Page 78 of If You Go
“Good night, Siren,” he whispers, kissing me softly, lingering.
I smile against his lips. “Good night, dear.”
He pulls back a little, eyebrows lifting and a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
“Dear?”
“My grandparents called each other that,” I say, blushing. “It just… fits.”
A slow grin spreads across his face. “Then that’s what I’ll be.”
He turns off the light and gathers me closer, my head against his chest. His breathing evens out first. Mine follows. The world outside can wait.
For tonight, I am whole.
We pull up to Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium the next evening, but not how I’ve ever seen it. The 5500 utility truck takes up half the back lot it seems, headlights cutting through the marine fog like search beams. Brenden kills the engine. The night goes still.
We’d gone back for Gavin around nine thirty. Dad’s guard said he was alive–barely–but that the room smelled like piss androt. He was still where we left him, tied and trembling. I’d texted Dad an apology for the cleanup before pocketing my phone and helping Brenden wrap the bastard in one of the mattress-store blankets.
Now, as we back up to the loading dock, the ocean wind stings my eyes.
Brenden hops out first, jogging around to my side and pulling open my door with a theatrical bow.
“Here we are, milady.”
His grin is ridiculous and somehow exactly what I need.
“Thank you, my lord,” I say, taking his hand.
We had spent the day in bed, rotting in front of the television, having food delivered. We didn’t bother getting dressed until about seven this evening. There wasn’t a point. We explored each other again. I wasn’t ready to had sex again yet. I needed a bit more time. More closure. But we touched, tasted, and loved one another. Slowly. Deliberately. Methodically. It was a beautiful day. And tonight, that pain finally ends.
When we circle to the back, Gavin’s already awake, thrashing under the blanket. He kicks out, nearly catching Brenden in the ribs, but the ropes hold.
“Sorry, mate,” Brenden says mildly. “You won’t be getting free this time.”
“Do you think anyone will hear him?” I ask. My voice sounds too loud in the empty lot. “Nah,” Brenden answers. “The beach is closed at night. Anyone down there’s either drunk or too smart to come looking.”
He hoists Gavin up and over his shoulder like a sack of wet sand, then takes my hand again as we head for the back entrance.
The metal door groans open to reveal a tall, gangly man with glasses sliding down his nose.
“Brenden! Man, long time!” he says, beaming as if it’s perfectly normal to see someone carrying a bloodied, writhing human burrito.
“Elliot,” Brenden greets, shaking his hand one-armed. “Thanks again for the favor.”
“Oh–oh, wow.” Elliot’s eyes widen when he spots me. “You’re Surry O’Brien. I follow you on TikTok! Uh–your videos are awesome.” He blushes hard enough to match the red exit sign overhead.
“Oh! Well, it’s nice to meet you, Elliot.” I smile despite myself. “Send me a message so I can follow you back.”
He nearly chokes. “Right. Yes. Sure thing!”
Brenden coughs to hide a laugh. Elliot takes the hint and gestures us forward.
“This way.”
The corridor is long, narrow, and humming with filtered water behind the walls. The air smells of salt, metal, and disinfectant.
“So, how do you two know each other?” I ask, if only to drown out the sound of Gavin’s muffled growling.
