He held the sandwich out to me, smiling. “Bite?”
I shook my head. “Don’t try to change the subject.”
“I don’t want you talking about killing yourself ever again.” His tone was unwavering. “I don’t know what’s happening. I’ll find out more. But for now, I want to enjoy every minute I have with you.”
“Because you don’t know how much time we have?” I asked.
“Because no one knows how much time they have, and I am in love with you and I want to love you right now, Evey, no matter what happens.”
It was time to change the subject. The unknown was too terrifying to ponder for any length of time. I wiped mustard from his beautiful lip. “Eat your sandwich. Maybe we can catch a movie after this.”
He smiled. “No chick flicks though. I went from being forced to watch kid movies to teen angst to chick flicks. I want to see a thriller or one of those superhero movies.”
I rolled my eyes, laughing. My sweet Lucian, like a little boy. He’d been subjected to everything I had wanted to do for so long. He was finally getting a chance to make some decisions, and I loved watching him experience that freedom. “Anything you want,” I said. His face lit up.
I found another feather on the floor of my bedroom that day but didn’t mention it to him. As I picked it up, it turned to dust in my hand. I wondered if that was eventually what was to come for him.
IN THE CAR,on the way to the movies, Lucian drove, and it felt like we were normal people going on a date.
“Can I ask you something without you getting upset?”
“Sure,” he said.
“If you kill me, I’ll become like you and everything will be okay?”
“I don’t know, Evey. That’s just what I heard from Zack. Half the time, he’s full of shit. If I die, you won’t remember me. I will be forgotten, and you’ll go on with your life and get a new angel that doesn’t break all the rules. You’ll find someone to marry. A normal man,” he said, in a low voice. “You’ll have babies.” He glanced over at me and smiled, but his eyes were full of pain. “Your fashion line will take off, and everything will be great. You’re a good person. I have faith that good things will happen for you.”
“But I wantyou, Lucian. No one else.” I perked up and tried to lighten the mood. “I have my own theory about what’s happening to you.”
“What’s that?”
“I think you’re becoming like me… human.”
“Maybe,” he said absently. “Naps and food—I’m like a regular guy, aren’t I?”
“Way hotter though,” I said, and we laughed.
EVEN THOUGH Iwanted to crawl into bed with Evey and sleep the night away, I knew I had to get more answers. I set up a fake Tinder account with a picture that blocked out my face but showed my shirtless body. I swiped right on Abigail’s picture and waited. She responded. We planned to meet in room 212 at the St. Francis.
During magic hour, I rushed to the hotel, hoping to get into the room before her; otherwise, I was sure she wouldn’t open the door. When she knocked, I swung the door open, yanked on her arm, and pulled her inside.
“Oh, you,” she barked.
“Just shut it. I need to talk to you. I need some help.”
“You look like shit.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks.”
“Why should I help you?”
“Because I’ve never done anything to you. But I did cover for you when you needed it, and I saved Brooklyn’s life that one time she was drunk and hanging off the edge of a balcony like an idiot. You were nowhere in sight. You owe me.”
“You seem sober for once.”
“I haven’t had a drink in days.”
“I’m shocked, seriously,” she said. “What do you want my help with?”
