“I suppose you’ve already forgotten about cutting holes in my shirt right over my nipples?”
I fluffed his tail. “Hey, I volunteered to do the same. You’re the one who said no.”
He matched my stride as we headed to the counter. “Perhaps the next time we swing by a church, you can show everyoneyournipples.”
A middle-aged woman with an oversized puffy coat heard his remark and gave him an admonishing glance before dragging her child as far away from him as possible.
Indifferent to a human’s opinion of him, Christian distracted himself in the souvenir section.
After a quick look around, the only underwear I could find had raccoon heads all over them. I set my stuff on the counter while the clerk checked me out.
Christian eased up beside me. “Did you know raccoons are the primary carrier of rabies and worms? Now that I’ve had a look around, the mascot makes more sense.”
I glanced up at him. “Do I know you?”
He dipped his chin before walking off.
“We also bought one of those raccoon tails, so add that to the list,” I said.
While scanning a big sweatshirt, the clerk pointed at my face. “Are those your real eyes?”
“No. They used to belong to my ex.”
He stuffed the boxers into a plastic sack and gave me a punishing look. The same look Christian often got in public.
Is this what happens when you hang around immortals all day?
I always thought I’d be able to relate to humans. Maybe there was no avoiding the inevitable.
I took the sack and searched for Christian. When I reached the middle of the store, I found him lying in the bed of a classic pickup they’d put on display.
He lifted his head and furrowed his brow. “Why the long look?”
“I just realized I’m turning into you.”
He sat up, legs hanging over the edge of the tailgate. “You’re one of us now. Haven’t you realized that?”
“It’s not just that. I’m getting more and more uncomfortable around humans. Or vice versa. Not sure which.” I sat next to him and tied the handles on my bag. “I know you’re just trying to butter up the old man, but thanks for taking care of Harley.”
“Nothing warms the cockles of my heart like watching my lover’s father’s dog taking a shite. Say, do you think we can get someone to print that on one of those T-shirts?” He gestured to a row of white tees.
“How much do you love me?”
Christian cupped my cheek with his hand and turned my head to face him, ensnaring me with his fierce gaze. “I would climb into the pits of hell to retrieve your soul. I would become a scourge in the belly of civilization until I punished every last enemy of yours. I would build you an army if you wanted to rule. I would abandon my soul if it meant saving yours. I would give up immortality.”
“Will you look after my father if anything happens to me?”
“But I won’t do that.”
“You’re wearing a raccoon tail, but you won’t take care of my dad?”
Christian stood and put his hands in his pants pockets. “This is punishment for my behavior last night, isn’t it? Now it all makes sense. The tail, your da—Jaysus, Raven. I couldn’t help myself once I started.”
I touched my sweatshirt, feeling the heart-shaped ruby beneath. “I’ve always worried about my father dying. After Sparrow put that curse on us, it got me thinking about who would look after Crush. I meanreallylook after him. Ren doesn’t crowd my dad or make him do anything he doesn’t want. But what he needs is someone to buy healthy food and make sure he keeps doctors’ appointments. Someone to force their way inside and fix broken stuff even if he asks you not to. Maybe someone to check him into a nursing home when it’s time.”
Christian looked at his imaginary watch. “Do you wager they’re open tomorrow?”
I hopped off the truck. “Just think about it. I promise if anything ever happens to you, I’ll look after your spider collection.”
