Page 21 of The Forest of Lost Souls

“That would be something.”

“Wouldn’t it? Wouldn’t it be somethin’?”

He’s flying. Whatever’s got him eight miles high makes him mercurial and dangerous.

Meeting his stare, she takes quicker and shallower breaths, as though his offer excites her. “Let me think about it.”

“You think about it. I’m here for you.”

“No one’s ever been here for me.”

“That’s changed. Each of us, we got what the other needs. Am I right?”

“No one’s ever been more right.”

“The bell rings and there you are. How’s that happen?”

“I saw you in the yard. Saw you working out.”

“You just ring the bell, and here you are.”

Pouring more orange juice, she says, “Things happen because they’re supposed to happen, how I kept seeing you in the yard.”

He pours champagne. “And you liked what you saw.”

“Totally,” she says.

27

THE BIRDS’ REVENGE

“There’s colors all around you, Ceecee Cooper.”

“What colors?”

“All the warm colors. Like you’re so ready, you’re shinin’. But you’ll have to wait till later.”

“Wait for what?”

“Wait to ride the rocket. I’m up so high, girl, I can’t get my dick up with me. The physics of it just don’t work.”

“You sure are up there, but you’re worth waiting for.”

“You want some of what got me here?”

“What is it?”

“Weed.”

“Can’t be. I don’t smell it.”

“Yeah, ’cause I don’t smoke it. Doin’ dabs.”

“Dabs are powerful shit,” she says.

“These are special dabs, fully spiced.”

“Spiced with what?”

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