Page 49 of Fade With Me

A wave of disappointment washed over me as the weight of the moment settled in. I wasn’t ready to leave, not yet. I didn’t want to acknowledge that our time together was so fleeting, so precious.But I could feel the inevitability of it, the end of our evening drawing near. I echoed his sentiment softly, my voice tinged with a touch of wistfulness. “Let’s go.”

The drive to my house was thick with a silence that hummed with unspoken words. Then, unexpectedly, Zeke spoke. “I’m heading into town tomorrow.”

“What’s in town?” I turned to him, anxiously waiting for his answer.

He hesitated, his eyes flicking toward me before returning to the road. “I’m…looking for a witch,” he said, each word slow, measured. “She’s a prisoner here. From what I’ve gathered, she might know something about the rings. More than we do.”

Questions flooded my mind, but I held them back, waiting for him to continue.

“I wasn’t sure if I should tell you about her,” he admitted, his voice guarded yet edged with apology. “Her husband’s high-ranking in the Shadowweavers, the guild of impure-blooded warlocks I told you about. They’ll destroy anything to gain power. I didn’t want to drag you into any more danger, especially if she’s tied to Reggie.”

The words settled over me like a storm cloud, heavy with meaning I wasn’t ready to face. The air between us thickened, the silence stretching.

“She’s the reason I came to this realm in the first place,” Zeke said, his voice dropping into something almost fragile. “I’ve been here almost a year now, butit’s only been a few months since I started tracking her down in the States. I only just found out she’s in this small town. I know she works at a shop here, but finding her has been…tricky.”

I stared at him, stunned. A year? He’d been here much longer than I’d imagined.

“Okay. I’m coming with you,” I said, my voice steady with resolve.

He let out a low chuckle, like he’d expected it. “I figured as much,” he murmured, a knowing grin tugging at his lips. He gave a brief nod, fingers tapping lightly on the wheel, eyes still fixed on the road.

As I thought about driving around town in Zeke’s car, a nervous twinge crept in. My hands tightened around the edge of the seat, and my stomach fluttered with unease. What if Reggie or Sal saw us? Especially if we were hopping in and out of stores, our chances of being spotted would skyrocket.

I hesitated, barely believing I was about to suggest this. But it felt safer.

“We should take my car instead of yours,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Just in case Reggie sees us. The BMW isn’t exactly subtle.”

Zeke’s face twisted in horror, eyes going wide. “The minivan?!” he exclaimed, like I’d just said something unholy. His fingers froze on the wheel.

I raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by his reaction. “Is there anything you don’t know about me?” I shotback. But before he could answer, his words sank in, and my jaw dropped. “And hey, what’s wrong with my minivan?” I demanded, planting a hand on my hip.

Zeke’s face smoothed over, an impassive mask settling in. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It’s…a great car,” he said with a forced smile, clearly struggling to hide his true feelings.

I grinned, satisfied with his discomfort, and gave him a playful wink. “Good. Be at my house at 8:00. I’ll be waiting by the van.”

“I’ll be there,” he said, his tone thick with reluctant resignation.

As I pictured Zeke cruising around in the minivan all day, a soft laugh escaped me. It was the perfect way to knock him down a peg. He’d been getting a little too cocky lately. But beneath the humor, something else stirred. A flicker of excitement bubbled up. This could be the breakthrough we’d been waiting for. As ridiculous as it sounded, this plan might actually lead us right where we needed to go.

seventeen

Stepping out of my house the next morning, the crisp air nipped at my skin, and I zipped up my light jacket against the chill. I made my way to the old detached garage behind the farmhouse, where my trusty minivan waited.

Just as I reached the door, Zeke appeared beside me, as if out of nowhere. My hair swirled around me in a soft gust of wind, a dramatic effect, no doubt caused by him. He adjusted his tie with a smooth motion, his gazemeeting mine.

“Hello, gorgeous,” he exclaimed, flashing that effortless grin as his eyes swept over me with unshaken confidence.

This man had no shame in his flirting—none at all. I could practically hear the whispers of his admirers back home, drawn in by his easy charm.

I raised an eyebrow, arms folded as I took in his crisp suit and tie. “Well, you’re certainly dressed for the occasion,” I said, holding out the keys to the ancient van. The contrast between his polished appearance and the decrepit vehicle was almost laughable. “I’ll let you do the honors,” I added, tipping my head toward the driver’s side.

Zeke rose to his full height, adjusting his cuffs with exaggerated importance. “There’s never a bad time for a suit,” he said with a wink, plucking the keys from my hand in a smooth, deliberate motion before twirling them around his finger.

We both opened the van’s creaky doors and climbed inside, the faint smell of old leather and stale air greeting me as I settled into my seat. Just as I was getting comfortable, the handle popped off in Zeke’s hand with a sharpclunk, making me jump. He blinked down at it, then turned toward me, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. His bright white teeth gleamed in the dim light as he held up the broken piece like evidence.

“My bad,” he offered, his voice full of genuine apology. “Guess I don’t always know my own strength.”

I burst into laughter, shaking my head as I took the handle from his grasp and tossed it into the backseat without a second thought. “It’s fine,” I said, still chuckling. “This car has far worse problems than a broken door handle.”

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