“I told you I wouldn’t back down,” Mason says. “She’s a grown ass woman, it’s not up to you.”
Their ridiculous pissing contest has a smile forming on my face but I hide it away before turning around again and pretending I didn’t hear the exchange.
“Found it!” I call out. They both soften their features and smile, walking over to join me.
Despite their attempts at nonchalance I can feel the tension in the air. But I’m having too much fun to let them get to me, glancing in every shop window we pass and making mental notes to come back in the future. However, the moment I see my favorite game store, I freeze.
“Why don’t we have any televisions or game systems in the city?” I ask in a shocked tone, realizing I had yet to see any technology outside of our basic cell phones.
“How many rooms have you been in?” Liam asks curiously and I realize he’s right.
“Just mine, but I’ve been by the other buildings. The whole place is like a gothic historic city, no real tech anywhere to be seen,” I counter.
“Do you play?” Mason asks, his face lighting up a bit. I blink up at him, dazed by his stunning looks again before catching myself. I take a deep breath before answering and he grins, knowing damn well how he gets to me.Busted.
“I did,” I answer quietly, the reminder of my memory issues bringing down the light mood. “Does it make me a bad person that I can’t remember any of my family or friends since coming here? It’s like the memories keep fading, every time I try. But I can remember what I liked to do or my favorite spots.” And cue the guilt again.
“No. It’s a side effect of being a reaper. Memories of your previous life fade. It’s more of a coping mechanism than anything, it keeps reapers from turning into melancholy beings. We can’t work if we can’t let go,” Liam explains, putting an arm around my shoulder in a half hug.
“I had a fiancé. I died during the proposal, actually. And here I am flirting with you guys,” I say quietly, letting out the last of my insecurities. They make me feel safe enough to share my thoughts.
“This is your life now, no going back. He won’t become a reaper like you, his afterlife is meant for someone else now. You won’t even be able to recognize anyone from your former life. Don’t let yourself lose out on new connections here, because of your past,” Mason says firmly. “We all have pasts. Not that I can even remember mine. But there’s a possibility every reaper had a family, a life, kids, someone special. We can’t focus on it or it’ll drive you nuts. Those memories won’t come back.” His words have the guilt fading away. I think I just needed someone to tell me I wasn’t an uncaring asshole.
“Well now that I just ruined our outing, can I buy a TV?” I ask with a half-hearted smile.
“Only if I get to pick it out!” Liam says, running into the electronics store. His constant level of energy has me feeling better already.
“He loves technology, so I’ve learned it’s easier to just let him do his thing. He’ll choose the best one, at least,” Mason says with an exasperated sigh. “He chose all of ours.”
We catch up to him in front of a row of big screen TVs. Liam happily spouts off facts about plasma and LED versions, which all mean absolutely nothing to me. I just nod and let him pick it out.
“Mason, will you send this back? I want to take her to the game store next door,” Liam asks with apleading look. Mason narrows his eyes, but nods and ushers us away. The box is so big I thought he would have trouble. He isn’t weak at all, but he lacks the bulk Sam and Liam have. He doesn’t even hesitate as he grabs it by the built in handle and lifts it like it weighs nothing.Fair enough, you blue eyed Adonis.
“Come on, you can check out Mason’s ass later,” Liam jokes with a teasing smile before pulling me into the game store.
“Do you guys play? Is there internet in the city?” I ask skeptically. He gives me a pained look like I just cut him down.
“Do you really think the city is in the dark ages?” he asks, clutching his chest as if in true physical pain. I openly roll my eyes at him and nod.
“You Master Reapers are the most dramatic bunch of men I have ever met. But yes, I do think it’s in the dark ages. Have you seen my phone?”
“We have the internet. It mimics IP addresses in America, so we can connect for games and music. With a little boost of magic it actually isn’t too slow. That would be thanks to me, actually.” He puffs his chest out proudly and I laugh.
“Good thing we have you then,” I praise, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. Before I can register it, he moves his head toward me in one swift move to brush his lips against mine. It might be karma for teasing Mason, but the moment his lips touch mine I can’t hold back, deepening the kiss so we’re both losing ourselves.
“We should ditch Mason and head back,” he begs. The heat in his eyes has me clenching my thighs together and I want to agree, but thoughts of Mason have me shoving him away gently.
“Nice try, Romeo,” I groan and force myself to look back at the games. Liam wanders away with a smirk and more than once as I inspect the aisles I spare a glance at him leaning over the counter talking to the clerk.
A low laugh behind me announces Mason’s return and I pick up the closest game and pretend to check it out. Footsteps approach me and I peek over to see Mason with his half grin in place.
“I didn’t take you for a farming girl,” he says drily. I look down at the box in my hand and narrow my eyes at him.
“Harvest Moonis a perfectly respectable game,” I say with a huff and put the box in his hands.
He walks behind me as I go through each section, picking out copies of my favorite games. They’re such a wide range of games and genres that each new one added has his amusement building.
“A girl likes options, don’t judge me,” I say as I add a copy ofFalloutto the pile. I also add a fantastic controller that looks like a galaxy and a matching purple headset. Games are just better with headphones on, that’s a fact.