Page 108 of Not Today, Satan
“I get it from you.” I dab at one of the tears on her cheek and try to smile. “I love you, Mom.”
“Love you, too.” She squeezes me one last time and takes a step back. “Remember you’re welcome back here whenever you want. My door is always open. Make me proud, Devica.”
I swallow hard. “I’ll try.”
Nate opens his arms, and I rush into them, burying my face in his chest. He’s wearing the “My girlfriend saved me from Hell and all I got was this lousy shirt” T-shirt I’d custom-ordered online for his deathiversary—which was also the anniversary of the day we met. He said it was the best gift he’d ever received.
I sniffle against the raised font. “I don’t know how to say goodbye to you.”
He brushes a loose strand of hair from my face. “This isn’t forever. I’ll see you again soon. After you kick Fungus’ ass. Which I have no doubt you’ll do.”
I give him a half smile. “You sure have a lot of faith in me. More than I feel in myself.”
“I just know in my heart this isn’t how our story ends.”
Nate lowers his head and kisses me, slow and sweet. His fingers curve around my neck, pulling me closer, before they settle in my hair. I murmur against his mouth, the salt-water taste of tears hitting my tongue. Whether they’re mine or his, I can’t tell.
Mom clears her throat, and I break the kiss reluctantly, my cheeks heating under her gaze.
Nate traces a line down the side of my face. “I’ll be forever grateful to you, Devica. You saved my life, twice. This heart beats again, not only because of you, butforyou.”
I poke him in the chest. “You’re so lame sometimes.”
“You love it.”
“I do.” I peer up at him. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He kisses me one last time. “Now, go save your home. I’ll be here when you’re ready to visit. Don’t take too long, okay?”
I peer over his shoulder at my mom, blinking the tears out of my eyes. “You’ll take care of him?”
She plants her palm on his arm. “Like my own son. Which, of course, means keeping to the plan of getting a GED, then starting college.”
Nate groans and throws me a pleading look. “Is it too late to change my mind and come with you?”
“Sorry.” I shrug. “I worked too hard to get you out. You’re stuck here.”
He glances at my mom, and they exchange smiles. “Guess it’s not so bad to find a forever family.”
Mom wraps an arm around him. “It’s not.”
“Ick. Don’t drown in that fondue while I’m away.” I take a deep breath and step in front of the portal. “I’d better go. Attero is waiting.”
Mom holds Nate close to her side. “Bye, hon. Don’t worry about us. We’ll be okay here.”
“Goodbye, Dev,” Nate whispers.
“Not goodbye, Nathan Reynolds,” I remind him. “Just ‘See you soon.’ I love you both.”
I look up. The clouds have finally parted, giving me a clear glimpse of the stars that pattern the California sky. There aren’t many, and they’re so far away that I have to squint to see them, but I imprint them on the memories I’ve made with Mom and Nate like they burn by the thousands.
Then I close my eyes and leap into the portal.
LI.
I descend into Hell, not with careful steps like Dante, but with the speed of a bullet. The portal spits me onto the bridge, which I hit like a boulder, and I roll toward the edge. Attero grabs my ponytail and jerks me back. Pain shoots through my scalp, but I grab the railing with a cry and come to a stop before toppling into the fires below.
“Sorry.” Attero drops his hand. “I was aiming for your arm.”
