Page 110 of Death Trap

Man, this entire thing was fucked up.

But I had a chance to start over, didn’t I? Eli had assured me he’d wait as long as it took for me to come around, and I believed him. I just didn’t know if I’d ever be ready.

Hesitantly, I slid my hand over his. When he looked up, his lips lifted at the corner in a silent agreement.

Beside me, Marla cleared her throat, and when I glanced at her, she whispered, “I like him,” before taking another sip of her drink.

I chuckled. She’d hated Cole, so to her, anyone was an improvement, I’m sure.

Wyatt plopped down a shot glass in front of me, the clear contents of it spilling over the sides a little.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“A thank you,” he said. “For getting Lisa out of Hell and bringing her back to me.”

“Wyatt, you already thanked me.” I gestured to the line of empty glasses I had in front of me. “Several times.”

It was a good thing I couldn’t get drunk in the afterlife, or else I’d be on the floor by now.

“Anything you want. Anytime. No charge.” He grinned. Lisa came to his side and placed a hand on his arm. “We owe you more than that.”

I waved my hand. All this praise was making me uncomfortable.

“Isn’t there no charge for anything here? We’re dead, after all,” Marla pointed out.

He shushed her sharply. “For you, I’m running a tab.”

She lifted her two fingers, a spell hovering on her lips, only to close her mouth and shake her head a second later. It seemed the resulting fight wouldn’t be worth it.

Lisa laid her head on Wyatt’s shoulder. “But seriously, Jade. Thank you.”

Again, I waved the comment away. “Don’t mention it.”

Ever again. Please.

Pushing out my chair, I stood.

“Leaving already?” Wyatt asked with a frown.

Eli rose, too.

“Yeah, today’s the day, remember?” I said.

When Wyatt’s face wrinkled in confusion, Lisa answered for me. “The day she has to go to Heaven with the lovely Eli, here.”

“Heaven?” He laughed. “Oh, I thought you were fibbin’.”

“If you’d told me that a few days ago, I would have said the same thing,” I replied.

“I knew you were something special the day we met, but an Archangel… Damn.” Wyatt rubbed the side of his face, the shock of the news still lingering. “After a life like mine, nothing should surprise me anymore, but that one threw me for a loop.”

Me too, Wyatt. Me too.

“But you’ll be back,” Marla said, worry on her face as she glanced at Eli for confirmation. “Right?”

Eli nodded. “Once Jade completes the Trials, she’ll be able to pass through all the dimensions whenever she wants.”

Marla sighed in relief. “So, I won’t say bye, then. Just…I’ll see you soon, instead.”

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