Page 23 of Tempting God

“Fuck. That’s what you meant when you said today was a hard day, isn’t it?”

“You…you remember what today is?”

“Of course I do. We lost two brilliant men that day. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Tears fill my eyes, but I blink them away. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel like anyone remembers.”

“I remember, Little Fae. I remember.”

“Thank you.” I pull my shirt over my head. “I should go.”

“Wait. Take this.” He reaches for his suit jacket, handing it to me.

I mean, I guess it’ll cover more of my skin than my current outfit. He’s still gloriously nude. It takes everything in my power not to look him over one last time. I know this was a mistake, but it was also one of the best things to happen to me in a long time and I don’t want to forget.

“Thanks.”

He stops me when I reach for the jacket.

“I don’t regret what we did, Greer, but it can never happen again. The stakes are too high for both of us.” His gaze searches mine. “I’ve worked too hard to let anything ruin my plan.”

I nod. “I understand. Goodbye, Grant.”

“Goodbye, Greer.”

Part of me hopes he will stop me or even come after me when I’m gone. He doesn’t.

So, I keep walking, keeping my head held high. I don’t break until I’m in the safety of my bathroom in my apartment. And then I cry.

That was the moment Grant Carter broke my heart, making me question everything about who I truly was.

4

NOW

Greer

“Tell me what you want!”

The crowd facing me yells back, “Justice!”

I nod and hold the megaphone to my mouth. “How are we going to get it?”

“Humans Yearning to Protect Earth!”

I repeat the chant with the crowd several times before handing over the megaphone to Felicity.

She winks at me as she starts a new chant. “Hey! Ho! Dirty Republicans have got to go!”

The crowd picks up on this one, chanting it while Felicity leads them. I exit the stage, waving at people who call out my name.

We’re in New York, protesting the GOP presidential candidate convention. The GOP is getting close to picking their official candidate, and it looks like it’s going to be either Walt Ryans or Grant freaking Carter. Both men will take this country back several decades, and Humans Yearning to Protect Earth, HYPE for short, isn’t going to stand by and watch it happen. Not while I still have a breath left in my body.

Justin, a fellow HYPE member, hands me a water bottle.

“You sure know how to get them going.”

I smile up at him. “Thanks. I’m just glad we had such a good showing.”

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