Page 3 of The Final Deal

Adrian groans disapprovingly off-screen.

“Hey, you’re dating your coworker, too.”

“Oh. Oh, yeah!”

Clearing my throat, I say, “Hey, hon, I’m gonna hit the hay.”

“Okay. Love you.”

I blow him an air kiss. “Love you, too.”

The call ends before I can say anything to Adrian. But a text comes through on my phone a few seconds later.

What, your bitch ass too scared to say it to me, too?

I love you too butthead

That’s what I thought

I linger on his text, smiling at my phone with my heart fuller than I thought possible.

I exit out of texts and meander to my contacts list, tapping on a name and bringing the phone to my ear. A second tone barely has the chance to drone before he answers.

“Hey,” Charlie greets. Music plays in the background. “We gettin’ the Dirty Peach crew together one last time?”

The sound of his name makes me cough. “Ah, no. He already left.”

I don’t miss the slight pause. “Well, we’ll be in the studio in a few months, anyway.”

“Sure,” I say. I twist the blanket topping my bed around my finger until it turns a purplish red. “So, listen, I’ve got an idea in mind to make this New Year’s Ball really pop off, and I think Abjured would be the perfect band to help make it happen.”

The music at Charlie’s end completely halts. “You could tell us to sit, stay, roll over, and we’ll do whatever the fuck you say.” He chortles. “Whatcha got in mind?”

That’s exactly what I need to hear.

Chapter 2

Good Man

–Devour the Day

A heavy brownpaper bag barely crinkles in my hands since the bottom is soaked in grease. I reach for the doorknob until the shimmer of my hand stops me, so I rap my knuckles against the door instead.

“It’s open!”

“Tacos, dude!”

The door swings open. Mini blinds smack against the window, and Zak appears in front of me. I lean in to press my lips against his.

He kisses me, and his warmth draws me closer. Subdued notes of cedar whisk me down memory lane until the coarse black hair of his mustache tickles my upper lip. My lips part to nip at him playfully like I used to.

But he pulls away.

He takes a few large steps back, staring at me with clear, golden-brown eyes haunted by bloody memories.

And then I remember: the last time we saw each other, I had to run so he wouldn’t eat me.

Literally.

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