Page 49 of Come Back To Me
“That and something else.” He grips the stem and sighs, scratching at his elbow. That’s when I notice he’s peeling there.
“How long has it been since you’ve eaten?”
“I don’t know.” His shoulders lift. “A while.”
“We’ll need to figure something out. You’re starting to look more—”
“Dead,” he finishes.
“Yeah.” I take in his sunken eyes, frowning. “The party is in two days, and I don’t want to go with you not feeling well.”
“I feel fine. You don’t need to worry.”
“Will taking more from me tonight help?”
“You really want it to, don’t you?” His eyes darken. “As much as I want that too, I need to be logical. I’m too hungry to not accidentally lose control. I told you I’d try for you, and I meant it.”
“I know.” My throat thickens as he peels at the thin layer hanging from his arm. “I can’t lose you again. I wouldn’t be able to take it.”
“You won’t. It’s a slow-going process. It’d more than likely take a year before I fully turned to ash.”
“That’s not funny. You’re . . . you said it could happen but I was hoping you were wrong.”
“A person doesn’t experience a feeling that strong for no reason.”
“No. Now that I understand . . .” I move my fingers to a softer area of his arm. “What if they’re already dead? That would still work, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes, but don’t know how long it’ll be before someone posts about a grave robber on the loose.”
I bite my lip so hard I bleed and his teeth clamp tight together. “There has to be a better way. I have to find one.”
“Baby . . .” He wraps his hand around mine. “How about we don’t think about it right now. Let’s enjoy the rest of the Halloween week and then we can come back to it.”
My teeth clamp on the inside of my cheeks and I draw more blood.
“Stop doing that.” His fingers squeeze mine so tight I wince in pain from the almost cracking of my bones. “You have to stop doing that.”
“I’m sorry. It’s a nervous habit.”
“One that drove me crazy before and now it’s driving me straight to pure madness.”
“We all have those things we wish the other wouldn’t do.”
“It’s not just that and you know it.” A muscle ticks in his cheek. “Let’s finish painting these pumpkins. I really want you to see the end result with the candle inside and everything.”
“Okay.” My chest doesn’t feel any lighter with his sweet kisses or reassuring smile. I want it to, but then I look at his neck, and I can’t stop the tugging at my heart when certain areas are already looking on the gangrene side.
“Drum roll,” Gareth says an hour after blocking his work with his body. He turns around holding up his hands. “I don’t think you’re ready for this masterpiece.”
Giving him a slow, easy smile, I lean back on the opposite counter. “Let’s see it already. I can’t take the suspense anymore.”
His face brightens and he taps the counter with his hands behind him, slowly stepping to the side. I inch closer and laugh so loud, I snort too hard, causing my nose to burn.
“What do you think?”
“I think it’s an exact replica of you and would win the number one prize at a festival.”
He sends me a sly smile. “I told you it was a masterpiece.”
