Night, Venom.
I stare at the screen until it goes dark.
Then I text back.
The bear. At least it's honest about wanting to kill you.
Three dots appear immediately. He's awake. Of course he is.
Dark. I love it. You okay?
Why wouldn't I be?
Because you never answer this late. And that response was very “I just murdered someone” energy.
My heart stops.
KIDDING. Obviously. Unless…? No. Kidding. But seriously you good?
I'm fine. Go to bed.
Only if you do too.
Deal.
Liar. You're gonna stay up for another hour doing whatever mysterious shit you do. But that's okay. I'll allow it.
How generous.
I'm a giver. Goodnight for real this time.
The screen goes dark again.
I stand there on the sidewalk, wig itching, dress too tight, hands still steady from a kill, and I feel it.
The crack.
The first real fracture in the armor I've spent my entire life building.
And it's his fault.
Goddamn you, Asher.
I shove my phone back in my clutch and start walking. Daniel's parked two blocks away, engine idling, ready to disappear me back into my other life.
Jogging down the street, I find Daniel's parked car and slide into the back, ripping off the wig before working on the ridiculous clothes.
His eyes meet mine in the mirror. “Everything okay?”
“Why do people keep asking me that?” I ask, unclipping my hair from the ugly little bun and running my fingers through to break it up.
“Is it not obvious?” Daniel jokes, pulling us into the dead street.
“Fair,” I say, pulling out my phone and rereading Asher's text. Why is he already important to me?
Why in this lifetime?
* * *
