Page 10 of Evidence of a Folktale

“I know that… now. I wanted to hate you for this, but I talked to Briar. I guess my mom experienced similar emotions when my dad was shot. She felt guilty because she’d been the one to request that he switch shifts, but in the end, she realized Dad didn’t need her guilt. He needed her support. He needed a safe space, and she gave that to him… I need a safe space to come home to, Eamon, and I pray that’s you. My sister helped me realize that your willingness to leave was proof of just how much in my corner you are.”

“Because I am in your corner,” he said. “I don’t want to leave you. I don’t even want to sleep without you. It’s been so long since I had you in my bed that your scent has faded, and I’m losing my mind. But I’m trying to do the right thing.”

“You did the right thing. You put me first.” She waved her hand between them to remind him she was waiting. “And I love you for it. But for god’s sake, Eamon, do we have a deal, or are you going to leave me hanging?”

“Say it again.”

“Say what?” she asked.

“You know.”

Bel lowered her hand and wrapped it around his neck. “I love you, Eamon Stone.”

“Again,” he whispered as their lips brushed together.

“I love you.”

“Then we have a deal.” Eamon kissed her, his arms pulling her so tight that she couldn’t breathe, but she didn’t care. She sighed against his mouth, her fingers winding through his hair as she pulled him close. His hands on her waist bruised her skin. Her nails dragging against his head stung his scalp, and their kiss turned desperate as they sealed their deal on the foyer floor. The tile was cold, but Eamon was warm, and as her sweater joined her jeans in a heap, their heartstrings drew them another stitch closer. Their fear and anger and reconciliation mixed with their love. It was raw and messy, filled with tears and moans and bruised knees. It was beautiful and honest, filled with their promise to each other. It was endless and breathless and sweaty, and when Bel’s shaking body collapsed on his heaving one, she felt the truth in his grip on her bare hips. He wasn’t going anywhere. She was his home, and he’d designed his house to be hers.

“I’m glad you came to talk,” he finally said through his gasps for breath. “I got in my car at least once a day to visit you, but then I remembered your dad’s face at the hospital, and I chickened out.”

“I knew it,” she smirked.

“Knew what?” he asked.

“That my dad is the only person Eamon Stone is afraid of.”

“And you. I’m definitely afraid of you.” He slapped her ass playfully, and she slid her glistening body up his chest to kiss him.

“Good. If you’re afraid of me, you won’t leave.”

“You do know if I’d left, I probably would’ve made it as far as the next town before I turned back.”

“Absolutely no discipline. How embarrassing.” She shook her head in mock disapproval.

“Thank you for forcing me to talk this through so I didn’t ruin us. You’re right. We aren’t that couple, and I’m sorry I acted like it. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you, so my emotions get the better of my rational brain sometimes.”

“In your defense, you saw my dead body. If I walked into the morgue, and Lina pulled back the sheet to reveal your face, I would… I don’t actually want to picture that. How did you figure out it wasn’t me?”

Eamon dragged her seductively over every inch of him as he buried his nose in her hair. “Your scent. It was all wrong. Your blood too. The taste was foul.”

“You tasted what you thought was my corpse’s blood?” She jerked off his chest to glare at him.

“I had to be sure.”

“Gross.” She gave him an exaggerated gag. “But thank you for figuring it out. And thank you for not leaving behind my back while I was at my dad’s.”

“I’m not that stupid. I’m sorry my words came across as a final decision and not communication, but I’m not at my best when you’re in a hospital bed. You told me once if I ever stepped out of line, you’d pin my hide to the wall, so I knew if I abandoned you, you’d hunt me down to do just that.”

“I’d never do something that crazy.” She deadpanned, and he pinched his eyebrows at her until she laughed, curling her body tighter against him as her drying sweat chilled her bare skin.

“I would never disrespect you by just leaving.” Eamon rose to a seat and pulled her into his lap to keep her warm. “You may be the first person I’ve loved, but I’ve had friendships. I’ve seen the importance of communication, so if I ever do up and abandon you, I hope you hunt me down and put me in my place.”

“Another deal, then.”

“This one I’ll shake on,” he teased as he gripped her hand, pumping it playfully as she beamed at him. “So, I didn’t ruin us, right?” he asked.

“A single mishandled conversation won’t ruin us.” Bel pulled free of his grip and cupped his face, pulling him down so she could speak against his mouth. “If it did, then we shouldn’t be together, but I think we’re strong enough to handle a disagreement.”

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