“Yeah.” He stepped back; I clung just a little. “If the world doesn’t end…
“Give me a call.”
He never would. A guy like him, a girl like me—heat of the moment and all that. As soon as I was out of sight, I’d be out of mind. But it sounded good—as if I didn’t care, as if I weren’t dying inside.
“Hasta luego, chica.”
The tears were blinding me. I wiped them away, but he was already gone.
The snick of my apartment door closing echoed in the suddenly silent room. I was alone again.
Just me and my big fat boring life.
11
M y life didn’t get any better. Without Chavez in it—there was nothing worth getting up for.
I’d never liked my job. Now I loathed it. What good was trying to sell books to people who were only promoted for paying far less than what they were worth? What good was any job when the world was about to end?
I drifted, waiting for something to happen, but I wasn’t sure what.
Three months later, I was still waiting. I fell asleep late one night while reading a manuscript. Just another Saturday and I didn’t have anybody.
Because I didn’t want anybody but him.
I dreamed of Chavez all the time, and in my dreams he was with me. His touch gentle, his eyes full of love. Definitely a fantasy, but all I had.
“Kit. Wake up.”
His voice sounded so close. His fingers were so warm as he removed my glasses. I fought against sleep and opened my eyes.
“Hey, chica.”
I closed them again, squeezed tight, and tried once more. He was blurry, but he was here.
I struggled upright, and manuscript pages spilled from my lap, cascading onto the floor. I let them go. “Is the world saved?”
Chavez shook his head. He appeared tired, drained, defeated. Not the man who’d left on a quest only three months ago.
“Why did you come?”
He hesitated. “I—I need you.”
“Okay.” I tangled my fingers with his and started for the bedroom. I’d take whatever I could get.
“No!” He snatched his hand away. “That’s not what I meant.”
“What did you mean?”
“I—I’ve seen some terrible things. The world is a mess, Kit.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“Through everything, I remembered you. You’re what kept me going.”
I wanted to believe him, but I wanted to be sure, and I wanted him to be, too.
“We had one night, Chavez. Manufactured intimacy in exchange for the death of evil—or at least one little piece of it.”
“We had sex.”
“I know.”
“For me, it was more.”
My eyes widened; my breath caught. I couldn’t speak. He didn’t seem to have that problem.
“I was crazy for you from the first moment I saw you, but I couldn’t touch you. I had to—”
“Protect me.” I smiled, and some of his tension eased. “You did. I’m safe now because of you and I’m grateful.”
“I don’t want you to be grateful,” he growled.
“What do you want me to be?”
He glanced away and muttered, “Mine.”
“Huh?”
He took a deep breath and looked back. “I want you to be mine. I want to have someone, somewhere, who’s waiting for me. I’m sick of being alone and lonely. The only time I felt as if I belonged anywhere was when I was here with you.”
“What are you saying?”
“I love you. I can’t live without you. I hope you feel the same way.”
I hesitated and his shoulders sagged. “I know a girl like you and a guy like me—you probably forgot about me the instant I walked out that door.”
I let a small laugh escape. “You’re kind of unforgettable.”
Hope lit his eyes. I didn’t want that hope to die.
“I love you, too, Zac.”
He smiled at my use of his name. For him, the gift of his name went deeper than the gift of his body.
“My life without you isn’t much of a life. I hate it here when being here means I’m not with you. I want to help you save the world.”
Chavez shook his head so hard his hair flew and his earring caught the lamplight and flashed bright sparks into my eyes. “I won’t let you risk yourself.”
“But you can risk yourself?”
“I hunt demons. That’s what I do. It’s all I’ve ever done.”
“Seems to me that the last demon took both of us to kill. Without me, you’d still be flailing around with your salt and your holy water and your sacramental wine.”
His brow lifted. “Don’t forget the silver bullets.”
“How could I when they worked so well?”
His smile turned shy. “I was thinking—love has always been stronger than anything.”