Page 82 of Habibi: Always and Forever
Stevie and the other apparitions showed themselves as Scotty stepped out from behind the Hallowed Tree where he’d been hiding. “Hi,” he said nervously. “Sorry. We’re all leaving.”
He glared around, making sure all the spirits got the point. This was a party for two, and they weren’t invited. “I hope you enjoy yourselves.” He gave a little wave and took off for the house at a brisk pace.
Stevie, of course, floated off behind him as the others who’d made their homes out here smiled and waved and faded. “Where will they go?” Buck asked. “This is their home.”
It warmed me through and through how worried he sounded. Listen, my Harry hadn’t been a snob, not really. But he was prone to fussing, and all of the spirits who’d inhabited this space without a written invitation had really stressed him out.
Once he realized this was an entry point for people to move on to their great beyond, he’d relaxed his rigid standards.
Like, one couldn’t argue with the universe, right?
But he’d struggled understanding why so many chose to stay on, hanging out back here, some for decades, others centuries, just chatting and watching the world go by.
“They’ll put their backs to us or ignore us or go to the silent place.”
Harry’s lips pulled tight. He didn’t enjoy the silent place.
It was too close to the veil where Kingston and Skylar dreamwalked.
There were too many unknowns, and the spirits who went there couldn’t move on—to our side or to whatever came next.
It often caused them to grow violent. Harry was just fine staying firmly on this side where he had an occupation and he’d found a family.
“I don’t know. Maybe have them join us.”
I shook my head. “Everyone is fine. And if we decide to get sexy, I’ll close us in a pocket so no one else can see us.”
Pacified by that, he made his way to the blanket and laid back, stretching his arms over his head. “Ah. This is perfect.”
He was. Perfect for me in every way. Instead of lying beside him, I dropped to my knees near him and grabbed one of his hands. It lost solidity for an instant as he flushed with pleasure. “Hi.”
He smiled sweetly up at me. “Hi.”
“Love, do you know how happy you make me?” I asked seriously.
Harry wavered, coming up so that we were facing each other, knee to knee.
“As happy as you make me.” He cupped one of my cheeks in his palm.
“I grew up in a time where my desires for men were viewed as unnatural. It didn’t help that I was awkward and strange even for my time.
Too serious. Too rigid. I never allowed myself to hope or dream.
I put my head down and did what I needed to get through my life, basically waiting to die. ”
My heart hurt for him, and I opened my mouth to reassure him in some way, but he pressed his thumb over my lips, silencing me.
“When I woke in the afterlife, still in Willowhope Manor, able to care for the only home I’d ever loved, the only place I’d ever felt like I belonged, despite the unfortunate circumstances with the cursed, I felt like God, the Goddess, the Universe, someone felt like I deserved a bit of goodness. ”
His lips softened into the sweetest smile I’d ever seen.
“Who knew that staying to run the manor wasn’t my true gift, but that it was you, Buck?
You with your rock-n-roll t-shirts and irreverent charm.
A man equally as content baking as he is fishing.
Who knew that I’d been given this chance at an afterlife because the man who’d love me in ways I didn’t know existed hadn’t been born yet?
That there was someone destined to make me feel like the most special soul ever to walk in this world or beyond. ”
Emotion choked my heart, clogging my throat and making it hard to speak. “This was supposed to be my grand gesture.”
Harry’s thumb wiped away the tear that had slipped from my eye.
“Every day with you is a grand gesture. Your tenderness. The way you smile at my fussiness and laugh at my eccentricities. But never at me. You never laugh at me.” He shook his head a little, huffing.
“I’d been laughed at so much in life that I didn’t know how much it would warm my insides for someone to laugh affectionately at my quirks. How seen I’d feel.”
“That’s all I want, Harry. To make you feel as loved as you’ve always deserved.” Clearing my throat, I reached into my back pocket. “I had a big speech all prepared, but I’m not sure I could top what you said.”
His head tilted curiously as I held my clenched fist out before him.
As I opened my fingers, the diamond inlay of the gold band sparkled.
Not more than Harry’s beautiful eyes, though.
They glistened with happiness and tears.
“Yes, Buck. I love you so much. Put it on.” He wiggled his ring finger in front of me.
I chuckled. “I haven’t asked you anything yet.”
His smile slipped into a sassy smirk, an unusual expression for him. He stuck his hand into his front pocket, emerging with a solid, thick titanium band held between his thumb and forefinger. “But you were about to, as was I.”
My eyes widened. “What?” I stared at the ring. “Really?”
He nodded eagerly. “Yes, Buck. You’ve convinced me that not only can I have it all, but I deserve it. I want to bind with you and marry you and any other tradition that ties us together for eternity.”
“I love you, Mr. Harry… my Harry.” Solemnly, I put the ring on his finger. “I had Elyse spell it,” I said. “It’ll move with you no matter your form.”
As he pushed mine over my knuckle, he grinned. “I had High Priestess anoint yours. It’ll be with you always.”
Unable to wait another moment to taste his lips, I leaned in, fusing our mouths together in a kiss to seal the pledge we were making to each other.
One sweep of my tongue into the warm cavern of his mouth, and our souls sunk into each other, beginning the swirl of spirit as his every thought and emotion became mine and vice versa.
Giddy with joy, we abandoned our two halves, melding into one, and surrounded by the love of forever.
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