“Good thing we’re already dead, otherwise she’d have been killed on the first day,” someone else chuckles before the entire crowd is cracking up with him.
“I’m sure we’ll all be called in to clean up the mess she leaves when the souls keep escaping her.”
“Can I help you?” A teenage soul asks, ready to take my order.
“Caesar salad and a cola please, if you have it,” I say as cheerfully as I can muster. I give her an extra smile knowing these assholes have probably been rude and demanding all night. The soul looks surprised and gives me a tiny smile back, confirming my suspicion. She doesn’t speak but nods and hurries off to the kitchen.
I’m so distracted by giving my order, that I don’t notice until a few minutes later that the diner has gone mercifully silent.
“Mind if I join you?” a man asks. I look up and stare at him for a moment, gauging if here’s to cause trouble or not. Because my patience is already worn thin.
Annoyance fades as I scan the beautiful specimen. He’s built like a Greek god with a golden muscled body that has his shirt pulled tight over his chest. His hair is long and blond, resting in a messy bun on his head that honestly compliments him well. I’ve never been into men with long hair but damn he’s changing my mind. He looks easy going with a lazy smirk on his face, his honey colored eyes full of amusement as I take my time raking my eyes over him unapologetically. But he can’t say anything as he returns the gesture, smirk growing as he takes me in.
“I’m Liam. How are you holding up?” he asks, and I realize his smooth voice is one I heard while I was still fighting the darkness. Does that mean he’s a Master Reaper? Yet I can’t manage to ask the question, realizing he saw me naked and bloody.
“I’m alright. I trained with Elias today. Trying to wrap my head around this whole thing,” I explain and he nods in understanding.
“It’s a tough transition. We all went through it,” he reassures me with a sympathetic smile. His calm and laid back demeanor immediately draws me in. I start to feel a twinge of guilt, but my fiancé, whatever his name was, feels like a lifetime ago already.
“Can I get you something, Master Liam?” The waitress asks after placing my food in front of me.
“Burger, fries, and a chocolate shake,” he orders, barely looking at her. I give him a frustrated glance before turning to the soul.
“This smells amazing, thank you!” I tell her cheerfully. Her answering smile is even more brilliant this time. I turn back to Liam as she walks away and he’s giving me a curious look. This time I don’t bother to hide my annoyance at his lack of care for these souls. They’re serving us so the least we can do is be decent fucking people.
“You can say what’s bothering you,” he prompts me when I don’t give him anything else. It’s all I need to come out and say it.
“Why do you treat them so disrespectfully?” Liam looks genuinely confused by my accusation.
“I was disrespectful?” Could he be this dense?
“Everyone here is. You barely glanced at her and didn't bother with niceties at all. They literally bring you guys food and serve you.”
Liam studies me for a second as if he’s trying to figure out if I’m joking or not. Then he turns and takes in the diner around him, wincing at the blatant dismissal of the spirits.
“You have a point. I’ll keep that in mind,” he promises. “We’ve been here so long it’s apparently easy to forget to be kind.” There’s an undercurrent of remorse as he answers and I let it go. My point is made and that is all that matters.
“Good,” I shoot back. “I’m not going to sit by while you’re all dicks to them.”
“You are going to be such a fun addition.” He smirks at me and I can’t hide the blush blooming on my cheeks. His eyes light up and it’s like he can’t even help himself, a wolfish grin falling into place. “I can give you a little bedroom training if you want.” His eyes are practically glowing in anticipation of my answer.Wow, he may be cute, but he’s also bold. I can’t believe he can piss me off one second and turn me on the next. That can’t be normal.
“I don’t think you could handle me, but nice try,” I shut him down and casually take a sip of my drink.
His booming laugh startles me, and apparently everyone else. I peek behind me and the other reapers all have looks of complete shock on their faces.
“There is nothing nice about me, I promise,” he says, trying for a sultry voice. It fails. He’s like a child playing dress up; you can’t hide your true nature with a few well placed winks and spicy comments.
“Does that line actually work for you?” I ask, raising an eyebrow, while also pushing down the lust flooding through me. Even with faded memories I’m fairly sure reacting to a man like this isn’t normal.
“Wow, tough crowd. It usually does.” His flirty demeanor disappears and he relaxes again, like a switch is flipped. “How are you feeling about reaper life?” This version of him is so much better.
“It was definitely unexpected. Apparently, I suck at physical training, but at least knocked Elias down once. And my arms might be in pain tomorrow morning but I can wield a scythe.” My annoyance must flash across my face for a second at the thought of the earlier gossip and Liam’s eyes narrow. We’re interrupted when his food is brought over. This time he gives her a smile before turning his attention back to me. At least he’s perceptive enough to notice he needs to be a bit kinder to the souls. That’s at least a point for him. Though he lost at least three for that awful pickup line.
“Who said that? Everyone struggles on their first day.” His voice takes on a hard edge. He glares around the diner and I wave him off quickly, already missing his laid back personality.
“Just overheard some people talking. It’s fine, they don’t know me. And who the fuck cares what they think?” I say with indifference. I will either succeed or not, but I’m just stubborn enough to not allow myself to fail. “I’m fucking awesome, so it’s their loss if they want to pick me apart.”
“Fair enough. Don’t let the other reapers push you around. They’ve been overworked lately, and a lot of these jerks have been doing this for hundreds of years, so they feel the need to act like they’re better than everyone else. It’s absurd.” He settles back in his seat again, but his eyes still hold a hint of anger. It’s kind of nice to have someone on my side, even if it doesn’t last. I’ll take a win where I can get one.