I didn’t want to admit how much relief washed through me.
“I was giving you options,” Ricky said.
“You were trying to evict me from this mortal realm.”
“Which is an option.”
“Did I ask for options?”
“Crossroads here, remember? All about dishing out the happy times.”
“You think dying, again,more, would make me happy?”
“Not having to hear you complain would make me happy,” I muttered.
Ricky snorted.
“You,” Val said, “can stay all the hell out of this.”
There was a knock on the door.
“Well, if you’re not walking into the light today,” Ricky stood, “you are officially back in the good old messed up world of the living. Congratulations on that stellar decision. You are welcome to stay here with me a while. As long as you want.”
Val looked over at me. “What’s everyone else doing? The packs? Abbi? You and Lu?”
“Everyone’s leaving, I think. Lu and I will be gone today.”
“Oh.” It was just one word, but it carried a punch of disappointment, of sorrow.
“Abbi wanted to talk to you, Ricky,” Danube said from the door. “Talk to all of us. I told her I’d find you. Everything okay? Is Valentine okay?”
Val wasn’t watching me anymore, his attention wholly on Danube, and there was a longing there that I didn’t think he was aware of. Maybe staying and working out whatever was to be worked out with Danube would be the best thing for the ghost.
I stood and managed not to groan at all my aches.
“He’s back,” I said. “I have a feeling he might be staying for a bit.”
Val threw a look my way and nodded.
“But he’s still getting his feet under him. Might need some time to heal,” I added.
“Here?” Danube said, as I gestured for Val to proceed me through the door. “Will he be staying here to heal?”
“Would you like that?” Ricky asked, as she stepped out with all of us into the narrow hall and shut the door.
I could see the conflict on Danube’s face before his expression settled into a weary acceptance.
“I know Val’s listening,” Danube said. “If I say I’d really like him to stay, is that just going to push him away? Because I want to say the thing that makes him stay.”
Ricky and I both looked at Val. He dropped his gaze to stare at his shoes and said nothing.
“Of all the times for him to shut up,” I sighed. “Look. I think he’s going to make his decision soon, and we’re going to have to give him time to do it. And I think everything’s going to be all right eventually. Everyone’s going to get over their stubborn hurt feelings, and work out their misunderstandings like adults.”
Danube’s hands curled into loose fists, then he nodded. “That sounds good,” he said. “That sounds…yeah. I’d like that.”
“Okay,” I said.
“Okay,” he said.
