Page 81 of Ruled By Fate

He looked at her, confused. “What did you think I said?”

She pretended she hadn’t heard, crossing towards the television and kneeling down beside an old box of DVDs she’d yet to unpack. She riffled through them, then pulled one up with a sudden mischievous grin. “Let’s watch this one tonight.”

He caught the box when she threw it, staring down with a little frown. “Is it meant to be grammatically incorrect?”

She glanced over her shoulder. “What do you mean?”

He waved the picture in confusion. “‘I ain’t afraid of no ghost?’”

? ? ?

An hour later, the angel’s mood had soured significantly.

“Well, I must say, this is highly offensive, Brianna,” he huffed. “Highly offensive. If this is how humans regard those who have passed on to the next realms, it’s no wonder my people have strict rules about our concealment. There’s a particular disregard for the sanctity of memory, not to mention that confusing bit with the giant snowman. Why was he in a naval uniform? Quite frankly, I think…” He trailed into silence. “Brianna?”

She had fallen asleep with her head on his shoulder, lips slightly parted like a child.

He let out an exasperated sigh and smiled despite himself. He shifted the pizza boxes away with his foot before turning off the television with a flick of his fingers. A blanket shimmered its way into existence, and he covered her, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “Goodnight, Brianna.”

He circled his arms around her and settled in for yet another night — watching her sleep, counting her heartbeats, curious to hear in the morning what that maddening mind of hers decided to dream tonight.

It was the most remarkable thing, though. He felt tired. He’d allowed himself the luxury of sleep on occasion, of course. But he’d never felt tired before.

It was all the human food and activity, no doubt. It must be wearing off on him. It was only a temporary lapse, probably all in his head. Perhaps he’d shut his eyes, just for a moment.

Within that moment, he drifted off to sleep himself.

? ? ?

“Well, isn’t this just adorable?”

Brie and Cameron woke with a start. Sherry was standing before them, and a camera flash went off in their eyes before they even had a chance to disentangle themselves.

“Oh, for goodness’ sake, Sherry…”

Sherry looked at the photo and let out a hoot of laughter. “It’s terrible. I’m having it framed.”

She pointed her phone at Brie like a sword. “You, madame, are late for our exercise date. And you, sir,” she pointed at Cameron, “have surely been the one to drive her to such distraction. Up! Up with you both. Brie, I cannot believe you’re putting me in the position to be the one to enforce cardio. Who even am I? Where are we?”

With that, she proceeded to swoop around the house, opening curtains and flooding the place with light.

Brie squinted and staggered to her feet. At a glance, everything was as it should be, given the celestial impossibility of having fallen asleep with an angel on her couch. It wasn’t until her eyes settled into focus, that she realized something was wrong.

“What are you wearing?”

“What, this?” Sherry glanced down at her terrifically oversized Hello Kitty T-shirt and skin-tight, fur-trimmed, leopard-print yoga pants. She held her head at an imperious angle, nose in the air. “Spandex is a right, not a privilege, Brianna. If you must know, I am disinclined to keep my curves to myself. And how dare you question my stylistic choices? The nerve! That’ll be fifty extra push-ups for you.”

“I wasn’t… I can’t even do fifty push-ups.”

“Well, five then. Up! Up! We’re burning daylight.”

Sherry power walked into the kitchen to fill a thermos with water as Brie groaned and turned to Cameron, who was making no effort to stifle his grin. “Can’t you freeze-ray her or something?”

“Actually, I think it might be best if you get out of here before I’m summoned to check in with my father.”

Brie’s eyes flew wide open, and she rushed to the bedroom to get ready. “Five minutes! Give me five minutes. Oh, shi—”

There was a distant crash.

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