“You're a very unusual case!” Greg insisted. “And I still don’t know why you’re still alive.”
“What a romantic thing to say.”
Greg looked as if steam would come out of his ears if Dustin said any more.
“Well, it is,” Dustin said. “You’re asking me on a second date so you can research why you can’t kill me.”
“It's not a date,” Greg said quickly. “It's an observation session.” He paused. “Is it a date?”
“It could be,” Dustin teased—which he really shouldn’t do. He should walk away from this and never think about it again. That would be the smart thing to do.
Greg was clearly delusional. And a stalker.
And adorable.
“I’d like to see you again,” Greg said with all the earnestness in the world. “If that’s acceptable.”
“Okay,” Dustin said.
Dustin had never been good at doing the smart thing.
They stood outside the diner in the cooling evening air.
Dustin's motel was a five-minute walk. Greg's destination was wherever reapers went when they weren't stalking their assignments.
“So,” Dustin said.
“So,” Greg echoed.
“This was weird.”
“Yes.”
“I still don't believe you're a reaper.”
“I know.”
“But—” Dustin hesitated, gave himself a push. “Thanks for dinner. Even though I paid for it.”
Greg's face softened. “Thank you for talking to me. It was nice.”
“It was,” Dustin agreed.
Greg clutched his clipboard a little tighter. “I should go. I got some messages. Things I need to deal with.”
“You got messages on your death phone?”
“Yes.”
“Cool.”
They stood there a moment too long. Neither of them moved.
“See you around, Greg,” Dustin said finally.
He turned and walked toward the motel. He didn't look back.
But he could feel Greg watching him until he disappeared from sight.
