Page 15 of Making Choices

A flash of annoyance crosses his face. It disappears so quickly that I almost believe that I imagined it, until Slash declares with heated vehemence, “Fuck, Venom… I have eyes. Just like every other motherfucker in this world. You’re beyond beautiful.”

“Okay. Okay.” Widening my eyes, I raise the hand not holding the phone in mock submission. “I’m the most beautiful woman to walk the earth. All men should bow down to me. Every woman should want to look like me. I put Grace freakin’ Kelly to shame.”

“With tits and an arse like yours, you’re more Marilyn than Grace, but I’m glad we agree on the basic point.”

I snort and roll my eyes. “Seriously? You’re too much sometimes.”

“So are you, Cherub. So. Are. You.”

“Speaking of too much,” I quip with a grin. “What was up with you and Dr. Du Bois? I’ve never seen you like that with any woman.” Lowering my voice as far as I can, I do my best to match Slash’s velvety tone. “‘It’s all right, doll.’ ‘So that’s it, doll?’ If I wasn’t so worried about Fret, I probably would’ve pissed myself laughing at your bad flirting.”

The residual displeasure that’s darkened his gaze since I teased him about being scared of Venom dissipates completely when Slash chuckles at my terrible impression of him. “The poor doctor looked like she was about to run when Brutus glowered at her so I went with the first thing that popped into my head to distract her. I mean, I wouldn’t say no if she offered and I’m certainly glad you were entertained by it, but it was harmless, and it worked…”

“As long as you weren’t serious.” His lips curl into a grin when I add. “’Cause, there is no way she’ll agree to Netflix ’n chill with you after that dismal first impression.”

“You’re probably right.” Slash’s smile morphs into full-bellied laughter that almost drowns out his next words. “’Spose it’s just as well I’m not all that interested in her then.”

“It’ll happen one day. There’s a woman out there who’ll love you for you and you’ll fall head over heels for her too.”

Slash frowns as his humour dies. “It’s already happened, Cherub, and I missed my chance... Lightnin’ doesn’t strike twice in one life.”

“No,” I tell him firmly. There is zero possibility his ex-fiancée was the one, especially considering she went out of her way to make him feel ashamed about who he is. “That isn’t true, and even if it was, I’d find a way to make it hit you twice. You deserve happiness, Slash.”

“You know what?” he quips. “I believe you’re crazy enough to try.”

“Oh, you don’t know how right you are, I’d do anything for you.” Seeing the light reappear in Slash’s eyes loosens the tightness that’s gripped my chest in the face of his pain. “Now tell me, what are you currently reading? I just finished The Flame Throwers, and since you’re Mr. Speed Reader Extraordinaire, I figure you’re already onto a new book.”

The video wobbles as he grabs something from his lap, then I giggle when he holds a paperback in front of the camera. He’s too predictable. I can’t make out the title when he shows me the cover, although I do see that it’s by Maya Angelou. “I found this in one of the drawers. Figured it’ll do for tonight since my latest is at home… Even though I’m not usually into poetry, I can’t put it down.”

I clap my hand over my mouth when I yawn again. Despite being tired as hell, I don’t want to fall asleep alone. Sleeping with Zeke wards off my nightmares, and since I know they’ll be plentiful tonight, I need all the reassurance from my fiancé that I can get.

“I haven’t read much of her work beyond what they make us study in school,” I admit as a way to keep Slash on the call with me. “Which poem do you like the best so far?”

Rather than answer my question, Slash chides me, “It’s time for you to go to sleep… your eyes are hangin’ outta your head.”

“I’m waiting up for Zeke.”

Slash shakes his head at me. “He’s not comin’ to bed tonight, Cherub. You and I both know he’s not gonna rest until he’s got a plan for payback sorted.”

“I don’t want to be alone.”

“Then you won’t be.” Slash acknowledges my whispered confession with a wink, then he orders, “Lie down and I’ll read you to sleep.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to be a pain in your arse.”

“You’d do it for me, wouldn’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Then get comfortable, little Cherub, so we can get started.”

After another yawn that makes him raise his eyebrows as if to say, “I told you so,” I slide down flat and roll over onto my side. With my phone braced on Zeke’s pillow, I snuggle under the covers and watch Slash prop his phone upright on the little table that Fret will use once he’s awake and mobile. “Okay. I’m lying down… start reading.”

Slash’s voice is deep and smooth as velvet when he launches into a poem about wearing your crown. I do my best to follow along as he recites the stanzas in a staccato cadence until my eyelids are too heavy to hold up any longer.

It takes a lot of effort, but I force my eyes open long enough to wave at the screen and say, “Make sure you get some sleep too… love you.”

He takes a second to look up from the book, then he replies in a gravelly tone that’s an octave or so lower than his usual register. “Sleep tight.”

---