It was nice to fall back into a familiar rhythm. To do homework and try to come up with trivial details to e-mail her mother. And when the weekends rolled around, James would often show up with two burlap sacks.
There was no point in getting river rocks; the Daemon wasn’t pestering them to do it. But it was something to do, and besides—Dee enjoyed it.
If she were being honest with herself, she felt better when she was with James. She liked the way he seemed to settle into her—like plastering up the cracks in an old wall. He made her feel whole, like she wasn’t some broken thing that needed fixing.
She learned that he always smelled of paint and fabric softener. His outfits may have looked as if they came from a dumpster, but he was meticulous about washing them. She learned that he liked holding hands, enjoyed his thumb stroking over her pulse point, as if it were a joke between them.
As spring crept toward summer, a heat wave rolled into Oregon. It was rare to see the clouds burned so cleanly from the sky. When they went to the river one day, she found herself kneeling in the shallow water, dribbling handfuls of it over her bare shoulders.
James ended up taking off his shirt and—
Dee did not stare.
Much.
All right, so maybe there was some staring.
Once they were done picking rocks, he insisted on being gallant and carrying both burlap sacks.
“I think our roommates are dating,” said James, with as much solemnity as he could muster.
She snorted. “Oh, really? How’d you figure that out?”
His mouth hooked up into a grin. “I am a keen observer of the human condition. All artists must carefully examine human behavior and…”
Dee gazed at him.
“I walked in on them making out,” he finished lamely.
Her laugh came out as a breathy exhalation.
“You can laugh,” he said. “It’s not like they were making out on your couch.”
Dee crossed her arms. “Don’t tell me you’re bothered by it.”
“Of course I’m bothered by it,” said James. “It’smycouch. I spent all of… a hundred dollars on it. If anyone was going to christen it with a naked butt, it should have been me.”
Dee choked. “They were naked?”
“Not yet,” said James. “Give it time.”
“You really think so?”
James pointed at himself. “Keen observer of the human condition, remember? It’ll happen.”
They kissed against the hood of his car for some time. She never thought it could be this effortless. She never thought she’d find anyone she trusted enough to share such easy affection.
When they returned to his apartment, his door was unlocked. “You should lock your door,” she said, pushing it shut behind her.
“I’m already working for the Daemon,” said James airily. “Whatever decides to visit can’t be scarier than him.”
One of his paintings caught her eye. It looked like something from an old church, with figures and glowing halos, shining through with inner light.
“You’re painting angels?” she said, unable to help herself.
“I’m calling itSalvation,” said James. “Probably going to sell it to an old man who’s obsessed with Rafael. He’ll love it.” He grinned at Dee. “Yeah, I know. It’s pretty ironic.”
“Where’s Riley?” asked Dee, glancing around the apartment.
