"So you stopped gaming?" She raised her head, looked back and smiled as if she knew the answer.
I grinned. "No, but I cut back a lot. Now I game for fun, not to destroy things. My therapist said it's a much healthier approach."
She'd suggested a lot of other things too, like tapping, visualization and massage. With the occasional trip to one of those places where you get to break stuff for fun. All of it contributed to me being more or less sane now.
Don't come at me with the company I was keeping and what I might have to do to keep Harlow and myself safe. I know my therapist wouldn't approve, but a guy had to do what a guy had to do. When it was all over, I'd book a good, hard massage. Maybe a pedicure.
"I don't doubt that," she said. "I get why it would be satisfying though. Gaming might be a bit healthier than becoming a serial killer."
What did I say to that? We had different approaches to dealing with our grief. I killed digital monsters, she killed real ones.
One was legal, but the other was more useful for the world as a whole. This might be one of those things not worth trying to measure, or pinning down. It was what it was.
"If you ever want to try some games out some time, I'm happy to show you," I offered. I hesitated and gave her a sideways look. "Unless you're secretly a gamer girl?"
Please say yes. Please say yes.
"Actually…" She gave me a sly smile.
Yes!
"You just became even hotter, which I didn't think was possible," I said.
Could a guy swoon over a woman, because I was swooning now. Was it too soon to ask her to marry me?
She laughed. "A girl has to do something in her spare time. I don't get much chance to sit down and play, but I still enjoy it."
I was tempted to get down on one knee right now, but her gaze shifted to the door and she frowned.
"Shouldn't Jules be back by now?"
CHAPTER 21
HARLOW
Cass' face paled. "Buying a handful of bulbs might take longer than we thought?" He didn't look convinced.
"We shouldn't have let him go alone," I said.
In the scheme of things, lightbulbs weren’t that important. Still, he didn't have to go that far to get them. Would Eros act against him out on the street in broad daylight? Men like him operated in the shadows. Should I say, people like us?
I wasn't that different, no matter how hard I tried to convince myself I was.
Cass took a step toward the door. Stopped.
"I don't want to leave you here by yourself." The conflict was written in every angle of his face. His eyes were heavy with it.
"Gina will be here soon," I said. "I'll be okay."
Did I feel that confident? Not really. I could take care of myself, but Erin lying dead, her eyes glazed, hair slick with blood, still shook me. Chances were it always would. That was the point, right? To put me on the back foot and make me question everything. It was working.
Right now, in the back of my mind, I was wondering if this was some kind of set up. Jules left, then Cass would, leaving me alone and vulnerable.
Just like Eros wanted.
"What is it?" Cass stepped back and placed his hands on either side of my face, stroking his thumbs up and down my cheeks. "I won't leave if you don't want me to."
I tried to contain my flinch.
