“It worked?” I confirm.
“Yeah.” He clicks refresh on the webpage that once held Kit’s obituary. “Page not found.”
He next goes to Kit’s Facebook, and all of the messages about his death are gone. He continues to show evidence that there is no proof Kit was dead and that thereisproof he was legally out of the country for the past ten years and is a tax-paying citizen.
Kit’s shoulders drop in relief. He brings my hand to his mouth to kiss it, breath rattling out of his chest.
Matthias says, “Bit of an anticlimactic spell, but it worked. People who know Kit won’t forget he died, but there’s no longer documented proof that he did. Best I can do. You’ll be able to get a job, at the very least.”
When he stands, I give Matthias a hug and say thanks. Kit surprises both of us by giving him a tight hug as well. “Thank you,” he mutters.
Matthias pats his back. “Of course, man.”
When he releases Matthias, I take his hand back and notice the deep, dark circles still under his eyes.
“Let’s go get some sleep,” I say, indicating my head to the car.
He nods, so we go that way, Matthias close behind. I angle my head back to say to Matthias, “Do you want to get a drink or something after work on Wednesday?” The day we work the same shift. “Just me and you, or you can invite Taylor and Jillian. I’m buying.”
Matthias chuckles. “We’re past the point of you having to pay for my friendship, Lace. But yeah, let’s do you and me. Talk about something other than demons for once?”
I grin. “Works for me.”
We wave a final goodbye to Matthias and climb in my car. As he buckles his seatbelt, Kit sings teasingly, “You have a friend.”
“One I’m making a long-overdue effort with, yes.” I turn the engine on. “How are you going to go about making some new friends? How does one make friends as an adult? I wish I had a bigger starter community to offer you.”
“Starting with you is enough.” He settles back into his seat, eyes heavy. “I’ve always been good at making work friends, so I’ll get a job as soon as I can—work on that whole normal human life thing. Maybe join a rock climbing gym? I like rock climbing.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah. I’m sure there are other things I like. I just need to remember what they are.”
I pat him on the thigh before I pull onto the street. “Don’t rush yourself, please. You have time.”
Kit nearly nods off on the drive.
When we get back to my place, it’s not long before we climb into bed.
“We’re figuring it out,” I whisper as I lay my head down on his chest, nestling myself in his awaiting arms.
“Couldn’t do it without you, sweetness.” He yawns. “I can’t wait for you to meet everyone. My mom will love you, and so will my sister. And fuck, Xander’s an adult now. Like, he’s twenty-six. Holy shit. I’ll look the same age as the kid.”
I snuggle in. “I’m sorry you had to miss out on that time.”
Kit sighs and holds me tight. “I’m glad I’m getting it back now.”
forty-three
. . .
The next morning,as I’m poking at my cereal, a text from Meggie comes in. Shit. I was supposed to meet up with her after my meeting but, with running into Kit, I told her I was too tired. She asked to see me before or after work the next day, but instead of telling her I was very busy doing many other things with Kit, I asked if we could see each other the next day. And now, well, it’s the next day.
I groan, causing Kit to peek up at me from where his head is buried in the laptop. Hazel is curled up in his lap, sound asleep. They must have forged a connection when he possessed her, because she loves him so much more than she loves me. He’s hunting for jobs, now that all his official documents are in the clear. I told him it was perfectly reasonable to give himself a little break after everything, that I could take care of us for a while, but he insists on looking. No harm, I guess. I just don’t want him to exhaust himself. No matter how much sleephe’s gotten since arriving, the dark circles under his eyes look permanent.
“What?” he asks.
“Meggie wants to get dinner tonight after I get off work.”
