Page 230 of Goodbye Note

Varian kissed my hand. “Thank you.”

We found a Dumpster behind his favorite fast-food joint.

“I’ve seen unhoused people piss in this dumpster. It’s the perfect place.” Vallen popped the lid off. He pulled out a bag and tossed the urn in. “Help me open this so I don’t spill him all over me.” He gagged a little.

Carefully, they untwisted the bag. Then Vallen offered it to Varian.

“It’s okay,” Varian said.

“I insist. He scarred your face. Bitch deserves it.” Vallen held it out.

Varian accepted. “We’ll go halfsies.” He poured about half the bag into the trash.

Vallen finished it off. “Should we say some words?”

Varian lifted a brow. “What?”

“Fuck you. I hope you enjoy hell,” Vallen said with a grin, then spit in the dumpster.

Varian spit, and then I followed because why not.

We made it a thing by getting smoothies after.

SIXTY-FOUR

VARIAN

It took some time, but we found a house in the same neighborhood Lindsay bought in. Close enough to ride bikes between. The moving company had unloaded and set up all the furniture, but Arik’s whole life of stuff was mostly in boxes and had been sitting in his parents’ garage this whole fucking time. He never put up any of his awards. Just put them in a box and shipped them to his parents. Along with everything he’d left there when he left for Warped.

“It’s a wonder none of this was stolen.” I stood outside our office, which we couldn’t even get into because it was so full of boxes.

Arik pulled the door to the office closed. “That’s a job for future Arik.”

“You don’t want to start unpacking tonight?”

“Nope. Nova and I have a surprise for you.” He wore a coy smile.

“You two. This is going to be the rest of my life, isn’t it?” I kissed his smile.

“You signed up for this. Don’t get mad now.” His grin spread as he took my hand. “Come on, she’s waiting outside.”

Nova stood on the deck with a new ghost shirt on, grinning ear to ear.

“What’s the ghost carrying?” I asked, stepping closer.

“It’s a box, and it flips up.” Nova flipped up the little flap on the shirt, revealing a ring in the box.

My heart stopped.

I turned around.

Arik was down on one knee with the same box in his hands. He opened it. “I’ve loved you through every season of our lives. The summers and winters. I want all the rest of your days. Every single one.”

“Yes.” Tears streamed down my face, and I grabbed him, hauling him to his feet.

"Do you like it?” Nova asked. “I helped him pick out the ring!”

I looked between the two of them. “How did you get her to keep the secret if she helped you pick out the ring?”

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