Page 49 of Death Wish

“I feel like I should apologize or something for not warning you more,” Cole said as he swung the beat-up Jeep onto the main highway back toward Fairport.

After being in the middle of the Halfling fight, the clunker was vibrating and whining suspiciously the faster he accelerated. I gripped the door handle, thankful I was able to touch things in the living world now instead of being tossed around like before. Even though I hadn’t eaten an actual meal in over a year, I could feel something roiling in my stomach, threatening to come back up.

“Wyatt is an…interesting character,” he added. “But he knows his shit. So does Sean, as much as he tries to keep out of it.”

I swallowed hard, forcing whatever was fighting to creep up back down. “I don’t need an apology for him. I liked Wyatt. He’s a tough cookie, and I can respect that.”

“Then why do you look like you’re mad at me for some reason?”

“Resting bitch face syndrome?”

He snorted a laugh. “Is that really a thing?”

“I have been told I have an extreme case by others. I’m not the friendliest-looking person apparently, and I don’t mind it.”

“I thought that was just part of your badass reaper façade,” he said, and that sly smile of his returned.

Heat rose to my cheeks, and I looked away, scolding myself for such a schoolgirl reaction.

We sped past cars and some angry-looking drivers. One even flipped me the bird.

“I will admit I was a little pissed when I found out you were using me and my friend Kay’s predicament for yourself.”

“Ah, so that’s it.” He rubbed his chin. “I knew there was something bothering you.”

I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter though. We both want the same thing. We will help each other get the things on the list for this cure and that’s it. Then we’ll go our separate ways.”

“What about you and this new ‘being alive’ thing?” he asked.

“Not sure.” And I really didn’t know what was going on with me or even how long it would last. “Who knows if this is all temporary.”

“Maybe this is you leveling up as a reaper or something. Special powers?”

I hadn’t thought about that. But the idea bubble was quickly popped when I realized no one else working for Styx Corp. had magical glowy fingers or could hop between dead and alive. Not even Simon, and he was Azrael’s shining star.

No, this was all new. And strange.

Of course it was happening to me.

“I don’t think so,” I said quickly. “Nothing special. It’s just my luck.”

I sighed, and Cole slid me a sideways glance. “Why don’t we pick up some food? Breakfast?”

Had I heard him right?

“Sausage, eggs, toast? Coffee?” he said, making sure I understood what he meant. “We have a few days before the solstice. Until then, we can work on the other parts of the cure on our end, get some sleep, and maybe visit your friend and make sure she’s okay.”

My stomach made the strangest sound at the mention of food, like a raptor waking from a long slumber. Cole’s brows arched.

Before heated embarrassment could crawl up my neck, I shrugged it off. “It’s been a while since I’ve eaten actual food.”

To my surprise, he laughed. “I could have guessed. How long?”

“A year.”

His eyes widened. “A year without coffee?” He snorted. “I wouldn’t have survived.”

“Food isn’t necessary when you’re dead,” I reminded him. “We have a few restaurants and bars in the afterlife, but it’s not the same. There’s no need to eat or drink. It’s more of a social thing.”

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