She watched his temper flare before he tilted his head, acknowledging her point.
“There’s a lot of things I should’ve done differently, Fallen. But sometimes you have to let people have their way a little. Can’t keep the reins so tight. Desta loved her job. Maybe you assume too much.” He folded his arms in a way that plumped up his biceps.
Was he trying to intimidate her? She was over it. Over him and all his posturing.
“To each their own,” Fallen said. “I’ll visit her on Friday.”
She stepped around him, and he grabbed her upper arm, which she hated. “If she makes it until then.”
“I have a demanding boss. So I’ll do the best I can.” She stepped backward as she yanked her arm from his grasp.
She walked past him and his words ran cold over her spine.
“You working tomorrow?”
Fallen looked over her shoulder and waited for his gaze to move from her ass to her eyes. “Damn straight.”
He nodded. “Well, I’ll see you then.”
Fallen flipped her ponytail and left the room in a way she hoped looked commanding.
He got off on threats, but she had very little left to lose.
···
Fallen’s hands had trouble braiding her thick hair for work on Thursday morning. She made Fenn’s lunch on autopilot. Her mind was occupied with a steady stream of questions. Would she see Thomas today? Was he dead? What would Mr. Orbit throw at her next? How long did Desta have?
It would be a crazy day. Her devastated heart trembled. Her imagination was pretty much pissing its pants.
Fallen logged in at work and listened to Melanny’s lackluster team talk while keeping an eye out for Mr. Orbit. Of course, even if she didn’t see him, he could be watching from somewhere else via the cameras. Fallen made small talk with 8 and 9 in the birdcage on the way to her floor. After she mentioned seeing Desta, she couldn’t answer any of 8 and 9’s questions about her without tearing up. The two women embraced her awkwardly.
When 8 reached in to her pocket to offer Fallen a tissue, a broken, bent fork fell out.
She scurried to pick it up and hid it like it was contraband.
“What’s that for?” Fallen wanted to move the conversation away from Desta’s health—it was hard to put in a day of work thinking about her pain.
8 winked at Fallen. “It’s my ‘I need a nap’ fork.”
“What does it do?” Now Fallen was truly puzzled.
“Girl, I made this after watching a YouTube video. If I need a nap or maybe to spend a little extra time with a maintenance guy, I slide this in the room’s lock and nobody can get in, even if they have a key.”
Fallen must have looked desperate because 8 offered it to her. “Do you need a nap today? You look hyped-up as shit.”
Fallen nodded, trying not to appear too eager. The answer to her dreaming problem today was clicking into place.
“You can keep that,” 8 told her. “I’ve got a couple.”
Fallen nodded. “Thanks.” This would ensure her privacy in 514 above and beyond the furniture she liked to put in front of the door. Orbit couldn’t get in, if he was here and searching for her.
Still, throughout the day her resolve shifted. While she wiped dirty mirrors clean and vacuumed up crumbs, Fallen longed to have hope. Maybe she could change the past. If she could just figure out exactly when Thomas had died and how, maybe she could tell him, and he could avoid the deadly situation.
After using her iPad to send down an updated list of rooms ready for guests, Fallen approached 510. Just two more rooms until 514, and still no sign of Mr. Orbit. She stepped inside and tried out the broken fork lock. It seemed to work.
She left it in place as she cleaned, and put it back in her pocket as pushed the cart to the middle of room 512. Today 512 was super neat and only took her half the time a messy room would have.
Then came her moment to go into 514. She centered herself, resolving to find out whatever she could about Thomas and his circumstances. She half expected to hear Orbit’s grating voice as she entered the room, but it wasn’t there.
First, she cleaned everything. Then she brought her cart into the room and doused the lights. After letting her eyes adjust to the dark, she was able to make her way over to the desk. She worked quickly, putting the picture in place for the camera.
Once that was set, she used the broken fork to create her DIY security system. Finally she felt like she would be secure—at least on this side of things.
