Page 59 of Seven Graves

Greg chuckled, closing one of the drawers and tossing his brown hair over his brow to look at me from across the room.

I don’t get this look often. And I never feel right under it.

“Well one, you don’t know how to manage it.

But that’s never been something we try to do.

And two…this isn’t about your sex life… tell me you don’t fuckin’ love the guy.

Go ahead and lie to me like you always lied to Mom about who broke that Greek vase in the foyer. ”

“You pushed me into the table!”

“But I didn’t break the vase!”

But he’s right …even if we’d only known each other a handful of minutes, Greg’s right.

I do love the bastard. I just don’t wanna admit it.

And there’s about a million things I wouldn’t be doing if it wasn’t the absolute truth.

I wouldn’t be constantly checking my phone to see if he’s cracked and texted me.

I wouldn’t still be hopeful every time I unlock my door that he’s in my house making some sort of food.

I wouldn’t be playing the same Aerosmith song on repeat, wishing it was in a voice that sings so off-key it’s actually pathetic.

I wouldn’t have given up my special coffee milkshake for a strawberry one I don’t even like.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s over. I can’t move on if nobody will let me. However long it takes me to do that is my own journey, Greg. I’ve been through a lot, okay? Now you know the skinny on it. Just respect me enough to keep it to yourself and let me figure out my own shit…please?”

Greg crossed the room and flicked my nose, smiling sadly.

“Yeah, alright. But I’ll say it again, just in case you don’t hear me every time it comes outta my mouth. I’m here. You don’t have to wear yourself out fighting the battle all alone. Now you’ve got at least one person to rage at. Use me. Okay?”

I nodded in defeat.

“Okay.”

It’s been almost three weeks since our chat downstairs, and Greg hasn’t bothered me about any of it anymore. I’ve been better about adjusting my attitude, sitting down at the table with my family, and focusing on the shit in my own toilet…not everyone else’s. I’m fixing it. Slowly, but surely.

Emmy took home first place at her competition, to nobody’s shock or surprise, and I’m still not sorry for getting in that twat’s face.

She’s starting to try and sneak in the basement more often, too…

and I’ve talked Maggie into letting her embrace being herself and not feeling some type of way about it.

She’ll be able to bend over backwards and do handstands while giving a deserving patron a fine farewell.

There’s a little more to be happy about every day lately.

But he’s still on my mind when it’s quiet.

I was sterilizing tools and cleaning up for the day when Greg popped into the basement with a bag of chocolate almonds from my favorite candy store and a clipboard. “Hell has an ice rink, and I just saw a very healthy bird that smelled strangely of bacon.”

I chuckled under my breath. “You’re so fucking cringe.”

“I know you love me more than you let on. That’s why you’re gonna be the most amazing sister in the world and let me escape for a three-day smash session with my smokin’ hot wife— with no kids .”

“She got the PTO?” Greg nodded fast enough for his head to snap off and bounced impatiently on his heels, handing me the candy and the paperwork. “What is this?”

“Casket orders for the next few days. I signed off on ‘em, I just need you to close these at delivery. Please, I need this so bad.”

I took the board from his hand and raised the bag in front of his face. “This the going rate for shamelessly layin’ the pipe on Mags?”

“Seven, please! ”

I smiled and winked, shoving the almonds into the pocket of my lab coat.

I would have done it for nothing, but the secrets he’s keeping for me…

this is the least I can do. “Get outta here. Go make me another niece. Or a nephew. I’m not picky.

” He grabbed me, pressing an obnoxious kiss to my cheek and giggled like a hyena all the way up the stairs.

My smile faded when I thought about the fact that…

I’m okay with not ever having that life. It’s just…

It would just be really nice…

I ate dinner alone tonight, watching reality TV in my coffin and vegging out, when I spotted something in the corner of the living room.

I’d put Bridget’s air mattress away months ago, and I don’t know how I missed it.

I slipped out of the coffin and bent down to pick it up—it’s that damn smutty book.

I flipped it open to the page that was marked and knotted my brows when I saw two stick figures in a very compromising position in the top corner of the page.

I flipped to the next page…more stick figures.

“You absolutely ridiculous fool…” Malek made a whole stick figure porn in here. It animated when I swiped my thumb down the edge of the book. A guy boinking a girl from behind…and slapping her ass. I burst out laughing. “What a pig.”

Sue me for pulling the Girthmaster out and finally using it.

I wondered the entire time if he still thinks about me when he gets off.

What if he’s moved on? What if they both took off to Ireland?

It’s like they vanished, but it sure doesn’t feel like they never existed.

My pussy agrees. I haven’t slept this hard in almost three months.

It’s busy this morning. I’ve got two in here today, and they’re both having viewings at the end of the week…

on the same day . I ended up prepping the metal table so I could work on them both at the same time.

Dad came downstairs, which is rare, and he had a full face of play makeup and a baby doll under his arm.

“Oh my God…you look so… dashing ,” I snorted.

“Can’t tell you how much I miss this. How many pedicures did you give me?” He admired his bright pink manicure and blew gently on them.

“Probly a good hundred or so. You’re outta luck now, though. I don’t do feet.”

“Know what I don’t do? Bad publicity. Greg’s delivery is upstairs. Please don’t make me go out there. I’m begging.” I snapped my gloves off, laughing and walked over to the sink.

“Why not? You look so purty , Dad.”

“If you do me a solid and let me know when he leaves, I’ll talk your mother into pizza instead of meatloaf tonight.”

“Solid deal. Well played, old man.” I finished washing my hands while he blew me a kiss from the stairs and shrugged out of my lab coat, trying to make myself look presentable.

