“I will help and Buns is back, too. She will know what to do. I was so wrong about the Reapers, Buns and Brownie. They’ve been the best for you,” he says, placing me back on the ground.
“No, you’re the best for me,” I say, taking his hand and walking back toward his house. And I’m going to try to be the best for you, from now on, I promise myself, realizing the pain he has been going through by watching me in my sorrow.
When we arrive back at Reed’s house, Buns is already in the game room researching sites on the Internet. “Oh, sweetie! There are several parties going on in Chicago tomorrow! There is one at Navy Pier! They’re having 9 different DJ’s and a fireworks display at midnight. Evie, did I ever tell you about the fireworks the Song Dynasty set off in the 9th century? I was really young then and I was just beginning to understand why I wasn’t blending in very well.” She smiles at me and I can’t tell if she’s teasing, or if she is serious.
I look over at Reed and see him frowning. “Buns, can you find something else…something a little more feasible…tactically?” he asks.
When Buns turns to look at Reed skeptically, Zephyr, who has been sitting close to her, decides to contribute to the discussion. “Buns, honey, that is a bad call. Do you realize how many Fallen will be at an event like that? And Reed is right; it is entrapping terrain, which appeals to me if we did not have Evie. Maybe you and I can go next year and see how many Fallen we can end before the ball drops,” he says with a smug smile that has Buns smiling at him.
“We’re getting out of Crestwood, that’s nonnegotiable,” Buns states flatly.
“Okay, but maybe we could avoid huge parties—something with less of a crowd?” Zephyr offers and I catch Reed smiling a little as he watches Zephyr work on Buns and her sense of celebration. “You know, for Evie’s sake, not because you are not the best event planner we know.” He is really good at strategy. I will have to listen more intently to his dissertations on the matter.
“For Evie’s sake,” she agrees stiffly, turning back to the computer screen. She pulls up website after website in rapid-fire succession. “Okay, how about something a little more recreational?” she offers, and I see Zephyr’s and Reed’s faces light up with interest.
“Recreational?” Zephyr asks, squeezing closer to Buns to peer at the screen. Reed drops his hand casually on my shoulder, caressing it.
“Snowboarding?” she says, flashing us an impish grin. “There are a bunch of small hills with ski lifts in this general area that do midnight runs on New Year’s Eve. I’m sure there is something going on at one of them where we could either ski or board until sometime around midnight, and then head in to the chalet for a midnight toast,” she says, smiling as she watches Zephyr’s face light up.
“That is my girl!” Zephyr says possessively, scooping Buns up off of her seat and twirling her around so fast they become just an impression for a moment until he sets her back on her feet.
“It’s off the chain, right, sweetie?” Buns asks, turning to me, “What do you think?”
“Sounds amazing,” I reply.
“You are truly a force of nature, Buns.” Reed agrees, leaning forward and kissing Buns on the forehead, which makes her smile deepen. “Let’s decide on the resort we are going to go to so that Zephyr and I can get some satellite shots of it, for strategy. Then, we will plan our assault on the slopes.”
I try to keep my face as neutral as possible and not let them see that there is a war going on inside of me. One side is rejoicing at the prospect of getting out of the house and living again; the other side of me is scared to death of what might happen once I leave the house. My heart must have given me away because Reed pulls me into his arms. Hugging me, he says, “It will be okay. Nothing will touch you.” He presses his cheek to mine and the heat we generate is intoxicating.
“I’m looking forward to boarding. I can’t wait to see how angels can slay a mountain,” I whisper in his ear, letting my cheek brush over his in a caress.
“I was created to slay,” Reed replies with a smile that almost stops my heart.
“I found it!” Buns’s tone is smug as she swivels in her chair to face us. “It’s a five star resort a few hours north of here. It says they’re booked for the holiday, but we know what that means,” Buns laughs, swiveling back.
I glance at Reed’s face, then Zephyr’s; they both do seem to know what she means by that. “I’m sorry, Buns, does that mean we can’t go?” I ask in confusion.
“No, sweetie, of course not. That just means they only have the really killa suites left for the VIPs.”
“Oh—are we VIPs?” I ask, trying not to sound ignorant. This makes Zephyr laugh like I have made a joke. His eyes sparkle at me like he is waiting for me to say something else amusing.
Buns smirks, too, and replies, “You know it. Reed, get her a black card.”
“Already done. She just hasn’t been anywhere to use it,” Reed replies.
“What are you talking about?” I ask in suspicion. I think I might know what it is they are saying, because I’ve seen the black credit card Buns uses to burn through cash like she printed the benjamins herself.
“I have a card for you. I don’t plan on us separating anytime soon, but you can carry it and use it however you would like,” Reed says, and frowns as he watches my mouth drop open. “What did I say?”
“I can’t take your money,” I reply, watching his face get darker.
“Why not?” Reed asks in confusion.
“Because it’s not right,” I reply.
“Why is it wrong?” he asks.
“Because it’s yours,” I reply evasively. Does he really not get that taking his money is completely grody?
“But, when I give it to you, then it is yours,” he says, smiling at me because he thinks what he is saying is logical.
“Buns, you get why I can’t take his money, right?” I ask, looking for help.
“No…it’s just money,” she shrugs, and I’m beginning to believe they are printing it somewhere.
“I have my own money, Reed, but thanks,” I say in embarrassment.
“Evie, you have a few thousand dollars—that is not money, that is…” he trails off when he sees me duck my head to hide my deepening blush of mortification. My house is for sale, but no one seems interested in it, since the previous owner was viciously murdered in it. Most of our things have been removed and put into storage, for which I will need to reimburse Reed when the house is sold. Although, I don’t think he’s going to let me. The funeral arrangements for my uncle had probably cost a lot, too, but no one will tell me who paid for it, or how much it cost. “I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?” Reed asks, trying to make eye contact with me.
“No…I just have to start looking into Internet gambling and see if I can beat the odds,” I reply, since there is not a lot I can do right now to earn money. Having a homicidal angel, like Alfred, bent on beating the soul out of me is seriously hurting my chances of getting and maintaining gainful employment.
“Evie, we can consider all of this a loan, if it makes you feel better, and you can pay me back later,” he says, holding up my chin and looking into my eyes.