Another piece of popcorn, and still the intense focus. As if he expected me to say more, to spill the beans.
“Ryder snuck out tonight.” I grimaced and corrected myself. “Mithra called him out of Ordinary. And I followed.”
Two pieces of popcorn in those long thin fingers this time, deposited one at a time,plunk, plunk,in his mouth.
“They met up at the Rose Market on Highway 18. Mithra was his normal asshole self. From what I heard, he’s been sending Ryder out to enforce obscure Oregon laws. Something about no spitting in Sheridan. Things like that.”
Death picked up his mug, took a deep drink, then lifted it a bit, a suggestion that I, too, take a drink.
So I did. It really was amazing. Than knew how to brew a fine hot cocoa beverage.
“I thought Mithra was punishing him for something, but he’s enough of a jerk just to want to pull strings and watch Ryder dance. I was going to leave, to just…leave it at that, but then Mithra told Ryder he wanted him to marry me, and yeah. So, okay. That. And then I left.”
I shoved popcorn in my mouth so I would stop talking. It tasted like packing Styrofoam. There was a stinging prickle at the back of my eyes. I would not cry. Not over a manipulative god who Ryder was doing his best to manage.
Without me.
Without even telling me.
I will never marry her.
Death twisted, and without disturbing Spud’s nap, plucked a tissue from the box by the lamp.
“Did you spy on him long enough to hear his reply?”
“I wasn’t spying.” I took the tissue. “Okay, I was spying.” I wiped at my eyes which should not be leaking, then took a big breath and let it out. “I feel so stupid. All of this. Just. Stupid.”
“Mmmm.”
I dropped my head back on the couch. “Spying on my boyfriend. Who does that?”
“Would you like a list?”
“No.” I rolled my head to meet his gaze. An awful lot of humor in those eyes. “Are you laughing at me?”
“Whatever would make you think that, Reed Daughter?”
“He said no.”
Death paused, and I wondered how many millions of data points that statement could be applied to.
“Ryder,” I clarified. “He said no. He wouldn’t marry me. He said he never would, so that’s all settled now I guess.” The last came out too loud and too cheerful, and for just a second, I felt like yelling and throwing things, or putting on my jogging shoes and running out the door, out of Ordinary, out of my life and never coming back.
Marriage didn’t have to be my future. I hadn’t obsessed over it as a child, hadn’t thought myself ready for it until Ryder came swanning back into town with that great smile, clever brain, and gorgeous heart.
Over the last two years, I had thought about it more. Now that we were living together, I thought it might be our tomorrow, our someday.
Than placed his bowl on the silver platter, the mug following with a littleclink. He slid out from under Spud and stood.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“This is the part of the sleepover that requires wine, is it not?”
I laughed again. “No, don’t. I’m fine. I have to go to work in a few hours. Wine is a bad idea.” I reached for his sleeve and tugged at it, tugged him back to sit on the couch.
He tipped his head to one side, studying me. “Did he say no to you?”
I fluffed a pillow and propped it behind me so I could curl my feet up and sit sideways on the couch. “I just said he did.”