Greg doesn’t dress to the nines, but he doesn’t do his side of the business looking like a nerd on career day, either.

I grabbed the clipboard and went upstairs, checking over all the orders, and only two are supposed to be here today. I checked the first suite…empty.

I walked into suite three, already sensing someone in the room and saw the casket in my peripheral as I looked over the details on the order and continued walking down the aisle. “Johnston funeral?” I asked, not looking up from the paper.

“Think so. It’s only my second week.”

I stopped dead.

No…no fucking way.

My heart is having it the fuck out with my sternum.

My arms feel loose. My face kinda feels hot, but also tingly.

I’m scared to death to look up from this invoice.

I dunno when I finally decided to throw in that towel.

My eyes slowly took in a pair of fairly new black chucks, black slacks and a tucked in polo…

two arms covered in tattoos, a shamrock under a pair of fiercely green eyes and ginger hair…

And a smile that hasn’t left my head for months.

“You look beautiful, Viper.”

I can’t speak. I’m trying, but…nothing is coming out.

I don’t have a clue how long I stood there, staring at him in shock…

until my legs started storming in his direction.

Malek’s hands shot out of his pockets, blocking my clipboard as it went straight for that gorgeous, stupid face .

It thwacked against his hands, his forearms, his shoulder, until my arm got tired and I was outta breath.

“What the hell are you doing here?!”

“Christ!” he giggled, infuriating the hell outta me. “What does it look like? I’m workin’! Why are you so angry ? Is it that time of—”

“Don’t you dare …finish that sentence, Malek Byrne.” I dropped my arms and tried to catch my breath, and he lowered his warily. “What is this? I thought you swore to leave me alone? Thought a deal was a deal?”

“I have left you alone, Sev. Probly the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I swear to God, I’m only here to make the delivery. No stolen truck, no hidden agenda. Filled out a tax form and everything.” I spotted the logo on his shirt and shook my head in disbelief.

“And out of all the jobs out there…you went for this one? You expect me to believe that?”

He reached up and patted the oak casket. “I actually didn’t. Did you know Simon is an accountant?”

“Huh?” I cocked my head. “No?”

“Yeah, we’re pretty chummy. He tried to take me under his wing and learn somethin’ that would steer me straight. It’s an honest livin’, but…I really fucking hate math.”

My palms started sweating and I tossed the clipboard onto one of the pews, crossing my arms. “You don’t even need money, Malek. Why do you need a job?”

“It’s not about the money. It’s about not takin’ up old habits and gettin’ my mind off— things .

” He leaned against the casket and pocketed his hands again.

Me. Getting his mind off me. “I got a call to come in for an interview at a job I didn’t even apply for.

They said my reference spoke really highly of me, and…

that’s really it. I knew I’d eventually run into you, and the past two weeks have made my stomach hurt with fuckin’ nerves.

But I swear…I’m not here to push you into anything, and if you’ve got somebody, I’d really rather not know.

I’m trying to turn a leaf, but I’m still human, Seven.

Some demons like to rattle the cage. It’s enough just to see you and know you’re well. ”

Greg. Greg did this. Sly little bastard.

I swallowed, trying not to look at the eyes that were taking me in, and shifted on my feet. “How is Bridget?”

“Annoying. Nauseating. We sold the house. She took off with Declan and they’ve got a place together. She calls me every five minutes, bitching about the most recent pain in the ass thing he’s done.” I smiled to myself.

“What about you? Where are you staying if you sold the place?”

“I’ve got an apartment in Fort George.” I watched his eyes drop to the penny hanging around my neck and we both swallowed loudly, locking eyes.

His jaw feathered, and he turned towards the casket, lifting the lid.

“I just need you to look it over, match the order numbers and sign my approval slip for the boss man. I’ll get outta your pretty hair. ”

I did my job…no—I did Greg’s fucking job—and he folded the slip in half. There’s so much I wanna say, but I can’t find a single word.

I miss you…

There’s never gonna be anybody else…

I made the wrong move…

…I love you too…

“See ya around, Nathair Bheag. ” He brushed the back of his finger down my chin and smiled softly, walking away and leaving me utterly speechless for several minutes afterwards.

I heard the van outside crank and leave.

I stood there fighting every part of my unruly fucking body that was screaming to run after him.

Once I finally had the nerve, I went to the domestic part of the house and found Dad in the kitchen, both the girls squabbling in the dining room over whose turn it was with the pink crayon.

He scrubbed dishes from their lunch and turned his chin over his shoulder to look at me. “Heyyyy, Little Bean. You—” It must have still been written all over my face. He shut the water off and grabbed the towel as he turned around to face me. “What’s wrong?”

“Tell me you didn’t know who was delivering that casket. Are you part of this?”

He looked puzzled. I know my dad. I already have my answer, but I almost can’t believe that Greg found him and set this all up. “Part of what? Who is it?” He studied me for a minute while I thought up a whole lot more nothing , and smirked a little. “It’s the Batmobile guy, isn’t it?”

“Can people change, Dad? Really change? Even if the best parts of them stay the same?” Dad took my hands and squeezed.

“If we’re lucky…we always change for the better, Beans.”

Lucky…

We’ve had so much of that in some of that time together. So little of it in others.

“…But me never got so lucky, as the day I called ‘ye mine…”

I looked past him out the kitchen window, my heart flopping around when I spotted the van…parked at Desiree’s. And I know exactly why he’s there. “I’ll be back, Dad.” He followed my line of sight, smiling when he saw it, and nodded to himself.

“I’ll order an extra pizza.”