“Rev?”
I blink, not realizing I zoned out.
“Yeah, yeah, sorry,” I rush out. “It makes complete sense. And it’s why you were born to do what you do. I know this wears on you, but you know my dad better than anyone at this point. You could probably even be the copycat yourself if you wanted to be.”
I'm unable to stop the words from spilling out of my mouth, and my eyes widen.
I didn't even mean to say that.
Barry scoffs, though it bleeds into a chuckle. “Geez, I don’t know if that’s a compliment or an insult.”
“I-I just mean you know him,” I amend hastily. “So if your intuition is telling you Lionel and the copycat are working together, then… I believe you.”
“Thanks, kid,” he says quietly, a hint of emotion lightening his tone. “I have to get back to work, though, so I’m home at a decent hour, or Brenda might spend the rest of the night huffing at me.” That brings a genuine smile to my face, and I let out a soft exhale, relieved he’s not upset.
“Sounds daunting,” I tease. That woman embodies gentleness and kindness. She’s almost incapable of raising her voice in anger.
He chuckles, then says, “Send me Roxi's full name. I’ll do what I can to keep an eye on her from my end, but you know I can only do so much.”
“I know,” I say sadly. “I appreciate it, anyway. I love you.”
“Love you, too, honey.”
The call ends, and in the ensuing silence, I get lost in my thoughts again, agonizing over the very real possibility my father’s murdered someone again, and if that’s the case, then Roxi truly might not survive him—especially if I don’t comply with whatever Lionel inevitably demands of me.
I think it’s pretty fucking obvious he’ll have an issue with me leaving the country.
Vaguely, I feel the weight of the couch shift at my hip, then a warm hand on my arm.
“Rev? Talk to me, my love. You’re worrying me.”
I blink, reality coming back into focus. The faint smell of coconut drifts in from thetemblequeas I turn to look at Sable. Concern pinches her thin brows, faint frown lines creasing her light brown skin.
“Your ass is far too big to be sitting where you are,” I tell her dryly.
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t dispute my claim.
We both know Sable’s ass was crafted by the gods, but it be mighty, too.
“I’m concerned about you, you bitch,” she says with a small chuckle.
As she should be, truthfully.
“Whoever is controlling my Sims character deserves prison. This is cruel and unusual punishment.”
She nods gravely. “They deserve it purely for not making the Grim Reaper your baby daddy.”
“No, they just made him my dad,” I mutter contritely.
She cocks her head and looks to the ceiling with pursed lips as she considers that viewpoint. “Huh. Yeah, I guess they did.”
I groan dramatically. “And my Grim Reaper dad is dating a college student. At my school. Who's the same age as me. They’ve been speaking fortwo yearsnow, which means he’s known where I’ve been this entire time. Not only that, but he probably targeted Roxi because of me.”
Her lips tighten into a thin line, her expression pained as she gazes at me with empathy and sorrow.
Sable knows as well as I do that Roxi’s life is in an incredible amount of danger, and Roxi doesn’t even know it. In fact, she believes she’s in love with a man who could never be capable of the crimes Dread accused him of committing.
“She said they talked about moving to wherever I go after college so they can be by me, as long as it has a good school system for when theyhave kids, Sable. Fucking kidsss.Plural. With a whole fucking ‘S’ at the end.”
