Chapter 42
But it can’t be true. It can’t. She would know, right?
She surges out of bed and rushes out of her bedroom. She has to get to GROW. She has to get to him.
She has to get to James. But someone drugged her, or was she dreaming this whole time?
It would have taken less than an hour to exchange the Blackmarks into unicoin.
Of course, the transaction would be traceable once it hit her account.
The NHOS Banking Commission Officials might ask her about it, but there isn’t anything inherently illegal in selling her Birthing Agency code. At least, she doesn’t think there is.
Earlier, she checked her Worldbank balance, noting the pending transaction, which meant she could use the funds.
Despite the note that her account is flagged, the transaction was processed rather quickly.
She assumed that meant the non-deities were on her side.
Now, the amount of unicoin she has is staggering.
And there’s nothing she would rather spend it on.
“I got the money! I got the money! I’m going to stop them, James, don’t worry!
” The man steps between her and the door, blocking her path.
Instinctively, she reaches up onto the tips of her toes, swaying slightly.
Then she gives James a firm kiss on the lips.
James, she thinks, sighing into his warmth. “Wait! What are you doing here?!”
Her hands run up his chest and over his face. He’s alive? Is she dreaming? “How is this possible?” she says on a sob.
“Oh, K8, I’m so sorry.” He grabs her shoulders and draws her into his chest. “I really fucked that up.”
Tears bead in the corner of her eyes. How could one person cry this much?
Her eyes are exhausted, and she’s pretty sure she’s aged at least a year.
But he’s here, holding her. She’s elated and relieved and angry.
And fully crying again now. But her orientation to her current situation becomes clear. “You’re not dead.”
“No, I’m not dead.”
“But how?” Before she can think better of it, her anger takes over, and she pushes away, smacking the butt of her fists into his chest over and over.
“You’re a bad man. I can’t believe you left without saying goodbye.
You made me worry, and I yelled at that man.
And I’ve never yelled at anyone!” She’s yelling now.
Finally, James gets a hold of her wrists.
When she’s calm, he wipes her tears away with his thumbs.
“You’re right. I’m such a bad man and I’m so terribly sorry that I caused you to go through that.
I got the email about the recall and you were so happy and I didn’t want you to worry.
Sable and I had a backup plan worked out to get me a full legal identity and out of the GROW system for good in case something went wrong, but—”
“But you fucked up!” she shouts.
“I know. I fucked up big time. I should have told you. I wanted to protect you because I’m totally and utterly in love with you. You are perfection personified and I’m a hypocrite and an idiot. Please forgive me?” he begs.
Her heart stops. Did he just say what she thinks he did? It can’t be real, can it? He stares at her like he’s waiting for a response, but she has no idea what to say.
After a minute of stunned silence, she shrugs. “I guess at least we have lots of unicoin now.”
“Sweetheart, tell me what you’ve done,” he says. “How did you get the money?”
She grins. “I won it. The lottery.”
She replays the last few minutes. She's pretty sure he said he's in love with her—but did he even realize he said it? There's no way she's deluding herself again.
“The lottery?” James looks at her incredulously. “Oh shit.”
Just wait, and he will say it again. As confirmation. Then she’ll acknowledge it.
She shakes her head, feeling the grin turn into a full-fledged smile because she has so much to be happy about.
“Yes, from the Birthing Agency. I got the notice this morning after you left, then I got the notice that you turned yourself in. But then I logged on to BLACKOUT like you showed me and I sold it, James. For you.”
“Oh, K8, you could have had a baby like you always wanted, but you sold it for me?” he asks.
Warmth floods through her as James stares at her with awe.
“I’d give up anything for you.” She’d sell her prized clothing and accessories collection, her lottery win.
Anything. She nods, wiping away happy tears.
Zephyr, she is only now realizing what a fright she must look.
“I forgive you, but more importantly, you’re here and alive. ”
“Come here,” he says, pulling her into his arms again, and she can’t help but relish the sensation of him. The sensation she thought she may never experience again. “We’ll find a way to fix this, okay? Together we’ll fix this.”
She nods into his chest, running her hands over his back, needing to feel him, to know he’s alive. He runs his hands over her hair like he needs to do the same, only making a few passes before the doorbell chimes.
A knock follows, and James groans. “We’re uninstalling that as soon as we get rid of whoever that is. And then we’re getting a sign for the outside of the door that says, ‘Go away.’”