After seeing Charlie and Mikey back together again, Ari had returned home with Jai and collapsed in an exhausted heap. Jai had put her to bed and climbed in with her, and she’d fallen asleep curled next to him. It had been the best sleep she’d had in a long time.
It was difficult to really put her feelings into words about what had happened since Azazil had granted her the favor. She was nervous about seeing Fallon, anxious the girl was coping, and worried about having to explain that Charlie would no longer know who the heck Fallon was. Moreover, Ari was deeply saddened that Charlie no longer knew who she was. And yet, at the same time, she was ecstatic he was the old Charlie again and that he had Mikey back.
Ari could live with not getting to be a part of Charlie’s new reality as long as it meant he was happy and healthy.
The door to the bathroom opened and Jai wandered out, running a hand over his barely there hair. Ari propped herself up on an elbow. He’d cut his hair again.
It was hot.
So was the near-nakedness.
He wore only a towel wrapped around his waist.
Walking quietly toward his jeans, Jai seemed unaware that Ari was awake. She cleared her throat, drawing his head around toward her. He smiled softly and Ari felt the smile shoot all the way down into her belly.
“Morning.”
“Morning.” She cocked her head and patted the space on the bed beside her. “Come back.”
He grinned. “I would but I thought you’d want to see Fallon as soon as possible.”
“I do want to see Fallon. And I will.” She sat up and casually pulled her pajama top off, letting the sheet fall to her waist. Her heart beat a little harder at the way Jai’s expression darkened, faltering as he dropped his jeans back onto the floor. “But first I want my boyfriend to come here.”
No verbal response needed, Jai strode toward the bed, his fingers tugging his towel loose just before he reached for her. He cupped a hand around her neck and pulled her against his body, his kiss long and deep, a prelude to one very exquisite morning.
* * *
The fire in Michael’s study broke the silence as it crackled and snapped, its heat inviting in the cold Jersey winter weather. Ari sat nervously in an armchair before Michael’s desk, Jai standing by her side. It would’ve been nice to make their exquisite morning an entire exquisite day, but Ari knew she needed to meet with Fallon. She had to attempt to explain things.
Michael sighed behind his desk, checking his watch. “I’m sure she’s coming.”
They’d been waiting on Fallon coming down from her bedroom for twenty minutes.
“Should I maybe go to her?”
Before Michael could respond, the door to his study opened and Caroline walked in, a shadow behind her. Before Ari could determine who the shadow was, Caroline dragged her from the chair with surprisingly strong arms and suffocated her with the tightest hug she’d ever received.
“How can I ever repay you?” Caroline asked, her voice barely recognizable it was so thick with emotion.
Ari shook her head, taking a step back. “I’m not in your debt,” she assured her, her heart aching at the sheer relief and joy in Caroline’s eyes. It suddenly occurred to Ari that Michael and Caroline were in a situation no other bereaved parent had ever been in. Unlike Charlie and Mrs. Creagh, who’d lost a son and a brother but would never realize the gift they’d been given, Fallon’s parents did. Ari imagined it had changed everything for them.
It also occurred to her that Fallon would probably be cursed with overprotective parents for the rest of her life.
A movement out of the corner of her eye drew her gaze, and Ari’s breath caught. Standing in the doorway was Fallon Roe.
And yet it wasn’t.
Fallon Roe had big, dark eyes that sparked with the fire of life.
This Fallon Roe’s eyes were haunted. “Charlie’s gone?” she asked softly, her words cracking a little.
Crap. Ari’s shoulders slumped. “Maybe we can talk somewhere alone?”
Fallon nodded. Giving her mom and dad a small smile of reassurance, she turned and led Ari out of the study. Ari quickly followed her to the back of the house to the library/pool room. As soon as they were inside, Fallon turned. The sight of the flashing fire in her dark eyes was a relief.
“What the fuck did you to do to me and Charlie?” she snapped.
Or maybe not so much a relief. Ari held up her hands defensively. “Your mother and father explained already, right?”
“Yeah.” She crossed her arms stubbornly. “But I want to hear it from you, Prophecy Girl.”
Determinedly, Ari kept the twitch from her lips. She was delighted to see Fallon acting like Fallon and not that weird little whipped girl she’d been acting like two seconds ago, but laughing at this point in time would probably piss Fallon off. “Okay. Here’s the deal. You know the labartu killed you?”