course, but Leo actually wanted to take credit for me coming back to life and making his best friend smile again.
Yeah, Leo wasn’t any more normal than we were, and I think that’s why Riley didn’t blink too much when I brought up the idea of us telling him.
It all worked out, and our relationship has too.
“Ready to take me somewhere special tonight?” Riley spins around in his white slacks and silky black top.
“I am. How far are we driving out this time?”
“Only an hour.” He lifts himself onto his tiptoes to kiss me. “No one knows us out there. Or at least I hope they don’t.”
I laugh. “Aren’t we supposed to stop being so careless?”
“Only most of the time.” His lips turn up a little. “You look really good in those new jeans I got you.”
“Yeah? Ready to rip them off me already?” I waggle my brows.
“I’m ready to get you naked, but we have reservations and we’ll have plenty of time to tear each other’s clothes off later.”
“Yes. Lots and lots of time.”
“So much time.” He leans into me, claiming my mouth with his again, and his hand pushes at my chest when my fingers dip into the back of his pants.
“Later, remember? You might have eaten already, but I haven’t.”
“And you still require a lot more food than me.”
He pinches his fingers together. “Maybe a smidge, but then again I still get to enjoy things like cheesecake, enchiladas, and chips and salsa.”
“Me too.” I lick at his cheek. As yummy as my pumpkin is, I was getting worried I’d run out of safe places to bite, nearly ripping into the bone recently. He begs for it sometimes, though, if not with his words, then with his eyes. Who am I to deny him?
“I’ll be sure to eat extra tonight just for you, then.”
I pinch one side of his ass. “We better get going, that way you can get a head start.”
He smacks his lips, rubbing his stomach. “Especially since I skipped lunch today.”
“Am I going to have to start force feeding you?” I slip his jacket on him, kissing his shoulder.
“I’m getting better, I promise. It was super busy at work today.”
“Mhm. I may have to swing by and actually see this progress firsthand.”
“No. That’s too risky.”
Grinning widely, I trace the seam of his lips. “If you really want me to believe you don’t want me to do something, then your eyes need to start matching your words.”
“Not sure what you mean.” His face flushes.
“Mhm.” Placing my hand at the hilt of his back, I steer him to the door.
We exit the house hand in hand, him skipping a little ahead of me when he sees that the coast is clear.
When we leave the house together, we usually get into the car in the garage.
It’s dark enough out for it not to be a big deal today, though.
“It’s easy to pretend everything is how it used to be when we’re able to leave together this way. When we’re able to step outside our house together again.”
“Why keep looking back when we can look forward? We still have us; it just looks a little different is all.”
“Yeah, only a little.” He grabs my hand, turning his head to look at me. “But you’re right, we still have us.”
A primal side takes hold of me whenever we touch and I think about what would happen if he got in an accident too.
I hate the thought, and I want to feel uneasy about the thoughts that come to mind whenever someone runs a red light or he accidentally swerves too far into another lane.
That spell book is in a safe place just in case.
But what if we use it on purpose for the same reason as before, just sooner.
That darkness seeps in again. It’s ugly and torturous.
I said I’d try for him but wouldn’t it be me staying true to that by guaranteeing we get to have this forever.
It’ll only hurt for a short time. He might be angry when he first comes to, but like me, he’ll come back, and I won’t have to ever worry about accidents again.
I know the vows say till death do us part, but death has brought us closer before, and I feel strongly about it continuing to do so.
I considered jewelry and more music boxes with engraved words that I can read to him when he asks me to, but this gift is a gift that will keep on giving.
I did make sure there’ll be words for us to share together.
I wrote them by hand myself on a card. They aren’t song lyrics, but I think he’ll appreciate them coming straight from the heart.
“You’re awfully quiet.” He beams at me. “Are more memories coming through, or are you thinking about what we’ll be doing when we get back home?”
“A little of both.” I press a kiss to the back of his hand, and he briefly pulls it away to turn into the crowded parking lot.
I exit first, circling around the car to open his door.
His cheeks pinken, the corners of his mouth deepening as his smile spreads across his face.
I offer him my hand and he takes it. Will he give me that same loving look when I lift him from the wooden coffin he’ll be clawing at within the next few days?
I’d like to think so, as he clings to me while we move past other people with him only having eyes for me.