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Maddox grunted. I had no idea what he meant by that.
A tourist dropped a soda can at my feet as they walked past. “Come on!” I flung my hands in the air. “It’s like five steps to a trash can.” I bent down and dumped the can before turning back to Maddox. “How long have you guys had your suite at the Bellagio?” I asked.
Maddox’s eyes flicked to mine before he turned back to the fountain, just as the water began to rise like a progression of chords. “About a year.”
“It must be nice being so close to HQ,” I said, making conversation. “A two-hour commute, or a few seconds via a magic doorway,” I joked.
Maddox gave me a strange look. “The Bellagio is good enough.” He told me. “It’ll do for now.”
“I think I’d miss having a kitchen,” I replied as Maddox and I walked to the line of cabs lined up by the sidewalk.
“You cook?” He asked.
I nodded.
“You don’t plan to stick around?” Maddox asked lightly.
I fiddled with my hands. “I don’t think I can, Charon was vague, but I don’t think he wanted me to be a Reaper. I think he was backed into a corner. I don’t think I’m going to last long.”
His jaw mashed together. “I see.”
I steeled myself. “I’m not suicidal,” I told him sternly.
“Reapers can’t die.” He said, his lips stiff with tension. “With very few exceptions.”
“Rome, Fletcher, and Jamal have each mentioned that‘heaven bonus.’” I made quote marks with my fingers. “I didn’t exactly get that memo. Charon essentially said that I’m here because he can’t work out where to put me.”
Maddox digested my words as he chose the cab at the front of the line and opened the door. It took me a moment to realize that he was opening the door forme.
Maddox demanded that the cabbie take us to the nearest Denny’s. I was soothed that he spoke to everyone that way, and not just me.
I didn’t stop my heart from beating a mile a minute, though.
“Did Charon say anything else?” Maddox asked once we were settled, and the driver pulled away from the curb. He didn’t seem to care that we could be overheard.
With my lips pulled together in a straight line, I shook my head.
The cab ride only lasted ten minutes because of traffic. Maddox paid the bill without a thought, and I knew from the driver's smile that he had tipped generously.
“We could have walked,” I said.
“Rome said you were big on the environment,” If I didn’t know better, I’d say Maddox was smiling.
I bit back a smile.
We walked into the Denny’s and were seated almost immediately.
I knew what I wanted—chocolate chip pancakes.
Pancakes were the cure to most of life’s problems.
Once we were seated, Maddox knitted his fingers together in front of him. “Oriax said you aren’t adjusting well,” Maddox said, his brow furrowed.
I scoffed. “He saw me for ten minutes yesterday. You were there. I’m fine.”
“The health and wellbeing of my team are important to me.” He said smoothly.
I scoffed even louder. “As if I’m part ofyourteam,” I batted back.
