“Yes. Because you are hopelessly stubborn.” Sariel looked up at the sky.
Seymour snorted, tilting his head upward too. “I dunno why the hell I’m lookin’. Can’t see shit in the city.”
“We would have to go very high to see the stars.”
“Yeah, like a jet.”
“Or…” Sariel fidgeted. “An angel.”
“Wait, you mean fly up there?”
“Yes.”
“With you?”
“Yes.”
“Right now?” Seymour checked in on Day, finding she was still repeating her loop of endless sliding. He turned to Sariel and took a deep breath. “Okay, the first and only time we’ve been flying, I was pretty sure I was gonna puke. Not sure how much I wanna go rushin’ back into spewville.”
“I can be very careful.”
“If I puke, it’s on you. Maybe literally.” Seymour reached for Sariel. “Okay, so we doin’ this bridal style or fireman carry or?—”
Sariel picked Seymour up, urging his legs around his waist and his arms over his shoulders.
Seymour’s heart fluttered, and he grinned. “Yeah, this works.”
Day stopped short before reaching the ladder of the slide, staring at them. “What are you two doing?”
“Goin’ on a lil’ flight to look at the stars. Wanna come?”
Day arched a brow, but then she shook her head. “No, thank you. I am going to slide.” She zoomed up the ladder.
“All righty.” Seymour smiled up at Sariel. “I’m all yours, Daddy.”
“I will not let you fall.”
“You don’t have to keep bringin’ it up.”
“Even if you do, I am very fast. I would catch you.”
Seymour sighed. “Can we just—” He squealed as Sariel took off into the sky, and his heart jumped right up to cling to his tonsils. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuckin’ fuck?—”
Between curses, the park shrank to a tiny square. Seymour gasped, and then the city was nothing more than a sea of little lights. Higher still until his skin was damp, and he realized they were passing through a cloud. It was chilly now, and he clung to Sariel for dear life as he slowly looked up.
Stars.
It was an entire sea of them glittering like twinkling silver beacons in endless darkness. It was vast, infinite, and Seymour suddenly felt so very small. The clouds helped block the glow from Somerstown below, and Seymour could have believed they’d flown right off into space. It was truly like stepping into another world, and he would know, since he had already done that this week.
“Wow.” Seymour breathed out the word in absolute awe. “This is incredible.”
“I am glad you like it.” Sariel smiled warmly. “You are not afraid?”
Seymour barked out a laugh. “Oh, pants shitting terrified.”
“I will keep you safe,” Sariel murmured. “Always.”
“Always, huh?” Seymour gazed into Sariel’s eyes, his heart thudding hard and fast.
