He takes a few steps closer to me, his large hand grabbing mine and inspecting my broken nail.
“I’ve been interested in you for a long time. I want to do things the right way.”
“So, what you’re saying is, you’re old-fashioned?”
“Not in all things, no. But something this important? I plan on taking my time, Birdie,” he says softly, raising my hand to his lips and pressing a soft kiss. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
He kisses my hand one more time before putting his hands in his pockets and walking back to his estate.
I head into work with a little more pep in my step and a little less hatred for all the happy fuckers that pass me on my way there.
This is new and unusual. I get a few odd looks, and I realize it’s because I’m casually smiling while I walk down the street.
It’s silly. Surely having my crush solidified and finding Gloom couldn’t make this much of a difference in how I feel about the world around me. But it does.
The flowers seem brighter, everyone seems a little more tolerable, and for the first time in a long time I have something to look forward to.
I swipe my badge at the entrance of our building, and Cookie gives me a look like I’ve grown heads.
“Good morning, Cookie.”
She points at herself. “Me? Good morning to me?”
“Yes, do you want me to take it back?” I reply sharply, and she shakes her head.
“No… good morning to you too, Ladybird,” she says, her mouth agape as I push the elevator button.
I look down at my nail; I fixed it last night, but it looks like shit. I’ll have to go to the salon before the event in a few days to get a new set.
When I enter the elevator, my mood completely shifts when I see Eros there looking downtrodden.
Fuck.
The last thing I need is for him to come sauntering in here and ruining everything Cupio and I have been working toward.
“What are you doing here?” I snap at him.
“I’m here to see my father. Is that a problem?”
The elevator doors shut behind me, and I push the emergency button, holding the elevator. I spin on my heel and corner the disrespectful little shit. Not that Eros is little. He’s the same size as his father, only in stature. He could never measure up to the man his father is.
“You know what? Yes. It is a fucking problem. If you think you’re just going to stroll in here and break your father’s heart again, then yes, it’s a problem. I thought you were with some ghost?”
“I am,” he says quickly.
“Then why are you here?”
“I want my father to make me into a ghost too,” he replies, shocking the hell out of me.
I sputter for a moment and shake my head. “No.”
“No, what?”
“No, you can’t ask him to do that. It would destroy him.”
The large cupid reaches around me, causing the elevator to continue its ascension to my office.
“It’s none of your business. If anyone should get not belonging here, it should be you,” he says and my heart sinks for a moment, ugly insecurities rearing their head. The elevator opens, and he pushes past me, getting to his father’s office door before I can.