She stretched out on the bed, her eyes already starting to close, which made her heart race—a barrage of feelings that had once been foreign to her body, but now felt so welcome. She would see him. Maybe. Hopefully. Please. Nothing was guaranteed.
···
When Fallen opened her eyes, she was seated in a church pew. Towering stained-glass windows surrounded her, and the carpet held the faded scent of incense.
Lad was holding her hand, and he smiled when she met his gaze.
The man seated in front of them was talking about marriage and commitment, looking at them intensely.
Fallen tried to pull her hand from Lad’s, but he had a firm grasp. She could feel a ring on her finger.
“So, this is our last counseling session, and unless either of you crazy kids has any questions, it looks like we’ll have a wedding next week.”
Lad stood and held out his hand to the priest. “Thank you, Father O’Hannan.”
The priest looked at her as she stood as well.
“And you, little lady, I know you’re not much for talking, but you will at least have to say ‘I do,’ at the ceremony.”
He joked, but Fallen covered her mouth with the one hand she was allowed to have possession of. She looked at her feet, seeing the horrible Velcro sneakers. She looked back up at Lad when he cleared his throat, and the priest was gone.
“Do you remember these dreams when you’re awake?” she asked him. No use pretending anymore.
“Fallen, you crack me up.” He smiled again, his eyes unreadable. “Yes, it does feel like a dream world. You are a dream come true.” He patted her hand. “How about we go out dancing—and then practice a little bit for our first night as man and wife?” Lad bit his bottom lip as his eyes slid over her chest. “I’m due the service since I forgave your dalliance with that solider. I mean, we can’t pretend you’re a virgin, right? But your wanton ways have come to an end.”
And then Lad’s hands were all over her—grabbing her ass, sliding over her breast for a hard pinch.
She grabbed his hands and pushed them to his sides. “No.”
“That’s fine. You want the payoff to be on the big night. I get it. Just don’t forget your wifely duties.” He smiled, but his eyes were mean.
Fallen decided playing into his fantasy might be the best way out.
“I’m leaving for my bachelorette party in a few minutes. You’re off to your bachelor party, right?”
Lad seemed delighted at the change in her demeanor. He liked his delusions stroked, apparently.
“Yes. All the guys. And I promise you’re my number one. I won’t cheat on you like you cheated on me.” He came in for a kiss, and she offered him her cheek.
“You should go now.” She pointed to the door.
“Okay. I’ll meet up with you after, though.” He walked back up the aisle and waved over his shoulder.
It worked. Whatever weirdness this dream was, and however Lad controlled it, she was still in charge of some things too.
She looked around the empty sanctuary. The side door seemed like the best choice; she didn’t want to go out the same door as Lad.
She pushed open the heavy wooden door and spilled out into a sunlit field. The tops of the long grass held little puffs of wishes and wheat. She shielded her eyes and looked for Thomas. He came around the corner of the building, and she felt all the tension leave her. He was alive.
They had urgent things to talk about, so much she had to mention, but i
n an instant, her mind became a sieve. There was just Thomas. He was searching for her. To be the goal he sought, to see his excitement and relief that matched hers was exactly what heaven was made of. She ran to him, but his long legs were much faster than hers. He picked her up and whirled her into a hug. She inhaled his scent.
“Fallen.”
“Thomas.”
She kissed him on the lips that she’d stared at for nights at a time. They’d been blurry then, though she couldn’t quite remember why. It was as if her memory had been jammed. Thomas set her on her feet and ran his hands from her hips to her jaw. His gaze as he felt her shape could start and end a million wars.
It was him. And her. Finally. Finally together.
He changed her outfit as they hugged again. She glanced down to see a glamorous red and white dotted dress with a huge skirt. The top had pearl buttons and a v-neck, with what felt like a little pop collar.
