“Oh, Lucian.”
“I naah tha drunk,” I said, shaking my head.
“Come here.”
I stumbled over and collapsed into her arms. “I gonna be sober in no tine,” I slurred just before passing out.
Sometime later, I woke up to Evey sitting on the bed next to me, holding toast. “You need to eat, and I need to go to work. Why don’t you stay here and get some rest?”
I sat up quickly and leaned against the headboard. “I have to go with you.”
“No, stay, I’ll be fine.”
“I don’t think you understand. I can’t be away from you,” I said.
She smiled shyly. “You’re sweet.”
“No, I literally cannot be away from you, Evey; I’m your guardian angel.”
“Ha…” She looked away curiously. “That’s right. I keep forgetting.”
AFTER THAT NIGHT,we chose to put all of the questions away in the cupboard for a while. We carried on like a couple in love, spending every minute together. However wrong it might have been, we were so lovesick it made our choice to go against the rules feel right. I’d make myself invisible while she was at work, but she knew I was there. I’d knock something over and she’d start giggling, and pretty soon, Tracey thought Evey was losing her mind. But Evey was creating the best designs of her life, and I was the happiest I’d ever been. I didn’t tell Evey that I lost feathers every day and that things that used to be simple for me were getting harder and harder.
I found a weird and crappy way of making money. During magic hours, I’d go into heavy crime areas and steal from thieves. I’d take most of the money back to the rightful owners and keep a small share for myself. I didn’t tell Evey; I wasn’t exactly Robin Hood. I hadn’t seen Zack in a long time. I did wish for a better life for him though. Maybe someday he’d give it all up for love like I had.
I caught Mona coming out of the soda shop one night, but she just held her hand up and said, “I can’t. I’m sorry, Lucian.”
Angels ignored me, God ignored me, I couldn’t even get a retweet on Twitter… but at least I had Evey.
“THEY’RE OYSTERS, ANDthey’re an aphrodisiac,” I told her, lifting one to her mouth.
“I know what they are. I’m just not a fan. Plus, we don’t need aphrodisiacs.”
“True, but I always wanted you to have a sophisticated palate. You’ve never even tried an oyster. Just try it. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat anymore.”
She laughed. “Sophisticated palate?”
“Yes. Jane and Steve were always feeding you Hamburger Helper and Shake ’n Bake chicken.”
She scowled. “I hate it when you talk about my parents that way. And by the way, you’re the one acting like a dad now.”
“I love your parents, Evey; they made you.” It was true. I owed them everything. “I’m just saying I want to give you life experiences you wouldn’t have normally had. Here, try it.”
She rolled her eyes but opened her mouth anyway. The oyster slid out of the shell onto her tongue. “Just one chomp then swallow it whole” She did. Her face scrunched up like it was the worst thing she had ever eaten. She gagged, her eyes watered, and then she finally gulped it down. “Good girl,” I told her.
She glared at me. “That was disgusting.”
“It’s kind of an acquired taste.”
“I don’t want to acquire that taste.”
I kissed her and tasted the salt water on her lips. “Mm, that’s good,” I murmured against her mouth. She deepened the kiss for a moment but then pulled away and squinted. “What?” I said.
“I didn’t like the oyster at all, but that kiss was strangely erotic.”
“I told you. I’ve been around for a while. I know these things. Plus, you wouldn’t have had that experience with your dad.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her.
Her expression fell. “How many women have you been with?”
