Page 85 of Sweet Silver Bells
When the light fell away and the room darkened, Hunter and Olivia finally stirred. Hunter lay there, staring at her face, her eyelashes, as she slowly woke up before him, a doll turning into life.
“Hi.” He smiled, and his heart skipped a beat when she smiled back. Olivia put her hand on the back of his neck, pulling his face into hers as they shared a sweet kiss, their lips parting slowly, savoring the moment.
“How could we stay like this forever?” Hunter mused.
“I can think of a way,” Olivia teased, allowing Hunter to move in for another kiss, and then another, and another as his hands slid down to her thighs.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Hunter, Hunter, are you awake yet?” His mom’s voice came through the door. “You left your phone in the car. Your father brought it in, and it has been nonstop pinging all day. I checked it because it felt like an emergency, and well, I think you should look at it.”
Fucking hell.
“I called your homeowner’s insurance for you. They’re sending someone out on the twenty-sixth. You’re welcome,” Minerva said from the door.
Hunter sighed, got off the bed, and went to the door. Minerva stood there, holding his phone out to him as he opened it.
“Thanks, Mom,” he said.
“When are you coming downstairs?”
Hunter checked his phone, seeing his co-worker group text had gone wild that day. His mom watched him like a hawk as he read through it.
Sadie 8:23 am:
Who even has a funeral on Christmas Eve? How tragic.
Celia 8:25 am:
You know we all have to go. We were there.
Elaine 8:26 am:
I think it sounds beautiful, in a dark, sordid way.
Nina 8:29 am:
I’m still in this group chat.
Darius 8:32 am:
Oops. Well, I’m coming to the funeral, Nina. I’m sorry for your loss.
Hunter exited the group chat and scrolled to his email, where there was a formal invitation awaiting him for Tom’s funeral tomorrow at eleven in the morning.
“Tom … died.” Hunter turned towards Olivia. “The night we were at the market, Tom died.”
Poor Nina.
His mom put her hand to her heart.
“You poor thing, you’ve been through such an ordeal. I’ll see you downstairs for dinner.”
Hunter closed the door as his mom walked away.
“There is a funeral tomorrow,” he said. “We should go.”
“I’m sorry, Hunter. I’m sorry if I killed your friend.” She took his face in her hands.