He now wore a deep blue suit and tie with a matching hat. He looked a little like a gangster. He motioned toward their transportation, which he’d obviously thought about ahead of time. He was a genius, and she told him so. The gorgeous, cherry red convertible looked a whole lot like a PT Cruiser. If they were moving, surely they’d be harder for Lad to locate.
“Welcome to the Ford Deluxe. It matches your dress.”
He walked her to the passenger side and held open her door. She slid in and made sure his side was unlocked. She needn’t have worried. He hopped in over the door and flashed her a grin fully loaded with dimples and bright, white teeth.
“Wanna go for a ride?”
She nodded, amazed at how handsome he was. “Yes. Take me away from all this.” She waved her hands at their surroundings.
The engine came to life, but seemed to have a permanent sputter.
“Is this a car you own?”
“I did. I sold it when I enlisted. I miss her. Not as much as I miss you, though. Get over here.” He patted the leather seat next to him.
She slid over and cuddled into him. The scent of him, the heat of his hard body, and the feel of his arm around her shoulders sent a wave of ecstasy into her brain.
She tilted her face to his, ignoring the driving he managed with one hand. “I’m so free with you.”
He looked at her, glancing back at the road from time to time. “I know what you mean.”
He started to hum, so she laid her head against his chest to feel the vibration.
“Tell me.” She touched his jaw, running the back of her hand over the hint of dimple. “Tell me what’d it be like to be your girl. Your real girl.”
“That’s easy. I think about it all the time.” He kissed her fingertips as she outlined his mouth. “I’d kiss you—like this—“ He nudged her forehead with his chin until she angled her lips in the right direction, and then he kissed her. The car stayed on the road, so she assumed he kept his eyes open, but his lips tasted delicious.
Just the simple things, the small details—she couldn’t take them for granted. They had to last her a whole week. Maybe her whole life.
He ended the kiss with smaller kisses before finishing his statement. “I’d do that all the time. And with my friends? I’d have you sit in my lap just to make them jealous. Every night I’d drive to your house to kiss you goodnight. Until we were married, and then? Then I’d kiss you all night and good morning too.”
She covered her mouth so she wouldn’t sob. She wanted this world he painted in her imagination. “More.”
Thomas nodded and gave the car more gas. “I’d take you to the movies. And then we’d have a milkshake. And I’d dance with you in the moonlight.”
Fallen nodded. “Let’s do that. Take me to the movies.”
Thomas tilted his head and nodded. “Let’s.”
Three turns later, a classic theatre appeared, aglow in lights with a sign proclaiming Double Indemnity as the evening’s show.
She waited for him to open her door, because it was a date after all. They strolled across the parking lot under the stars. The gravel crunched under their feet. Thomas pulled open the shiny silver and glass doors, and the scent of popcorn hit them, though there was not another person to be seen.
“Popcorn,” he breathed. “It’s been forever since popcorn.”
Fallen let go of his arm and walked around the counter. “What’ll it be, sir?”
He leaned on his elbows and looked her up and down. She added a little kick that tossed up the hem of her dress.
“I’ll take popcorn and the gorgeous lady.” He lifted his eyebrow and gave her a slow smirk before pulling his hat off his head and putting it over his heart.
Fallen grabbed a red and white box and scooped out the fluffy corn to fill it up.
She turned and took the first piece out, holding it for him. He pretended to snap at her like a tiger, and she laughed. In an instant Thomas vaulted the counter and had her up against the popcorn machine—mixing her laughter with a surprised shout. He wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her flush against him.
“Tell me more about our date,” she asked while looking at his lips.
“Well, I’m so charming that she lets me touch her. Lets me do whatever I want.”
Fallen batted her eyelashes. “She sounds a little fast.”
“It’s okay—it’s only because she’s crazy about me.” Thomas touched the end of her nose.
“Now you tell me about this date.” Thomas swirled her away from the machine and lifted her to sit on the counter
She liked this better because they were eye to eye. She pulled him in and whispered her imaginings in his ear.
