Page 50 of How to Survive Your Own Death

“You are more than a coworker,” he said, his words vaporizing her intentions. “You are important.”

“Because you need me to get your scythe back.”

“No, because you are my...” His voice drifted into silence, unable to complete the statement. “You are important to me.”

Damn if her heart didn’t flutter.

“Then treat me with some consideration,” she said. “Stop keeping secrets from me.”

“Some information is dangerous for mortals.”

“Stop. Keeping. Secrets.” She jabbed a finger at his chest to punctuate each word, each jab meeting a brief resistance.

“Agreed,” he said, holding up his skeletal hands as if to fend her away.

“All right. You’re forgiven.”

A knock sounded at the door.

“That is all?” Bazel asked, following her to the door.

“It’s not rocket surgery. Do better. Be better.”

Geri cracked the door to find Molly holding a stack of DVDs on the other side.

“You didn’t have to fetch me,” she said, opening the door. Molly and Anh usually waited outside the building in their car.

“Anh’s in the car and I’m sick of looking at these. Here.” Molly pushed the stack into Geri’s hands.

They were movies Geri had brought over one at a time over the course of the last two years. “I didn’t realize I left so many at your place.”

“Yeah, well, stop leaving your junk at my house.” Molly tilted her head to the side and peered around Geri. “When did you get a dog?”

CHAPTER 15

GERI

The bottom fell out of Geri’s stomach. She never really understood that phrase, but here she was, falling and wanting to puke her guts up at the same time.

“You can see the dog?” she asked.

“Seems a bit big for your apartment. If you slapped a saddle on that pupper and called it a pony, I’d believe you.”

No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. There was no aura. Nothing was guaranteed.

The ghost phone in her pocket vibrated.

Fuck.

And Geri knew what had to happen next. No question in her mind at all.

“Give me one second. These shoes are pinching my toes,” she said and slipped into the bedroom.

With the door closed, she checked the message. Her street address, five minutes from now.

“It is time to return to your duties,” Bazel said.

“Yeah,” she muttered. “You know what’s funny? Despite feeling sorry for myself and as miserable I’ve been, I’m glad.”