Page 158 of Chalk Outline

“Come on, boy, we love you too,” I say as I rub his entire body, giving him a pleasant sensation behind his ears, and Titan’s tongue hangs out. He’s a happy big baby with a blissful face. Winona kisses his paw, and he grins widely with satisfaction when she kisses his other paw loudly, giving him all the attention.

I’m starting to think the jealous fucker is spending more time with my wife than I am.

Too much stimulation at once makes him lose his balance, and we slip off the couch onto the floor, piling up on each other. We laugh loudly, and he quickly hops to his feet, helping Winona up with his big head, giving her back a nudge, and she laughs even more.

“I’m okay, buddy.” She turns to him and pets him on the head. “Don’t worry.”

We’re finally settled into our house, and a sense of calm washes over me. Even though I don’t fully believe it, I still enjoy it. We’re finally married, even though my name isn’t really my name or how the world knows me, but at least that’s something.

I have her, and that’s all that matters.

Muffin mews outside, so I quickly stand up to get her food from our kitchen cabinet, which we keep especially for her. I open the front door, step outside, pour her food into her bowl, and watch her eat peacefully.

She showed up here the first time we moved in and has stayed ever since. She goes on walks around the neighborhood but always comes back at the end of the day.

I like having her around.

I was concerned that Titan wouldn’t get along with a cat because he had never been around one, but surprisingly, they’re quite fond of each other.

My eyes follow her black fur up to her nape, where it’s a little shorter than usual. As I’m about to crouch down, Muffin snaps her head toward me, then runs the opposite way and out of the driveway.

Odd.

I hope no one here has decided to run experiments on cats, because I’ll make them drink their piss if they did, before I put some sense into them.

I’ll keep an eye on her.

I look out the window as I close the door. A shadow stretches across the driveway, and I first notice the Oxford shoes at its feet.

My face falls flat.

The space around me dims, and my heartbeat slows down.

Thump.

A distant thump.

Thump.

It sounds like it’s coming from a monitor right before it dies, but not quite.

“Reeve, is everything okay?” Winona’s voice snaps me out of the fleeting nightmare my mind had spun, and when I glance outside once more, the shadow is gone.

Chapter thirty-one

Reeve Hardy

Give — Sleep Token

Blades of grass brush against my boots, and twigs crunch beneath them as I descend the light incline of the terrain from her tower. The chirping birds dart from tree to tree. Sunlight filters through the dense canopy, casting a bokeh of light and shadow on the ground, where patches of vibrant moss flourish. The rich, earthy scent fills my nose, reminding me of the days I spent here as a teenager. Lost but hopeful. Eager. Determined. Waiting.

An unlit cigarette hangs from my lips. “Run, Baby. Give a reason to spank that ass, I know your little clit is already pulsing for me,” I raise my voice enough for her to hear me, flick the lid open, and bring the lighter to the end of the cigarette.

I’m still trying to fix everything I’ve broken. I barged back into her life, and the pain I’ve put her through is unbearable. If that had been done to me, I would have lost my fucking mind.

I exhale a cloud of smoke and walk through it. Sweat beads on every cut of my body.

The air feels warm and sticky.