AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No.”
He gestures behind him, and the path is obvious.
In the field of daisies, blood-red poppies have sprung up everywhere he’s walked. I just didn’t see them until he showed me.
“Okay. We walk, then?”
Hades shakes his head. “I don’t think we have to walk.”
“Then—”
He holds out his hand like we’re going to shake.
I ignore it and squeeze my mom tight. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I know.”
“I’m glad you’re okay. But you don’t have to have a dog if you don’t want one. That’s fucking weird.”
“She’s a sweet dog.”
“You don’tknowthat.” Rosie licks my hand. Fine. Maybe she’ll be okay company.
“I love you.” My mom kisses my cheek. “Go and be happy.”
“I love you too.”
She lets go and pats impatiently at my shoulder. “Get going. I’m so excited!”
I put Daisy’s necklace into her hand. “Keep this for me? I think you have a free pocket.”
“Of course I will. Now go.Go.”
I don’t know why we have to rush this part, but I know we do. The tone of the pressure against my chest has changed. We have to get going, like she said.
I take one more look at this place where my mom lives—where shelives,she’s okay—and turn to face Hades.
My hand is an inch from his when someone tackles me viciously from behind.
It fully takes me out, down to the ground, and he lands on top of me, grinning like a fool.
“Youbastard,” Ollie shouts into my face. “You were going to leave without saying anything? I fuckingshoutedat you. You saidwait a minute.And then you were going to bounce?”
“I forgot, okay? Jesus. There’s a lot going on.” My face hurts from smiling so much. “Are you okay?”
He rolls his eyes. “Yes.For fuck’s sake. It’s great here. Thank God it wasn’t you, Herc, you’d never have been able to appreciate it.”
“Oh, and you can?”
“You havenoidea how many people I’ve met. And how many of them are down to f—”
“My mom isrighthere.” He grins even wider, and I take him by the shirt collar. “Say you’re joking, Ollie, or I swear to fucking God I’ll find a way to k—”
“A joke!” He laughs, and I’ll never forget it. I’ll get to remember it here, without any guns going off in the background, without worrying that I’ll get him killed, nothing. “I was joking! Fuck. You’re so serious. Have a little fun, would you?”
“Hercules,” Hades says.
Ollie jumps up and pulls me to my feet. He reaches out and fist-bumps Hades, which is the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen in my life. “Hey, man.”
