Snod stared at the envelope Frankie was pushing into his hands, blinking slowly as he asked, “What
is it?”
“Look inside,” Frankie insisted, bouncing on the bed beside him.
Snod frowned, pulling out a driver’s license, a passport, and other various identification documents.
He quirked a brow as he read out loud, “Richard Oberon?”
“It’s you,” Frankie explained excitedly. “Your new identity. And see, we can still call you ‘Obe,’
people will just think it’s a nickname because of your new last name!”
“Thank you,” Snod said, glancing over the papers with a smile. He had seen many forged documents
before, and these were flawless. This had not been cheap.
“You can finally start over,” Frankie said. “Here is your new life! Your new identity. You are
officially a new man. I know you’re still disappointed that I won’t turn you—”
“I am not.”
“You can’t lie to me, Obe,” Frankie snorted. “I know you’re upset with me. But I want this to be a
fresh start for both of us, okay?”
Snod couldn’t resist Frankie’s pleading gaze, trying to shove down his muddled emotions as he
agreed, “Yes. I will try.”
* * *
Over the next few weeks, Snod did everything he could to forget his resentment. He busied himself at
the bar with his new role as head cook, thoroughly enjoying the menu he had created and its immense
success amongst their customers.
Athaliah got his new identity thanks to Frankie and then his very own apartment. He was spending
more time with Lorenzo than Snod would have liked, and tried to visit often. If nothing else, he knew
how uncomfortable he made Lorenzo and that always made him smile.
Every night he came home to Frankie, falling asleep in his arms and waking up in their bed. He was
happy, happier than he had any right to be, but still the doubts crept in.
He couldn’t help but focus on a tiny splash of gray in his hair that he hadn’t noticed before or how the
lines around his eyes seemed more pronounced. He was going to keep getting older while Frankie
would remain eternal.
He hated it.
Snod tried to ignore his bitterness as he had promised he would, but it was difficult to let go. He
