In my room, my phone goes off, an email notification, probably junk, but it draws both my attention and Kyran’s.
One text.
One quick textSTOP, and he leaves.
One line, spoken, saying—calmly and clearly—that I’m going to textSTOP, and he won’t take another step…from the table in my dining room…across the floor…to my bedroom.
One. Line.
One.Word.
If I justsaystop, hewill.
I know that.
Because I know Kyran, at least a little bit. I’ve spent the past eight months in a place where he is. And I’ve beenobsessedwith him for years before that. He is real. And he iskind. And he will listen.
If I justspeak.
Standing at my bedroom doorway, he lets loose a string of swears. “This isbeautiful.”
Something in the hollow expanse of my chest awakens.
“You’re a goblin,” he blurts, whirling to look at me.
I flinch, and the fact that is the absolute opposite ofwow, I’m so in love with youreactivates my ability to function. “A…goblin?”
“Known hoarders.”
“Tiny green monsters.”
“Average-size insatiablehoarders.”
“Grotesque, small, disgustingmonsters.”
He holds my gaze, then he says, “Agree to disagree.”
I sputter, marching toward him. “You can’t just keep saying—”
“Agree to disagree.” He breaks the sanctity of my bedroom by stepping across the threshold. “There’s so much to look at. No wonder you weren’t keen on moving. Your cave would not relocate easily… Maybe we should spend some of tonight packing. One box a day, and you’ll barely realize you live with me until it’s too late to begin the arduous process of attempting to move back.” Awestruck, he runs his fingers across the plastic mane of one of my tokidokis. “It’s worse than my gaming room in here…”
Finding my nerve, I grip my fists. “Listen here, e-boy—”
“Need me to bring you your phone,” he asks, instantly mellowed.
I flinch. “No, I—”
Twisting back toward the door, hetaunts, “No, huh?”
Then the absolute worst case scenario in the history of worst case scenarios transpires…as his vision catches, on the shrine by my door. Heat settles into his eyes, and I watch in slow motion as he approaches my FrostPlays merch collection. Dark as an angel asking for my soul, Kyran touching a finger to his lips. “Well—”
I gulp.
“—isn’tthischarming?”
I shudder.
His gaze hits me,heavy. “About that denial, mistress…”
