Page 103 of Death and Do-Overs

“There’s no X,” Levi said, his elation completely changing the air in the room. “He’s alive.”

His relief, his excitement, his elation—all of it was contagious. I felt myself filling up with it.

“That’s great,” I told him. “I’m so happy for you.”

He pulled me into his arms. He lifted me like I was weightless and spun me in a circle.

I was as dizzy from the good news, from the startling quickness with which he’d grabbed me, from the way my entire body lit up like fireworks everywhere we touched.

“He’s alive,” Levi said again.

I nodded.

He peppered my face with kisses until those little pecks changed to something deeper. Maybe it was Levi who started it, or maybe it was me.

Everything was so confusing lately, but one thing was crystal clear—I wanted this man.

I abandoned my hesitation in favor of indulgence. I wrapped my legs around his waist and raked my hands across his back, reveling in the feel of him.

He met my desperation with a fresh and fiery fervor of his own, grabbing, tasting, claiming.

For the first time in as long as I could remember, sharing didn’t feel like too much or like a mistake. Intimacy, touch, his tongue—I needed more.

CHAPTER 22

GRETA

“Why are you hereagain?”Bernadette burst out of her back door and scowled at Imogen, completely ignoring me.

I’d assumed it would be difficult to find her, that she was hiding away from her home to avoid us. But here she was, and she was pissed.

“We need to talk,” Imogen said.

“What do you think we’re currently doing?” Bernadette asked. “I said words. You said words. Get to the point of what you want so I can be rid of you for good.”

“So no tea then?” I said.

Imogen chuckled. Bernadette scowled.

“You took a train from Piccadilly to Nevermore on October twenty-third,” I said. “The same train as Nie.”

“Lots of people ride trains. I don’t know who this Nie person is.”

“She’s my clone.” I was her clone, actually. “She’s dead.”

“And because I’m a reaper, you want to know if I killed your clone?” Bernadette asked.

“Yes,” Imogen said.

“I didn’t. I’ve honored my word, and I’d appreciate it if you’d honor yours as well and leave me alone.”

“Why were you on the train?” I asked. “Why come to Nevermore?”

“I live here.”She swept her arm in a grand gesture ofthis is my house, you idiots.

“If you didn’t kill Nie, why were you hiding from us?” I asked.

Bernadette crossed her arms. “Do I look like I’m hiding?”

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