Page 190 of Unspoken Words
He scoffed. “She’s in her element, you know. She always wanted a girl.”
“So did I.”
“Really? You never told me that.” He moved to my side, so I could see his face. “What else haven’t you told me?”
“Hmm… ” I playfully tapped my chin. “How about I hate the way you make your side of the bed?”
“What?” His brow furrowed. “What’s wrong with how I make the bed?”
“You don’t tuck the sheet in. You just let it dangle to the ground.”
“What’s the point of tucking it in if I’m only gonna pull it back out to get into bed?”
I held up my free hand. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”
“But it was your message.”
“Yeah, a message you asked for.”
“Fine. What else haven’t you told me?”
“I don’t like blackberry jam.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. So it’s super annoying when you butter one slice of toast, smother it in jam, then dip that jam-covered knife back into the butter to spread your next slice. Why can’t you butter them both first then spread the jam. That way, you wouldn’t contaminate the butter.”
“Wow!” he chuckled. “It’s all coming out now, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Best I get it off my chest now rather than haunt you with it later on.”
Connor was quiet for a moment, my guess to process my talk of death and the afterlife. His acceptance of our fate had grown since breaking down on Christmas day, but it was still incredibly hard for him, and I got that. I got that he needed his many moments of quiet.
“Will you haunt me if you get the chance?” Connor trailed his finger over my tattoo.
“Haunt you, no. Watch over you, yes.”
“You mean spy.”
“Exactly.”
He chuckled, but it was faint, almost non-existent, before wrapping his arms around me and nuzzling his nose into my neck. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
“I know,” I said, my chest heavy with emotion. “But it will get better.”
We both gazed out and over the river as the sun lowered on the horizon. Water lapped at the shore, birds competed to be heard, and the breeze swirled among the trees, the rustle of leaves a soothing lullaby.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, letting the beauty of it settle within my bones.
“Ellie!” Connor jolted, his voice panicked.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“I thought …”
I could feel his entire body relax behind mine.
“Nothing. I thought nothing.”
