“That thing isn’t even safe.”
“Oh, I assure you, it was made the same year as airbags, so she’s perfectly safe and reliable. She has eight hundred thousand miles on her, and she’s still going strong. She’s much safer and far easier to get in and out compared to your monstrosity of a sports car.”
“Holy jeepers. I need to buy you an SUV.”
“Ha! No thanks. You can buy yourself one. It’s much easier to get Milo in and out of one, and you can actually haul more than a shoe and a prayer in it. Now, how about we get you up?”
“Ugh, Lu, I smell bad, and I’m disgusting. I haven’t showered in…well, I’ve lost count. I’ve been so, so sick, but when I got your text, I panicked. I had to come. I just didn’t have the energy to shower first. I couldn’t stand the thought that you might be thinking I’d ever leave you again. No, please don’t apologize.” I can see that she’s getting teary.
She wraps her arms around me and throws herself against me, regardless of the nasty smells that must be coming from me. At least my clothes are clean, and the fresh laundry scent is probably doing something to mask the stench. Hopefully, maybe.
I know this isn’t the time or the place, but I have to tell her. “Lu, the bracelet…it’s in my pocket.” I just realized that subconsciously, I stuffed it in there before I left the house. I don’t remember doing it, but I can feel it trying to incinerate my nuts again. “I want you to have it. It’s cursed, but it’s not a bad curse. My Granny gave it to me. My brother, sister, and cousins also got something from Granny. The objects are all cursed to make each of us fall in love, but frankly, after what happened with our parents, we did not believe in it. We even made a pact about it…that we wouldn’t fall in love. We didn’t want to let the curse have its way. But I am. I’m in love with you. I’ve always been in love with you. You are my one and only soulmate. If you’d wear it, I’d be so freaking honored.”
I shift, and Luna digs into my pocket. She takes out the bag and pulls out the bracelet she cleaned. “Goodness,” she says. That’s all she says, but then she uncoils it, slips it around her wrist, and fastens the clasp. When she has it on, she proudly shows it to me, a huge smile on her face. Then, she throws her arms around me again and rests her cheek against my pounding heart.
“Lu, I smell really, really bad…”
“Tor,” she says with all the exasperation, glowing happiness, and love that her voice is so thick with it. “Don’t be silly. You do smell strange, but that’s okay—nothing I can’t handle. I changed diapers for two and a half years, and they’re no picnic. I’ve also looked after a sick kid every single year. It’s going to take more than body odor, sweat, and food poisoning to keep me away.”
“Uh, the sight of my house might do it for you. I haven’t cleaned it.”
“That’s okay. I’ll take care of it.”
“No! Dear god, Luna, no! I won’t have you do that.”
“You won’t have me do anything. I’ll come along, get you into bed, phone the doctor, and take care of it. I’m here, Toren. For good or bad, for clean houses or gross ones, for the pretty bits and nasty days. I love you. All these years, you’ve been like a parasite inside me, always feeding off my heart and growing stronger no matter how I tried to stop it.”
“Ugh. Christ.”
“Okay,” she laughs. “That’s just wrong. I’ve got nothing here, no good metaphors, so I’ll just say it plainly. I love you. I love you. I love you. And I haven’t stopped either. I’ve tried, but it’s still there. I have a ton of hope for us. I’m sorry I doubted you. It won’t happen again. We’re in this together now.” She holds up her wrist with the bracelet. “It’s official. I’m cursed for good, and we can’t get rid of each other now.”
Like the first time I ever saw her wear it, the lights flicker overhead. Or maybe it’s just me, going in and out of consciousness. Nope, it’s definitely the lights.
And then Luna kisses me. It’s not an open-mouthed kiss because I’d rather die than give her one, even though I did have the foresight to pop a breath mint in before getting into the cab. She kisses me sweetly, a press of her lips to mine, and then pulls away so I can watch her eyes well up with happy tears.
If she can kiss me in a moment like this, stand to be within ten feet of me, and freaking stand to be in the same room, then maybe she can put up with anything. I smooth my hands over her hair and cup her face.