Page 62 of Grave Obsession

Mallory’s eyes just about pop out of her head when the salesman tells her the price of the antique ring with the black stone, and I watch her entire being deflate.

“Okay, thanks, but I’ll pass,” she says, smiling sweetly at the man who seems annoyed that he didn’t make a sale.

She starts to move toward the furniture section at the back of the store, probably hoping to find a chair for her reading room. There’s approximately fifty of them, but she makes a bee-line for the black one. She spins and sinks back into it. I pull the matching footstool up in front of her.

“I love it.” I knew she would. “Do you think it will look good in the book room?” she inquires.

“I don’t know, sweetheart, it’s not really big enough for two.” She gives me a puzzled look. “Up,” I extend my hand and she slips her delicate one into mine. I pull her up and then move behind her to sit, tugging her down into my lap.

“Nox,” she exhales my name in a whoosh of breath as her back collides with my chest. “You have to be careful with this old furniture, it could collapse from any sudden movements.”

“If it can’t handle our movements, it’s not worth buying.”

“What?” She snickers and I wiggle my eyebrows at her. “Oh, HA!” she belts out. “You’d have to actually fuck me then,” she mumbles under her breath. Someone’s sexually frustrated and it’s hilarious.

“Aww, baby. Are you frustrated?”

Her eyes meet mine. I’m sure if she could burn me alive right now, I’d be a pile of ash. She huffs and rises from my lap, the coldness of her absence seeps in and I hate it. A sound of annoyance leaves her as she looks at the price tag. There’s a green neon ‘HOLD’ sticker across it and my insides twist.

“Let’s go, I’ve had enough shopping for today and I’m getting hungry. I want some fucking fries,” she grumbles and turns her body towards the exit.

“Don’t you want the chair?”

“I can’t get it, someone else put it on hold.” She points to the tag and I rip it right off. Shock crosses her face, “You can’t do that,” she whisper-shouts.

“Sure I can.” I pass her and walk to the front of the store. Mallory watches me and then rushes to catch up. I pass the tag to the woman behind the till.

“I’m sorry, sir, this item is on hold for another buyer,” she explains.

“Do you have record of who put it on hold?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“Was it me?” I pull my wallet from my pants pocket and hand her my ID. It’s overcast today, so thankfully I’m not sweating to death in all this clothing. The lady’s nails clack against the keyboard as Mallory says, “Did you really put the chair on hold?” I nod and she beams.

“The matching couch too,” I reply and her little gasp makes warmth unfurl in my chest.

“How?”

“I called and asked them to put any black furniture on hold for us to look at.” I shrug like it’s nothing, but I can tell this means the world to her.

“Thank you,” her hushed words meet my ears. I pull her closer and slip my arm around her. The lady manning the computer hands me back my ID and asks if we want to see the other piece of the set, it’s in the backroom. We agree in unison and Mallory’s excited energy is infectious, causing foreign emotions to take root within me.

As soon as Mallory sees the couch, she pretends to faint and drapes herself across the cushions. Her comical display has a chuckle pulled from deep within my gut. Mal’s pale skin looks ghostly against the black damask print of the upholstery, and visions of it flushing beneath my rough touch invade my sight. I can tell she’s sold on it for the library.

Leaving Mallory to inspect all the intricately carved ebony wood accents, I turn back to the saleswoman. “Can you get all of this prepped to be loaded into my truck?”

“Absolutely, Mr. Graves," she responds excitedly, pleased she made a sale.

“Thank you.”

I turn to Mallory as my phone starts to ring. My little siren’s beautiful face drops as I risk a look at the screen. ‘Unknown number’ pops up.

“I’ll be right back,” I say to her as I leave the back room.

“Hello?” I answer the call.

“Good afternoon, sir. Do you have a minute to discuss your long distance phone plan?” The cheery voice is pitchy and grates on my nerves.

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