“Well, the girl, she wishes for him. All the time. She imagines what it would be like to spend a whole day holding his hand. And she would show him off. And no other guys would dare come near her—because her guy? He’s just so tall and intimidating. Like Superman. And he keeps holding the doors and smiling at her a lot.”
She looked in his eyes. There were so many colors there—pale blue, deep gray—highlighted by a dark circle.
“She would let him take anything he needed from her, because she needs it too.”
Fallen flipped her hair out of her face, and Thomas leaned close and planted a kiss on her exposed throat.
He whispered in her ear, a sensitive spot for her. “He needs her so much.” He nibbled her earlobe before touching the tip of his tongue to it.
She grabbed his tie and pulled until his lips were on hers again. She scooted forward so he was safely between her legs. She ran her hands down his chest, unbuttoning the suit jacket as she went, letting her hands rest on his belt buckle.
“Come, beautiful girl. Let’s go to the movies.” He grabbed her ass and held her aloft. She snatched the popcorn bucket as she slid down his body. Thomas strolled with her on the thick, red carpet. He pretended to talk to an attendant who wasn’t there and handed him make-believe tickets.
“He says theatre number two for us.”
She blew a kiss in the direction of the ticket stand, and Thomas narrowed his eyes. “Are you flirting with him?
She winked at the spot before turning back to Thomas. “Ex-boyfriend. Just want him to know what he’s missing.”
Thomas frowned and turned away from her, very thoroughly miming beating up someone, complete with ventriloquism of the high-pitched squeals of his “victim.”
Fallen laughed so hard she had to squat down on her white high heels. When he saw how hard she was laughing, he added a few more kicks.
“Okay, that’ll teach him a lesson.” Thomas pretended to dust off his suit jacket before offering his arm to her.
“Thank heavens I’m well protected.” She waved at her face like she was overheated by his masculine display.
He rubbed his lips. “No worries. I’ll keep you safe.”
She tried to look at the floor before the uncertainty showed in her eyes, but he didn’t miss a thing.
“What’s wrong?” He stopped in front of the gold-etched doors that kept
the flickering screen just beyond.
“I just wish I could keep you safe, too. War scares me.” She bit her bottom lip and searched his face for answers he couldn’t give her.
He gave her a sad smile. “I love that you want that for me.”
Fallen insisted on another kiss, and Thomas went slow with her, like he had all the time in the world. The wasteful kiss was a tender one. Eventually he escorted her to theatre #2, his hands tracing over her back possessively.
Fallen held tight to his arm because she sucked at walking when she couldn’t take her eyes off the sharp angle of his jaw and his blinding smile.
The empty theatre was already dark, the black and white film flickering on the screen. Thomas picked out a middle row and stepped to the side to allow her to choose one of the overstuffed, deep red seats. He sat next to her and slung his arm over the back of her chair as easy as breathing. She held up the popcorn, and he leaned low to take a piece from the bucket using only his tongue. He smiled at her while he crunched.
“This stuff is heaven. I’ve missed it.”
Fallen crossed one leg over the other before putting her head on his shoulder. Low, sweeping music played as the characters acted out their drama in what looked like a grocery store.
She closed her eyes and concentrated on the heat of Thomas’ shoulder against her cheek, the gentle thump of his heartbeat, which she could just barely hear. The popcorn box tumbled from her hand as she moved to grasp his crisp shirt in her hand.
“What’s wrong, dream girl?” He covered her hand with his, kissing her forehead and hair.
Fallen didn’t want to cry; she wanted this memory remain the perfection it had been a moment ago. She shook her head and buried her face, inhaling his cologne.
Her mascara bled onto his shirt, staining it. She spied it as she peered through her blurry lashes. “I’m sorry. I made a mess of your shirt.”
“I love whatever marks you leave on me, Fallen. Tell me.” He ran his hand across the back of her neck.
“You already know.” She didn’t have to explain. This moment with him—the stolen gorgeousness of being together—it was cruel to have it be so brief.