Page 133 of My Undead Love Life

Mad’s words came back to me. If you start pulling away now because you’re afraid she might leave, you’ll hurt her.

I looked at her, at the way her eyes fought to stay open because she had sensed something wrong with me. At Keith’s arm still around her and at her hand still holding mine.

“No,” I admitted quietly.

She woke more at that. “What happened?”

“Nothing happened.” I squeezed her fingers carefully. “That’s the problem.”

Her brow furrowed.

I exhaled. “I’m glad Keith is alive. I need you to know that.”

Keith stayed very still.

Spencer’s eyes softened. “I know.”

“But I’m scared it changes us.”

Her grip tightened.

“I’m scared you won’t need me anymore,” I said, the words barely above a whisper.

Spencer stared at me for a second like I had broken her heart by saying it.

Then, she pushed herself up on one elbow despite Keith’s low protest and reached for my face with her free hand. Her palm was warm against my cheek. “Oxi,” she whispered. “That’s not how this works.”

“I know that logically.”

“Then listen emotionally.”

Luck murmured, “That is wise.”

Mad muttered, “Shut up.”

Spencer ignored them, her eyes locked on mine. “Keith being alive doesn’t erase you. It doesn’t erase the roof, or the mall, or your sister, or every night you held me when I was cold. It doesn’t erase what I feel for you.”

My throat worked.

“You told him you loved us,” I said.

Her expression shifted. “I did,” she whispered.

“But you didn’t tell us.” The vulnerability in that sentence made me want to crawl out of my own skin.

Understanding moved over her face. “Oh, Oxi.”

I looked away, but she gently turned my face back toward hers. “I love you,” she said.

My breath stopped.

“I love you,” she repeated. “Keith coming back doesn’t change that. Nothing about loving him makes loving you less real.”

Something inside my chest cracked. I closed my eyes, and her thumb brushed over my cheek.

“I love Mad,” she continued softly. “I love Luck. I love Keith. And I love you.”

Luck made a rough little sound behind me. Mad was silent, but I could feel the weight of him listening.