“Right? Our lives are so weird, man.”
“Was it worth it?”
“I don’t know yet. But we’ll find out soon enough. One way or another.”
“I love you, you know.”
I smiled against his chest. “I know. I love you too, dude.”
I felt more than heard his laugh, his chest rumbling against my ear. “I’m not mad anymore.”
“No?”
“Nah.”
“The sex was that good, huh?”
“Oh my gods.”
“Seriously. I legit just fucked the anger out of you. Wow. I’m amazing.”
“Sam,” he groaned.
“I’ll keep that in mind for the future if I ever make you mad again. Just fuck it all away.”
“Yeah, let me know how that works out for you.”
And when he burst out into bright, beautiful laughter as I bit the skin of his chest, I promised myself that I was going to do what was necessary to make sure I heard that sound for the rest of my life.
HE WAS on the verge of sleep when he mumbled, “Can’t believe you’d do that for me.”
“Do what?” I asked, blinking slowly.
“Be mortal. Grow old with me. I can’t wait, Sam. It’s gonna be good. I promise. You won’t regret it.” And then he was snoring.
And later, before I followed him into sleep, I looked out the window and saw the shimmer of stars in the sky.
And I made a wish.
Please. Please. Please let me have this. Let me have these moments for as long as I can.
I closed my eyes.
And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t dream.
Chapter 15: Randall and the Great White
“SHH.”
“You shhh. I’ll have you know, kitten, that I am quiet as a mouse when I want to be. I didn’t need my horn for that. But now that I have it, they won’t even hear me coming.”
“Everyone hear you coming.”
“Did you just make a sex joke?”
“Tiggy funny.”
“I don’t know that I’ve ever been more proud of anyone in my life. Bravo, my good giant. Bravo.”