Page 61 of Seven Graves

Christ, I wanted to take her in the back of the work van and repeat every disgusting thing I did to her in the hearse…

in slow motion…until neither of us could feel our fucking legs .

But—I have to prove that I’m turning that leaf and stick to it.

Therefore, I’m back at the office, suppressing a very uncomfortable boner, thinking of all the ways I’m gonna relieve it as soon as she lets me back into her apartment.

We might not even make it that far. I loaded up the next delivery, trying to think about six-hundred-pound men in bikinis, or what actually happens if you Google ‘blue waffle’…

because I’ve never been that brave, but Declan was horrified enough to deter my curiosity… when my phone buzzed in my back pocket.

Viper: Dinner at 5:00. Mom doesn’t accept tardiness. DO NOT…make this weirder.

So, two things: I’ve never been happier to see her pop up on this screen.

And I can’t fuck this up, because I know how big of a leap she’s making, bringing me home to officially meet her parents, even though technically, we already met.

This is different. This is the real deal, and I can’t believe it’s actually happening.

Me: I don’t get off until 5. I’ve only been here two weeks…what do I do?

The little dots danced above my keyboard and my cock decided it refuses to be forgotten.

Viper: Figure it out Dexter…and I’ll find five minutes and a hair tie. ;)

Yeah, okay. Fuck this job.

Me: Unemployment it is.

I slammed the doors shut on the back of the van and whistled at Donnie, my boss. This kinda sucks, he’s actually a great guy, but…I need this too much. I need her.

“Don! I’ve gotta head out after this run, mate. Sorry, but somethin’ came up and it can’t wait.” He nodded and raked his gray hair back, stepping out of the garage to the sidewalk.

“That actually works out. The wife can’t pick up the kids this afternoon, so I need to pack it up early too. We can bump the last one to first thing tomorrow morning. Funeral for that one isn’t until Thursday, according to the paperwork.”

I have to admit…I’ve never had an actual job in my life, and I’m kinda shocked it was this easy. “I’m not gettin’ the slip?” Donnie smiled and craned his neck back in confusion.

“Uh…were you hoping for one?”

“No, I just…nevermind. Thanks, mate. See you tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” he laughed, shaking his head. “Later, kid.” He clapped me on the shoulder as he walked past and threw up two fingers once his back was towards me. “Lock up the shop when you get back!”

Hmm…okay. Well…I might could get used to domestic life…?

Or I’m just convinced she makes everything better because she’s been wrong about her worth her entire life.

And I’m gonna prove it to her if it takes the rest of mine.

Who would have thought that the tattoo sitting above that perfect haven between her legs, would be the forefront of my fucking existence?

Lucky. Me. And I can’t wait to pay homage to it in the next couple hours.

I cleaned myself up as best I could in the office bathroom before I locked up and left later on, and now I’m about to pull into the circular driveway at Leviticus House.

I don’t know why I’m nervous. I’ve already been in here once today, and with way more uncertainty…

but this is a milestone for both of us and I’m about to barf all over the Nova.

4:58…Do I go ring the doorbell? Does a funeral home have a doorbell? Fuck…

I shut the car door…obnoxiously loud…I sorta thought maybe she’d hear it.

I’m betting she did, and she’s making me do this the hard way on purpose.

She’s probly watching me right now, the little schemer.

I took the hint, and admired the roses on my way up the stairs.

Braughton’s hidden in here somewhere, and I think it’d be bad form for her parents’ first impression of me as their daughter’s— boyfriend?

—to be caught takin’ a pish all over their pretty flowers.

Maybe another day. I hit the little glowing button and shoved my hands into my pockets, and seconds later…

two little people showed up behind blurry stained glass.

I could hear them arguing over which one was gonna open the door.

Must be her girls. It cracked open, and the older one blushed when she stared up at me, the tiny one pushing her face past her hip to get a look.

“Are you here to see Auntie Sev?”

“Actually, no…I came to see you. Are you Emmy?” Her eyes boggled and her face shined red.

“Uh…yeah?”

“Oh, good.” I reached a hand out and she looked at it like she wasn’t sure what to do. “I had to come over. I’ve never shook the hand of a gold medalist.” Her mouth dropped open, and she was missing her two front teeth when she grinned bashfully and put her tiny hand in mine.

“Oh, my gahh…”

“Em! You better not let Mema hear you say that.” Seven appeared from down the hallway and smiled at me while her niece gave me a thorough inspection, our hands still locked together.

“Hey,” she blushed, picking the little one up and parking her on a hip.

She opened the door a bit wider, and I saw it… right there. For a split second.

My future . What it could be. What I’ve never really cared for it to be until I met this lass.

It’s crossed my mind in the past couple months.

I did hold out that hope. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have taken the diamond Simon paid me with the night that I’d left her apartment, and had it cut into a coffin shape and set into a white gold band to ask her one day…

when she’s not plotting my murder. But I didn’t fathom how much I’d suddenly want my own bairn on her hip.

Our own bairn. Years down the road when we’ve enjoyed some time not digging graves for bad guys or making stews in her steel sinks.

Not looking over our shoulder for something terrible to be chasing us down.

