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I looked toward the window. “Yeah?”

“It’s time.”

I glanced at Lakelyn. “Already?”

“Boy, you knew what the arrangement was.”

I sighed. “Aight.”

Miss Veda looked toward the bed. “You need to let her rest before your body changes back.”

I nodded.

The last thing I wanted was Lakelyn waking up in my arms only to watch me disappear in front of her. She’d already spent too many years wondering what happened to me; I wasn’t about to put her through that shit again.

Miss Veda’s expression softened. “I’ll make sure she stays asleep through the transition.”

“Appreciate it.”

“And Caspian?”

“What?”

“Next time you call me, it better be about something other than your damn sex life.”

I laughed. “No promises.”

“Goodnight, boy.”

Her presence disappeared.

A moment later, I felt the warmth begin leaving my body. My heartbeat slowed, my hands became lighter, and before I could hold Lakelyn one last time, the physical body Miss Veda had given me was gone.

I was back to being what I'd been for six years.

A spirit.

But I stayed beside her anyway and watched her sleep.

I knew she was going to wake up thinking she’d dreamed the whole thing.

At least, that had been the plan.

What I hadn't thought about was how real everything might still feel afterward.

I probably should’ve taken it a little easier on my woman.

But shit… six years was a long fucking time, and I missed her.

***

I stood near the bedroom windows while Lakelyn sat cross-legged near the headboard with her laptop balanced in front of her. Her hair was pulled into a loose bun, she had on one of those oversized shirts she liked to sleep in, and every few seconds she rubbed her thumb across the edge of the blanket while her primary-care doctor asked another question through the screen.

Lakelyn had scheduled the virtual appointment two days earlier after deciding she wanted to rule out anything medical before she started blaming the house for what had been happening. I knew because I heard her make it.

At first, I hadn't thought much of it. She was a nurse. She believed in ruling shit out before jumping to conclusions, and I respected that.

Then the appointment actually started.