Chapter 19 Faye #3
“I thought she was going to tell me to stay away from you, because you know there are laws about the living and the dead.”
“She wouldn’t ask that of you. Mathersons are good at getting around the rules when it suits us. Once we set our hearts on someone, there’s no stopping us – rules and laws be damned. She broke a few rules when she dated my father, and you know what went down with Lucinda and Benedict.”
“Don’t remind me. I thought they were going to kill each other when I found out the coven had arranged their engagement, but now look at them. Still, our situation is a little different.” She nudged him playfully.
“I know, because I’m dead. Even if the coven doesn’t have an issue with us being together, I’m afraid the higher-ups on my end will.”
“Yes, we’re doomed to heartbreak, and should stay as far away from each other as possible,” Faye said dramatically, wishing he didn’t have to remind her that he was dead all the time.
“Is this your way of backing out of our date?” Peter asked, taking her hand and resting in on his lap like he was studying her rings. Like he couldn’t bear to let her go.
“No,” she said a little too quickly, grabbing his arm before he could leave. He stared down at her hand, and she released him.
“No?”
“No.”
“So, we’re friends.”
“Friends.” He nodded.
“Friends who go on dates,” she continued, “and have sleepovers?”
“And…” He stared at her lips, and she swallowed.
His hand curled around the back of her neck, drawing her in until his lips consumed hers.
She gripped his jacket with both hands and pulled him closer until they were both breathless.
A chill travelled up her spine, reminding her that they were in the middle of a cemetery; as his lips travelled along her jaw and his hands started to roam, she forced herself to stop kissing him.
As though sensing her hesitation, Peter smiled at her fondly, and they released each other before they got carried away.
No friends kissed like that, but she was okay with lying to herself if it meant they got to do it again.
“What?” he asked as she stifled a giggle.
“It’s weird kissing you when you look like this,” she said, burying her face in her hands.
“Right, my bad.” Peter winced, looking down at his younger self. “I forgot. I’ll refrain from kissing you until tomorrow. So, how did you leave things with my mum?” He asked, sitting back down beside her on the headstone.
“I did promise to talk to you if I saw you. It’s not my place, but you might consider stopping by the Manor and seeing your mum.” She didn’t want to overstep, but given how much Gwendoline had done for her, she wanted to return the favour.
“It’s hard for her to see me this way.” Peter shrugged. “I don’t want to upset her.”
“She’s already upset,” Faye said gently. “But I think seeing you would make her feel better. I’m sure you want to protect them, maybe even yourself, from what happened, but being together might make it easier.”
“I thought I was protecting them, but you might be right about me also protecting myself,” he admitted, running his hands through his hair.
“That’s understandable, but I don’t like it when you pull your disappearing acts, so I can’t imagine how they feel,” Faye said. “They love you, and I think they worry when you aren’t around, especially during this time of year.”
The words hung in the air.
“I’ll think about it.” He sighed, scooting closer to her. His hand rested over hers on the headstone, and she didn’t pull away. He had comforted her more times than she could count. Today, she got to be here for him.
She smiled to herself, not wanting to push her luck, then leaned over and kissed his cheek.
“Let’s get you out of here.” Blushing, Peter hopped off the headstone with a new lease of life. “Someone so beautiful shouldn’t linger too long in a graveyard. Some other spirits might get jealous and try snatching you away from me.”
“They couldn’t take me from you, even if they tried.” Faye got up.
“I pity the poor soul who would try.” Peter grinned, resting his arm around her shoulder as they walked to her truck.
He opened the door for her, and for a moment, she thought he was going to leave. Her frown slipped into a smile as he climbed into the passenger seat.
“When are you going to let me drive this beater?”
“Don’t talk about her that way,” Faye said, patting the steering wheel. “Besides, you aren’t old enough to have a licence.”
Peter rolled his eyes, chuckling. “So cruel.”
“How about dinner to make it up to you?” She wasn’t ready for their time together to end just yet.
“I should get back to Purgatory.” Peter sighed, looking back at the cemetery gates, and she wondered if he was going to go back and sulk by his gravestone once she was home.
If he wasn’t going to see his family, which she wasn’t going to force him to do, she didn’t want him to spend the rest of the evening alone.
“We can order in from the tavern. I’ll even let you pick the movie.”
“That does sound tempting,” he mused. “I’d much rather spend the rest of the night with you than filing reports on my recent collections.”
“Then dinner and a movie it is,” she grinned, and he scooted closer to her and placed his arm around her as they drove home.
Faye woke up on the couch in Peter’s arms as the morning sun drifted in at dawn. He was reading one of her romance books and stroking her hair, and if it wasn’t for the café, she would’ve gone back to sleep.
“You’re still here?” she asked, sitting up and turning to face him. It was a relief to see him looking like himself again, but she’d half-expected him to disappear once she had drifted off.
“Where else would I be?” He smiled lazily, putting the book face down on the armrest, like he was afraid of losing his place.
Faye shrugged, not wanting him to leave but afraid he’d be in trouble if he stayed.
“I can go?” he asked softly, sitting up, but she rested her hand on his chest.
“No, I want you to stay. I just have to get ready and open the café.” She smiled to herself as he went back to reading.
As she headed for the shower, she couldn’t believe what her life had become.
A day, a week, a month – she wasn’t sure how long she was talking about, but he could stay for as long as he wanted.
Maybe until the Reapers came and dragged him away, but until that day came, she was going to enjoy what time they had together.