Page 23 of Forever Fallen

“How did she stay in business?”

“I used to ask myself the same question.”

“I think that room has an alarm clock so you can get to Flyboys. I can drive you on my way to the funeral home,” she offered quietly. “I was planning on getting there right after they opened, so I can get this over with.”

“Do you need help?” he offered politely, remembering how upset she was earlier.

“I don’t think there is anything left in me to cry,” she admitted softly. “I’m so tired and my head is aching from all the boo-hooing that I’ve been doing.”

“It’s understandable.”

“If you need something, just knock,” Sophie said quietly.

“Same for you,” he offered, yawning. “Charge me for the room, Sophie, because I don’t want to take any charity from you.”

“I wouldn’t charge my family for staying with me – and as my pseudo-husband? You’re technically family,” she replied, before looking away. “But thank you for the offer. That’s kind of you, Ryan… or do you prefer Reaper?”

“Reaper is what my teammates call me,” he smiled tiredly. “Onlymy wifecalls me Ryan.”

“Reaper it is then…” she quipped, turning from him quickly, but not before he saw her embarrassed expression as he chuckled.

“Goodnight,my sweet wife…”

“Don’t let the boogeyman get you,Reaper…”

“It’s Ryan,dear heart…” he taunted deliberately, enjoying the banter between them more than he should.

“Sweet dreams,Reaper…” she retorted loftily, closing her door.

“Sweet dreams,my little bride,” he called out mockingly, and laughing. “This is some wedding night. I knew you were shy, but this is unreal.”

“Go away…” she hollered in a muffled voice behind the door, as he walked away from her room.

CHAPTER9

SOPHIE

She was goingto kill him.

Murder.

First degree.

Premeditated, straight-up manslaughter.

Brutally, if Ryan didn’t stop acting up or messing around with her…

This morning, she woke up hearing the alarm buzzing on the other side of the house. The walls had always been thin, and she’d heard things go bump in the night before that would make anyone blush, so it was no surprise to hear the irritating high-pitched noise going off… as she lay there in bed, waiting for him to turn it off or hit snooze.

Instead, she heard him walking down the hall and held her breath, waiting for him to knock.

Maybe there was a problem with the alarm? Perhaps he didn’t know how to turn off the ancient clock that was older than her, with bright red square numbers that flipped.

… And then the bathroom door shut.

She heard him start the shower and realized Ryan was not shutting off the annoying alarm clock. Sitting up abruptly, she heard the water running and yanked open her bedroom door.

His door was wide open, and she could see his pants were draped on the bed. His watch was on the nightstand beside the alarm…

---