My eyes fall shut. The almost-kiss flashes through my mind. What I nearly let happen.
I open my eyes as Sabra asks, “Again, who the hell is this?”
“No one,” I say at the same time Layden says, “Someone who’s good at dealing with assholes.”
A laugh escapes me despite everything. I turn to him. “Not this one. Look, we both knew we’d have to return to real life eventually. Well, my real life just showed up.” I gesture at Sabra. “This is where I leave you.”
“What?” Layden’s alarm is immediate and visceral. “You saved my life. And it sounds dangerous where you’re going. I can’t let you?—”
“You don’tletme do anything.” The words come out harsh, but that’s what real life is like. “This isn’t your world. And I assure you, chivalry’s been dead a long time.”
“I’m hungry,” Sabra announces. She heads to the kitchen, starts opening things.
Layden’s eyes narrow on me. “What about your debt to me?”
“What debt?”
“I’ve changed my mind. You do owe me. You dragged me out of the forest where I was perfectly content to rot forever. You brought me back to life. For what?” He gestures at Sabra. “Just to resurrect humanity’s most ancient nightmare? Look at her.”
I watch as Sabra reaches for bread. The second her fingers touch it, it turns black. Moldy. She drops it and steps back.
“Whoa. Did you guys see that?”
“You should’ve left me alone if you were just going to leave me the second I got used to company again.” He points at the bread. “I’m a curse upon this earth.”
My mouth drops open. I never thought about?—
“What about your brothers?” I ask, even though I know I’ve asked before. But surely he’s gotsomefamily that will take him in?—
He barks out a bitter laugh. “The ones who buried me alive?”
I wince. Good point.
“You did that?” Sabra’s poking at the bread with a knife. It crumbles to dust. “Whoa.”
Layden looks at her. “I apologize. I’m cursed. You should get away from me quickly.”
“Whoa,” she says again.
I breathe out hard. “Look, I didn’t mean?—”
“What?” He turns on me, and his eyes are different. Harder. The openness I’ve seen all week is gone. “For any of this to happen? You were just being a Good Samaritan? Well, next time, keep your charity.”
He heads for the door. My hand lifts to stop him but I force it down.
He’s right. I’m no good to him. I’m no good to anyone. Even this—the one good thing I tried to do—I’ve gone and fucked it up completely.
“Wait,” Sabra calls.
He stops. Turns back, with his hand on the doorknob.
My heart leaps even though I don’t know what she’ll say to him. But I look at her with wild hope she’ll fix this, even though I know better.
He should go. I should let him go before I fuck things up worse than I already have.
More than anybody, I know there are no happy endings.
“What?” Layden’s voice is low. Dangerous.
