His eyes glanced around and to the phone at my ear, like he was worried I’d say something that shouldn’t be overheard. “That day is over now. You need to move on and try to…” He squeezed his eyes closed as he struggled to keep his composure. “Be happy, Bird.”

I nodded, but the fear of that day was heavy in the air around me.

“It haunts me,” I whispered.

“You have nothing to be scared of anymore. You are safe. They have their monster in a cage. No one can hurt you anymore. You’re free, Bird. I set you free.” A tear ran down his face, and my hand twitched, wanting to wipe it away.

“Did you do it…on purpose? Did you mean to hurt me?” My voice was barely a whisper; I was terrified of his response.

Brock’s face turned serious. “Never. I never would have hurt you, Bird.”

“You did.”

“Time’s up,” a guard yelled, startling me, and I jumped.

“I love you, Lie. I’m sorry.” He stood, pushing back his chair.

“Brock, I forgive you.”

He hung up the phone, his eyes lingering on me for an extra second before he was escorted away with the others.

I felt dazed as I stood from my chair and headed toward the exit. The door in front of me opened, and I smiled faintly to the guard as he nodded in return. I stepped through the last doorway and tilted my head up to the sky, my eyes closed, as I bathed in the fresh air and sunlight. I was free.

Strong arms wrapped around me from behind as I was lifted from the ground. I squealed, instantly feeling the tension ease from my shoulders in Abel’s embrace. His lips came down to kiss me on the cheek before he lowered me to the ground.

“How do you feel?” he asked, as I spun around, looping my arms around his neck.

“Free.”

His lips pressed against my forehead. “I love you so much, Kettle.”

“Stop calling me that.” His chest rumbled with laughter as I pulled back to admire his dimples. “I love you too, Abel.”

“Forever?” His eyebrow cocked.

“Like I have a choice.” I pulled his mouth to mine and kissed him.

“Cold‐blooded, Kettle.” He smacked me on the butt, which made me jump as I squealed. His hand grabbed mine, and he kissed the back of it as we made our way to his black Barracuda.

I slid into the passenger seat as I waited for him to join me. He got in, slamming the door and drumming his fingers on the steering wheel.

“What?” I asked him.

He smiled as he turned the key in the ignition, and the engine roared to life. He put the car in reverse, and dust swirled in a cloud around the car as we pulled out of the parking lot.

“I just wonder what things would have been like if we had met before.” He let his thought hang in the air, and I imagined what life would have been like with Abel as I slung my arm out the window, letting my hand twist in the wind.

I took Abel’s right hand in mine as I leaned back in my seat and propped my feet on the dashboard, my eyes scanning his perfect angelic face as my hair whipped around my face. “I think we were always meant to be, one way or another.”

“Yeah?” He glanced at me with a crooked smile.

“Yeah.” I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth. “You don’t think so?”

He shrugged as he turned onto the highway, and we headed west. “I just don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

“I’m still trying to figure that out myself,” I teased, as I leaned forward and turned up the radio.

He tugged on my hand, which made me fall on my side against him. “Come here, Kettle.”

I wrapped my arms around his waist and closed my eyes as I squeezed him.

“So…what did you two talk about?” Abel cleared his throat, and I smiled against his side.

“You jealous?” I teased, as his arm tensed around me. “Don’t be.” I settled in tighter against him. “You’re my forever. He was a lesson.”

Abel’s lips pressed against the top of my head as I felt the car turn a hard left.

“Whoa. Where are we going?”

“Hotel.”

I sat up and pushed my hair from my face as I laughed at the sign. “Dead End Inn? Really?”

“You scared, Kettle?”

“Only of your sense of humor. Your jokes are going to bore me to death.”

“Cute. You’re real cute, Kettle. Now get out of the car.”

“You’re serious?”

His expression didn’t change, and I groaned as I opened my door and stepped out of the car. He got out as well, and we both rounded the front.

“So you thought this would be…what? Romantic?” I asked him.

He chuckled as he draped his arm over my shoulders, and we headed toward the entrance. “There’s someone here we’re supposed to meet.”

I looked at him confused, but I understood when he pulled open the door to the office. “Jesus,” I mumbled, as I took in the scene. There was blood, black and dried, in splatters across the walls.

“No, not Jesus. This is Brandon. He was robbed a few hours ago.” My body froze, and I pulled back against Abel’s grip. “Be cool, Kettle. What am I saying? Be like me, Kettle.”

“Oh…you got jokes?” I said. “You’re seriously joking right now?”

“You’re going to scare our new friend.” He plastered a smile on his face, and his voice rose. “You all right, sir?”

“Help,” a faint voice mumbled from behind the desk. I glanced at Abel before hurrying to the counter and bending over the edge to look down at a very badly injured Brandon.

“Is he…?” I asked, glancing back at Abel. He shook his head, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“He would be if we hadn’t stopped here.” Abel grabbed the phone on the counter and picked it up. “It’s dead.” He started to laugh but cleared his throat as I glared at him. “All right. That was lame.” He pulled his cell from his pocket and dialed the police as I slipped around the counter and knelt next to the hotel owner.

“You’re going to be OK.” I tried to soothe him.

His bloodied hand wrapped around my arm. “Are you an angel?”

Abel snorted, and I glared up at him. “No. We’re here to help you.”

“Thank God,” he murmured, and Abel rolled his eyes.

“Actually, my name is Abel, and this is Kettle,” he began, but I interrupted.

“Actually, my name is Delilah. You’re going to be just fine. You’re real lucky we stopped in here.” I brushed his graying hair from his forehead.

“It’s a miracle. Bless you. Bless you.”

Just when I thought Abel was going to die—a second time, for his not getting the credit for his miraculous save—we heard sirens in the distance, and I couldn’t hold back the smile that spread over my face.

We waited for the paramedics to get closer before we slipped outside and into Abel’s car. “Lesson of the day, dear Kettle, is that without whatever happened to us in the past, this guy wouldn’t have been saved today.”

“So…everything happens for a reason?” I asked, confused.

“No. Shit happens.”

“Oh, that’s poetic.”

“But we saved his life, so it kind of makes it worth it, right?”

“I guess.” I slid against his side as he pulled out of the parking lot and passed the ambulance and police cars that were on the side road.

“You guess?” He shook his head as he stepped on the gas, and we continued on our trip west, toward California. “Kettle, you’re not embracing my awesome. Embrace the awesome.”

“So are you going to tell me how you knew?” I pulled back to look at him, and his gaze flicked to mine.

“Well, I’d always had a feeling of awesome, even as a young boy.”

“My God. You’re infuriating.”

“Kettle, I’m touched, but you don’t need to call me ‘God.’”

I shook my head. “You’re so lucky I love you.”

“I know. Trust me—I know.” His tone was serious as he pressed a kiss into my hair. “I love you too, Delilah.”

Happily ever afterlife.