Page 63 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

“Right! And, like, it wasn’t bad, but it put me on edge because I’d never felt anything like it before. I thought maybe he was confused because of the amnesia and stuff, but now it makes perfect sense!”

“It does?”

“Duh! Cal’s not human!”

Ash’s jaw drops a little, a stunned expression on his face. He looks over at Dawson, who’s watching them anxiously, and says, “Holy shit.”

“Right?!”

Ash swallows, looking uncharacteristically out of his depth. “Do we tell him?”

“Of course we tell him!”

“He won’t believe it.”

“We’ll make him believe. Jesus, Ash, we can’t let him leave here thinking the guy who loves him to hell and back—literally!—is a psycho who’s trying to gaslight him.”

Ash sighs. “Yeah, you’re right. It would destroy him.”

“I know.” A lump forms in Gabe’s throat, Dawson’s emotions so raw and intense that they make him a little sick.

And then another realization slams into him.

Ellis.

Ellis doesn’t know his brother is not his brother at all.

Fuck.

Sometimes Gabe really, really hates knowing things.

Maybe he’ll never come back anyway and you won’t have to worry about that.

He quickly banishes the thought. This is so not the time to pine and mope.

With Ash by his side, he heads towards Dawson, trying to summon a reassuring smile. This is good news, after all.

They both take a seat, Dawson’s panicked eyes jumping between the two of them.

Gabe interlaces his fingers, his cheeks puffing out before he expels a sharp breath. “Dawson, this will sound crazy, but hear me out, yeah?”

Dawson scoffs. “Crazier than a reaper taking over a dead guy’s body?”

Exchanging a look with Ash, Gabe jumps straight in. “Have you considered the possibility that Cal was telling the truth?”

“Um, no?” Dawson says in that way that indicates he totally thinks Gabe’s pulling his leg.

“I think you should.”

Dawson laughs, of course he does. The laugh dies, and he stills when he notices their solemn expressions. “Are you being serious?”

“Hear him out,” Ash says gently.

“There are things you can’t explain with logic,” Gabe starts. “With science, sometimes, but not always. That doesn’t mean they’re not real.”

“Like your superpowers?” Dawson quips.

Gabe smiles. “Like that, yeah.”