Page 49 of Like Grim Death: Part One
I want his secrets.
He has most of mine.
I want a piece of him.
I round the corner, and I catch sight of him below the porchlight. Tall and lean, his side profile to me as he inhales from his joint before he flicks it into the grass. Smoke curls from his nose as he holds his phone in one hand, the other in the pocket of his black hoodie. He doesn’t have the bandana on, and I know Jeremiah was wearing it when he murdered Mav’s mom because I heard Lucifer mention it.
When his dad put the gun to his head.
Maybe he doesn’t want the reminder.
But I freeze, and it isn’t at the sight of him without a bandana.
I do a double take, looking at his phone again.
His phone.I finally remember. It was on the nightstand upstairs. It’s why I couldn’t justcallhim, or text him.
I feel a little sick, dizzy, and off.He has a secret phone?My mind gurgles up excuses. It’s probably a burner phone, a work one. But why didn’t he text me? Let me know he was safe? How come I don’t know about it?
I blink, taking the rest of him in, feeling like I’m falling.
He’s in black, ripped jeans, and black, lace-up boots, just like Luce wears. But where Lucifer is only darkness, Mav has blond hair, longer on top and shorter on the sides. His lips are pressed together, but they’re beautiful even in his anger. His jaw is clenched, showing the sharp planes of his face.
I see a shadow along his temple, but from this distance, I don’t know if it’s a smudge of dirt or if…someonehurt him.
I feel a warmth building in my body, a desire to envelope him even though he towers over me. Even though he’s keeping this phone and clearly other secrets from me. Despite it all, I want to soothe him. I want to take care of him.
“Play God with me.”
I want to.
I want to be by his side.
I take a step, my lips parting to call out his name. Maybe I’ll tell him everything too.Do you know your friend is fucking you over? Do you know he’s not as nice as he seems?
But before I can get to him, Mav puts the phone to his ear, his eyes fluttering closed. I still, waiting. Is he calling me? Is he going to tell me he has a secret number? My phone is in my pocket, and I shift it out, glancing at the screen.
It’s black.
Frowning, I lift my gaze back to him.
And then all the lines in his face, even the tension I could see in his shoulders, it all softens as he says,“Angel,”like he’s found a lifeline.
My body grows hot, my throat tight as jealousy strangles me.
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
Pressure builds behind my eyes.
“I just needed to talk.”
I feel nauseous.
I take a step back, and another, and I’m not quiet this time, but he doesn’t notice. Because… He’s too wrapped up in her. I think I hear something else, but my ears are ringing and it’s hard to discern the words.
“Is Rain okay?”
But then my phone starts to glow in my hands and wild hope, something like desperation engulfs me. The number is blocked, but I swipe to connect the call anyway, because maybe it’s him and maybe he only calledherfirst to check on Rain and…and…
