He wasn’t.
“My parents,” Melissa said.“They’re okay now?”
Cyril knew a few things about them since he’d researched Melissa, so he could answer that question.“They’re doing fine.They created a nonprofit in your honor.They help girls like you go to college.”
“That’s nice.”
“They seem like nice people.”
“They are.I’m glad they’re doing okay.”
“I’m sorry for what happened to you, Melissa.”And even more sorry for what he’d done today.He shouldn’t have reanimated her.He should have trusted Vale.
Cyril’s nightmare had been real, but it hadn’t been complete.He’d believed that his boyfriend was a monster for no reason, just like he’d reanimated Melissa for no reason.He’d made a mess of an already messy situation, and he wasn’t sure how to fix it.
But he’d have to try.He couldn’t lose Vale.
Chapter Seven
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CYRIL STILL HAD NOidea what to do as he and John left the cemetery.Thankfully, John had been quiet, but Cyril could feel him watching him.It made him want to scream because he knew that John was judging him.
Cyril hated what he’d done.He’d given himself hard rules when he’d decided to use his ability to make a living.He was very selective when it came to his clients, and he had a code of conduct that he followed.He’d broken all of his rules with Melissa, though.He’d dug her up without her family knowing.Hopefully, they’d never find out.Mark hadn’t reappeared as John and Cyril put Melissa back to rest, and he’d probably forgotten all about seeing Cyril there already.
But Cyril couldn’t forget what he’d done.How could he?It wasn’t only Melissa, but also the fact that he hadn’t believed Vale.He hadn’t trusted his boyfriend.He hadn’t even bothered to get Vale’s side of the story by telling him about his dream when he really should have.
Cyril drove them home in almost complete silence.He was glad that John didn’t ask him any of the many questions he was no doubt impatient to ask.Cyril didn’t want to answer them now.
When he parked the car in front of the building, he saw that Vale’s car was there.That meant he was home, and Cyril couldn’t hide from him.Part of him wanted to, but another part knew they needed to do this now before things got worse with the Organization.They had to fix things between them before dealing with those people.
“I think I’m going to go,” John said as they exited the car.
Cyril frowned.“You can stay a while longer.I don’t think Vale minds, even though he grumbles.”
“I think he minds very much, but it’s okay.I’m pretty much healed now, and the two of you need your space back.”
“You just don’t want to be there when we start screaming at each other.”
“There’s that, too, but I don’t think you’ll do that.You care too much about each other to allow anything to get between the two of you, even this.”
Cyril looked down.“You don’t know what happened.”
“Not in details, but I know enough.”He hesitated.“I can’t say I understand where you’re coming from.I’m in the same profession as Vale, and I don’t see a problem with it.You’re not one of us, though, and I can’t imagine how complicated this is for you.Vale will be hurt, but I think he’ll understand.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“IknowI am.The two of you were made for each other, as weird as that sounds.Give him a chance to prove it to you.Give him time to wrap his mind around what happened and accept it.It might take both of you some time, but you’ll be stronger for it in the end.”
Cyril hoped that John was right.He still felt like shit as he made his way to the apartment.
Vale was waiting for him on the couch.He smiled when he heard Cyril come in, but his smile quickly vanished.He could tell something was wrong by Cyril’s expression.
“What happened?Where’s John?”
“He decided to go home.”
Vale frowned, then nodded.“Good.It was about time.”
