Nope. Not falling for it. Not going to tell Death my problems. “Like I was saying, you might be running a slight fever, so drink liquids—more than normal. Get plenty of rest.”
I plucked a tissue out of the box and wiped the dampness of his sweat off the back of my hand.
“Perhaps you would stay awhile.”
“I have a life.”
“And yet, you are here. So late in the evening. When you should be home with Mr. Bailey.”
I stood there, crumbled the tissue in my fist, then stuffed it in my pocket.
“Ah,” he said.
“You have any coffee in this house?”
“Yes.”
“Good coffee?”
“I’ve been told.”
There was a carafe by the refrigerator. Full. I poured thick, black coffee into a cup that saidGet Mugged. He’d brought it into the station once and told me he’d picked it up as swag from some alternate universe.
I should be home with Ryder, and I’d tried to be. I’d tried an entire chicken dinner with pudding cake’s worth of trying. I’d tried cold beer mugs, nice wine, and a side salad I didn’t even like’s worth of trying.
He hadn’t called, hadn’t texted.
It was pretty clear he didn’t want to be home. Not while I was there.
The rich scent of coffee calmed me, easing the tightness in my shoulders and the annoyance at myself, at my boyfriend, and at Mr. Sick Guy over there.
“Reed Daughter?” his voice drifted back. “Perhaps you could brood in the living room where it is more comfortable.”
I rolled my eyes, then took a sip. A deep roast with something spicy at the end, maybe nutmeg or ginger. I approved.
“One,” I said, coming back into the room, “I’m not brooding. I was just reading your stupid coffee cups.”
“And what is two?”
“No more putting on the show. You have a cold. You know it. You know about diseases. You know how to sneeze into your elbow instead of all over the place. So why am I here? Really?”
“In a cosmic sense? You are the Bridge for Ordinary’s god powers. I’d go so far as to say your conception was fated.”
“Don’t change the subject. Why did you call me over tonight? Really?”
“Myra.”
Not what I’d expected.
I settled in the chair. “Is she all right?”
Than had partnered with Myra when he had first joined the force as a reserve officer. They’d developed a friendship that seemed to consist of a begrudging approval of the other’s tea choices and arguing over books.
As far as I knew, he was the only person she had invited to the magical library. And she’d done so weekly.
“She is.”
“So this is about the book club?”
