Page 28 of It's In His Hiss

Please, just take a nap,I beg silently.You can’t help me if you’re passed out or worse.

But he’s up again, on the phone now, talking to someone about amethyst crystals and moon phases. I strain to catch every word, my heart aching with the uselessness of it all. It’s clear he won’t rest until he figures this out, until he fixes what he broke, until I can step off this pedestal he’s put me on.

“Okay, Al,” he starts, stopping mid-pace and turning to face my stony self. “I’m out of options here. And there’s only so much one guy with an accidental monster mojo can do.”

He retrieves his phone from the chaos that’s become his desk, scrolls through contacts, and hits dial. I watch as he takes a deep breath, like he’s preparing to dive into the deep end of a pool filled with uncertainty. “Verity? Oh, thank the gods. It’s Gordy.”

My heart, stony and cold, tries to pump to life with joy as I hear their names.Finally. I swear, if I survive this, I’m putting a tracking spell on Verity.

Gordy pauses, listens, then his whole demeanor shifts, a mix of desperation and hope. “Yeah, I need help.”

I almost wish I could plug my ears. Not because I don’t want to hear his plea for help, but because the vulnerability in his voice is too raw, too genuine. It’s a melody of emotions I’ve never heard from him before, and it’s tearing me apart.

“Remember that incident with Gideon and the bee?” His voice trails off. “Can you guys come over? I could really use your help.”

There’s a silence, and I imagine them on the other end, exchanging glances, rushing to assist a friend in crisis. Verity’s probably halfway out the door already. Goddess, please let her be.

“Great,” Gordy says with a relieved sigh. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

As he ends the call, something flickers inside me. Hope, maybe. Or perhaps it’s the residual effect of believing in happy endings. I’m stuck in place, but if Verity and Gideon can pull off a miracle, maybe I won’t be for long.

But then there’s the after. Even if I go back to flesh and blood, Gordy will be haunted by this. Scared stiff. Oh, theironyof ever touching me again. I can’t bear the thought of him pulling away, notwhen I’ve discovered that loving him feels like the most natural thing in the world.

Hey, I’m not made of glass,I want to remind him.Nor am I going to crumble at the first sign of trouble. We’ve got a rocky road ahead, yeah, pun intended, and we’ll walk it together.

Gordy is slumped again, gazing at me with those eyes full of promises and apologies. My heart would be tripping over itself if it were still beating. If I had my way, we’d be tangled up in the sheets right now, figuring out the depth of our feelings between gasps and whispers.

Get ready, Gordy,I mentally prepare myself to say once I’m breathing again.Because we are going to have a conversation about fear and love and how one shouldn’t cancel out the other.

And boy, will I make sure to keep that conversation lively because nothing will stand in the way of me and more of that amazing connection we share.

It’s twisted, but being turned to stone over and over wouldn’t be such a bad deal if it meant beinghis. Being the stony woman who gets to see all sides of him. Even the ones he hides.

And yeah, I’m smiling on the inside thinking about it—the sex was out of this world. Can you blame a girl for wanting an encore?

Statues don’t need much,I imagine telling him when I can finally move my lips again.Just a good dusting now and then and lots of love.

He stops pacing and looks at me for a long moment. The adoration in his gaze is enough to warm any heart, even one made of granite.

“Please,” he whispers, reaching out but stopping inches from my cold skin. “Please come back.”

I wish I could reach out, wrap my arms around him, and never let go. Show him that fear is no match for what we have. But I’m stuck in this moment, a silent witness to his desperation.

Gordy,I would say,love is messy and risky and sometimes petrifying, literally, in our case, but it’s worth every second.

His shoulders slump, and I hate that I can’tcomfort him. That I can’t take some of this weight off his broad, muscular shoulders.

Love is laughing so hard your stomach hurts, stealing kisses in the rain, and yes, turning your girlfriend into a rock sculpture,I plan to joke, hoping it’ll bring that lopsided grin back to his face.

Because, Gordy,I continue in my head,if being with you means risking a bit of eternal stiffness, sign me up.

He turns away, forehead resting against the cool glass of the window, and I can tell he’s close to breaking.

Stay strong, my Gorgon,I think fiercely.We’re not done yet. Not by a long shot.

And oh, how I yearn for more shots at exploring each other, learning the curves and edges not even stone could erase. If only wishes had power here.

Gordy,my thoughts whisper,don’t give up. Love is worth every risk.

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