Page 65 of Gates of Tartarus

Sighing deeply and looking doubtfully at the little convertible, he tried, quite valiantly may I add, to wedge his body into the driver’s seat, finally putting down the top so he’d fit. He looked at me triumphantly and grinned his shaggy bear grin, whiskey eyes glinting in the sun.

“See? No problem.”

“Lach. How long have you owned that car?” I asked him, and he frowned at me, clambering out from the seat and walking towards me.

“I’m in a hurry today, Kai. I can’t spend all this time talking about cars. Here are your keys... I mean, your copy of your keys. Of my keys. For you to use. And, uh, you can just park it here if that’s okay, because I’m doing some work in the garage so it won’t fit right now. Just... Yeah. You can use this so you don’t have a commuting problem. I should have done this… lent you the car earlier… And you’re on the insurance, so it’s not a worry.”

Staring at the keys in my hand, I wondered whether the quiet lumberjack in front of me had actually gone out and bought me a fucking car, but couldn’t look at that thought too closely in the moment, or I’d cry. Instead, I flung myself at him, pressed a kiss to his cheek, and just hugged him.

He lit up, happiness flaring out from him and wrapping around me like vines, flowering and glowing with light.

“You’re getting better at this showing affection thing, Cher,” he said gruffly, giant hand cupping the back of my head, my face pressed against his massive, warm chest.

I laughed a little. “I’m trying,” I mumbled. “But only with certain people. I’m starting to… I don’t know. I feel safe with you.”

Lachy feigned surprise to cover his real response. “Only took four years!” he teased me, a curious, painful joy electric on his skin.

“But Lach,” I said warningly, “you didn’t actually buy me a car, right? I could never accept that.”

“Kai! Why would I buy you a car?” He asked it with such sincerity that I suddenly doubted myself and folded up a little with embarrassment.

“Ah, uh, I just meant... I just thought…”

Pulling back from me and studying my face, he quickly talked over me. “I was teasing you. Of course I bought you a car. Me driving that thing would be ridiculous. You don’t have to accept it. It can be my... my guest’s car. For when guests come to visit. No pressure. But you have the keys for any time you need it.”

“Lach!” I said breathlessly, and he leaned over mischievously, kissed my cheek, and teased, “Stop taking up my time! I have things to do!”

Turning away, he dropped the wood before I could stop him, hopped off the porch, and walked back up the hill to his house. Moments later Gemma walked out onto the porch, hair standing up like an electric shock, rubbing her eyes sleepily. “Hey, girl,” she mumbled tiredly, giving me a side hug and passing me a mug of coffee. “Thought I heard La– what the fuck is that?” she asked, suddenly awake and staring at the car in front of our place.

“Lachy’s car?” I replied unconvincingly, and she let out a long, slow whistle before leveling a very knowing look at me.

“Ohhhh-kaaay…” she said, shaking her head slightly. “Well, come on in for breakfast. You’ve been eating like crap lately. It’s not good for you.” Giving one last look at the car, she walked in in front of me, leaving me to stare at the keys in my hand, thinking about the world Lachy was building for me, piece by piece, to make me safe and happy.At some point he’s going to leave you,the quiet, traitorous thoughts whispered in my head, like old friends with poisoned tongues.At some point everyone will leave you. But when I thought of Lachy’s face, it was becoming easier and easier to ignore them.

???

I drive my... well,Lachy’s... new car to work this morning and park it in my spot, look affectionately at the bright-blue two-door, and kick the front tire softly. “Well, you’re not my bike, but you’re cute as a button, aren’t you?” I say to it sweetly, forgetting to look around me to make sure no one is there. “Like a little blueberry.” Cocking my head, I purse my lips thoughtfully.Blueberry’s not a bad name for her….

“You... baby talk to your vehicles?” Walker’s voice calls laughingly from behind me, and I jump, startled, into a fighting stance. “You gonna karate chop me?” he asks, full out laughing now, his dimples flashing in the dim garage light. Reaching out he gently pushes my hands down. “You’re going to hurt yourself, Hellcat. What’s the story here? You buy yourself a new car?” he asks, surprised. “I thought you’d never give up that bike.”

“I won’t!” I reply firmly. “Lachy just lent me his car for a bit while I heal up.”

Walker looks dubiously at the car in front of him, sitting cheerfully in its spot. “This car here... this is your landlord’s car?” I nod, and he shakes his head. “How tall is this Lachlainn?” he asks, and I shrug a little, blushing.

“Um, like, maybe Smith’s height?”

Walker frowns. “You’re telling me that a guy Smith’s heightfitsinto this, what appears to be, brand-new car?”

“Ah…” I begin, but we’re interrupted by Hideo’s arrival. I’m about to greet him when Walker beats me to it.

“You see this?” he asks Deo almost accusingly. “You know about this?”

“What?” Deo replies, completely confused. “Someone park in your spot, Kai? You won’t need it ‘til your bike gets fixed but we can ask them to…” Seeing something in Walker’s face, then mine, he asks slowly, “How did you get to work today? I called to ask if you needed a ride, but you didn’t pick up.”

“I, um, can’t answer the phone when I’m driving,” I say quietly. “I’m not really that practiced at it, so…”

“Youbought a car? Without me?” he asks, surprise and hurt clear in his voice, and Walker scoffs.

“That’sLachlainn’scar,” he says to Hideo, and they exchange a long look.