The playful smile disappeared, and he snapped his fingers. The woods vanished. Once again, I was in my bedroom. It did little to soothe me with him standing in my home. I shouldn’thave touched the necklace. I shouldn’t have made that wish. I damn sure shouldn’t have brought it here. Aside from random dreams, I was free of him for the most part.
He spun around, horns almost scraping the ceiling, and took in my bedroom. His focus ended on my messy, rumpled bed covered in laundry. My eyes widened when I saw what he was looking at.
I tossed a t-shirt on top of my underwear and grew a backbone. “Get out.”
Instead, he went to the vent and stuck his hand straight through the metal. “I liked your other room better. This one is… bland.” When he pulled back, he held the pouch in his hand.
What did that even mean? I didn’t remember him in my old room. “Leave!”
He ignored me and poured the necklace into his hand as he approached. I scooted backward and nearly fell inside my closet. His words ricocheted through my mind when he looped it over my head.A gift for all you have endured, and what you have yet to give.More like the ol’ ball and chain.
I wanted to jerk away when he tipped my chin up. I focused on the dark outline of his lips as they puckered when he spoke. “Wear. It.”
His head ticked to the side as if in deep thought before he disappeared.
The seriousness of the situation crashed down on me. I took a deep breath that quivered and raised my hands. Tremors wracked my body. I slipped the necklace off and cried. I cried for the future I’d never have and for the one I’d have to live. The pendant warmed against my palm like it did when my wishes came true. Only this wish wasn’t mine. It was his.
“There you are.”
I jumped and almost screamed. “You scared the shit out of me, Gina,” I said, swiping at my cheeks and blinking away the oncoming tears.
“I don’t know how. I yelled your name when I came in. What are you doing?”
“Bagging my laundry.” I snatched my underwear off the bed in case he decided to get a second look. Creep. “You got back fast.”
“Fast?” Gina came around to stand in front of me. “I’ve been back an hour. I knocked on your door, but you didn’t answer. I figured you were napping. I finally got your spare from Kaiden.” The keychain jingled between her pinched fingers.
I glanced at my watch. Two hours had passed.
Gina followed my hand and pointed at it. “What’s that?”
I squeezed the necklace, cursing myself. I had to talk my way out of this one. No way was I making another wish with it. I opened my hand, and she tilted her head in recognition. Shit.
“Is that the necklace your grandma gave you?”
Double shit. “Yeah, it is.”
“I thought you lost it.” She reached out to touch it but at the last second pulled back.
“So did I,” I mumbled.
“Awe. I know you miss her. It’s awesome you found it, though. Like she’s watching over you.”
More like he was. I suppressed the quiver working through me.
Gina wrapped me up in a hug and rubbed my back. I soaked up the comfort the lies were buying me. “Things will get better. I promise. You’ll find a job that suits you, have some stability, and maybe meet someone you’ll actually like for more than dick.”
Swallowing the knot in my throat, I said, “You’re right.”
She pushed me to arm’s length and gripped my shoulders. “You better put that on so you don’t lose it again.”
Would it be easier to wear this, or tell Gina the truth about me and Kaiden’s past? I frowned as I lowered my head and slipped the chain over it. It vibrated like a gong when it hit my chest. My heart fluttered with it, and I clutched the pendant, silently praying for it to stop when it warmed in my hand. I stiffened and swore under my breath.
“Come on,” Gina said, leaving the room. “Let’s watch our show.”
I went to close the door behind me when I felt someone there. Gina kept walking, oblivious to what was happening around her. In my periphery, a shadow spun wildly inside the closet. Not wanting to hang around and find out, I closed the door and quickly followed her.