“You gonna decorate the porch, or come inside?” she asked, snapping me out of it. I blinked, and shook it off, following her through the door and into the house. Emmy held my hand and led me down the hall, and to another door where a heavenly fucking smell was coming from another part of the house.

“You got alotta tattoos . Did you wanna be a coloring book when you grew up?” I barked a laugh, and Seven snorted in front of us as we walked into a spacious living room. “Auntie Sev said that’s what she wanted to be if the mortician stuff didn’t work.”

“Sure did. It’s a much easier job, actually.”

I smiled down at her and winked. “Never thought about it, but if you wanna fill in all my spots later, you might could convince me?”

“Oooo, really?! ”

Seven put the little one down and pointed a finger at Emmy. “Not if you don’t eat your boobie beans.”

What the hell is a boobie bean?

“Bruh…who eats green beans with pizza? ” She took off running, dodging Seven’s hands when she tried to tickle her, and they disappeared into the dining room. I looked up to find both of Sev’s parents beaming at me.

“Um…Mom, Dad…this is Malek. Please don’t be strange.” She looked about as nauseous as I felt, tucking her gray hair behind her ear while I stepped forward and offered my hand to her father.

“Pleasure to meet you, sir. Ma’am.” I shook hands with them both and dipped my chin, giving my best smile and popping the dimple. “Smells amazing. Thank you for having me.”

“Pleasure’s ours, trust me.” Her mom has the same smile that haunts my mind every time I try to attempt sleep. I swear Seven was regurgitated. “I’m Ruth. This is Vernon. Welcome.”

We followed them into the dining room and Seven gave me the same look she did two months ago when I pulled her chair for her.

I must have looked confused again. She hesitated before she sat down.

Are we not supposed to do this anymore? Is there a fucking handbook for dating after the 1900’s?

I lowered myself into the chair next to hers and Vernon walked in with a stack of pizza boxes…

with his lovely wife right behind him, carrying a tray of meatloaf and roasted vegetables.

“Not breaking the rules for one night, Mom?” Sev asked, shaking her head.

“ Especially not tonight. We have company. Company shouldn’t be forced to eat processed food.”

“And cue the strange…”

Emmy raised up onto her knees and he could barely get the pizza box open before her face hovered over it. “ I like processed food!”

“I like candy,” the wee one added. I couldn’t stop my smile.

Seven tossed her hands up as her parents sat down in their seats. “I like the opposite of starvation. Malek…what’ll it be?”

Oh, fuck…I’m not ready.

But of course, the entire table is looking at me now.

I’ve never had meatloaf in my life. Does it make a bad impression if I go for that meat-lovers steaming in that box?

Screw it. First time for everything. “I want whatever that is on that tray.” Ruth melted.

I think I made the right choice. Sev loaded down my plate and everybody else got theirs and we all quietly ate until her dad broke the awkward silence.

“So, Malek…” Viper tensed beside me, and I couldn’t help but do the same. “I noticed you’ve got a taste for American muscle. What year is your Chevy?” I instantly relaxed.

I finished chewing, the shit is actually divine, and swallowed, wiping my mouth before I spoke. “It’s a ‘72. Spent four years restoring it with a mate of mine. I saved every penny I had for that car since I was sixteen. Had to fix everything on it. She’s perfect though.”

Vernon nodded, chewing. “I had an old Mustang when I met Ruthie. I smoked then too. I think that sealed the first date.” He winked, and Ruth slapped his arm with the back of her hand.

“That wasn’t a date. That was a train wreck. I ended up with chocolate ice cream all over my lap.”

“We also ended up with Greg,” he chuckled, wincing when she whacked him again. Seven’s pizza dropped into her plate, and she covered her face with both palms while I snickered. I like them. A lot.

“Gross.”

“Did you buy Daddy at an ice cream store? ” Emmy asked. The entire table erupted. Sev had a bit of cheese fly outta her mouth and I lost it.

“Yeah,” she cackled, waving a hand across the table. “Eat your pizza, dude.”

We kept the conversation kid-friendly for the remainder of the dinner, and when the little ones looked sleepy, Em asked if she could color me like I promised.

Seven offered to help clean up, so I ended up with the tiny one sleeping across my lap on the couch, and Emmy drooling on my shoulder with a marker still in her hand.

I don’t have a fucking clue what I’m doing, but…

I like it. And I like the way she’s looking at me right now, drying her hands off with a dish towel and staring at me like she didn’t just eat half a pizza and could devour me right here on this couch.

I think this went better than either one of us could have hoped for.

“You look like a preschool art show.”

“I’d say something to counter that, but…it’s definitely inappropriate,” I grinned.

“Yeah, well…I found a hair tie.”

Attention fucking acquired. My eyebrow skyrocketed.

“Are you tryin’ to seduce me, Little Viper?”

“Is it working?”

I gnawed on my lip ring and squeezed my eyes shut. “There’s a literal child on my lap, Seven Grey. Cutthroat move. Cutthroat move, lass .”

She cracked that smile, and moved towards me, lifting Vivian off my legs and holding her against her shoulder. “Now you don’t. And you should feel ashamed of yourself, Hannibal.” She clicked her tongue and shook her head, walking away with the baby. “Let’s go home.”

Home.

Holy fuck…

I think it just finally hit me.

I’m officially not a psycho stalker anymore.

And we’re about to walk into our apartment.