38. Presley
Presley
Two more days pass without me seeing Hades.
Apparently, when Wilder said I wouldn't see him again unless I wanted to, he meant it.
It’s been five days without him, and I’m slowly driving myself crazy.
I keep looking at our text messages. Staring at the trees, searching for a dark figure. Expecting to see him every time the bell jingles at the bookstore.
It's ridiculous.
I wanted space. Hades gave it to me.
Now I'm irritated that he's apparently better at giving me space than I am at taking it.
I stare at his name again on my phone.
Penny sits beside me on the couch, watching.
“I don’t know what to do, Penny.”
Her head tilts.
“I can’t take advice from you. You're biased.”
Her tail thumps.
“He bought you one sweater.”
Another thump.
“That’s all it takes, huh?”
She makes a whining sound.
I scratch behind her ears and look back at my phone.
Wilder's words have been circling my brain for two days.
He won't come to you unless you ask. And he needs to explain himself.
I don't know if I can forgive Hades. I don't know if I can trust him again.
I don't even know what the hell I want from him.
But I know what I don't want.
I don't want this to end with everything I know about him tangled together with everything I don't.
I need answers from him, not Wilder.
My thumb hovers over his name. “This doesn't mean I'm forgiving him.”
Penny yawns.
“Thank you for your support.”
I open our messages and exhale the nervous energy building inside me.
For five days, Hades hasn't crossed the line I drew between us.
So I do.
Me: Can we talk?
I stare at the message for a beat, then hit send.
The three dots appear almost immediately.
They disappear. Reappear. Then disappear again.
Despite everything, my lips twitch.
Apparently, I've finally found something that renders Hades speechless.
Then my phone buzzes.
Hades: Yes.
That's it.
No I've missed you.
No please.
No attempt to turn one text into permission for more than I offered.
Just yes.
I swallow hard, then respond.
Me: Tomorrow?
This time his answer comes immediately.
Hades: Whenever you want.
My chest hurts. Of course he says that.
I think about asking him to come here. But I’m not ready for that. Not yet.
Me: Bramble & Bean. 6:00 pm?
His response appears seconds later.
Hades: I'll be there.