The anticipation fills me with the same rush as when I hand off a target to a mule, as when that first hit of Miracle Max kicks in. It’s that moment you let go and have to trust that you’ve laid all the Groundwork for a soft landing.
But when Rook just continues staring at me, a new feeling sets in. The realization that I may have miscalculated.
I open my mouth—to say what, I don’t know. To apologize? To suggest we get back to work? A self-deprecating joke should do the trick.
“I—” I start, but then his mouth is back on mine, and this is no phantom kiss.
One hand is on my waist, and the other snakes around my back. I’m still on my toes, but now he’s bent to meet me, now he’s holding me steady. He groans into my mouth, and I realize it’s because I’ve slipped my hands into his hair—seriouslygreathair—and he pulls me closer.
It’s different than kissing Tolliver, and I hate myself for even thinking about other kisses at the moment, but all I can think is how thrilling this is. I was nervous when Tolliver kissed me. I had butterflies. But it felt safe.
Kissing Rook is like we’re in competition. I’m not sure what we’re fighting for or how to win, but that’s half the fun. I gasp when he bites my bottom lip.
I don’t realize he’s been walking me backward until my shoulder collides with a tree. Mist clings to my ankles and the scent of upturned earth is sharp in my nose.
“Wait! Wait!” I pant, pushing gently against his shoulders.
He pulls back immediately, and I feel bereft.
“I’m sorry,” he says, voice hoarse. “I shouldn’t have…”
“Um, no, you most definitely should have. It’s just…” I pointbehind him. “We have to finish digging up your sister’s dead body and steal her finger bone.”
He blinks at me, eyebrows raised, then lets out what can only be called a snort. I bite my bottom lip, and then we’re both laughing.
“Well,” Rook says, after taking a deep breath, “this is not how I expected this evening to go.”
“We really put the ‘fun’ in ‘funeral,’ ” I say.
“Elle,” he says, shaking his head.
I grin. “The ‘bone’ in ‘boneyard.’ ”
He leans down to grab his shovel, and I’m in the middle of coming up with my next pun when he tilts his head and gives me a wry smile. “The ‘romance’ in ‘necromance.’ ”
In the end, it takes us until just before dawn to finish our grave robbing. Once I pry open Credence’s casket, Rook waiting just out of sight, I use some pliers to detach one of her pinkies. The bone is…not completely exposed, so Tolliver is going to have to macerate it. I pocket her finger and almost turn to go when something shiny catches my eye. The tower obol she was buried with has fallen onto the floor of the casket. I don’t know why, but I grab the obol and tuck it into my pocket. I don’t mention it to Rook as we refill the grave just before the sky turns pink and the sun’s first beams crest thehorizon.
TheConvincer
Twenty-Eight
Tolliver shows up first the next morning. He walks right in, says, “Hey,” as though it’s any normal day, throws off his jacket, the flannel underneath, and goes immediately to the pantry to find a tub of cheese puffs.
He sits next to me on the couch, silently munching away, not looking at me. The air is thick with tension, and not the sexy kind. I’ve never felt awkward around Tolliver, even at the height of my crush, but it feels like whatever happens next is going to define our relationship.
Well, here goes nothing.
I swallow. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the hellhound.”
Oh, gross. Apologies, gross. I hated that.
After a moment, Tolliver nods his head. “Thanks.”
Well, that went better than expected.
But then Tolliver turns, looks me in the eye, and says, “If you ever keep something like that from me again, I’m done.”
I don’t know if he means done with the crew or done with us, but either way, it doesn’t bear thinking about.
