Page 26 of Night Shift

“No.”

“Wow.”

“Was it inadequate?”

I laugh softly. “Definitely not.”

He seems relieved.

We sit there until the cold begins working its way through my coat, talking about nothing particularly important. I tell him about the worst haircut I ever gave myself. He tells me he once spent thirty years avoiding France because someone there irritated him, but refuses to elaborate.

The night stretches around us, quiet and private, and for once, I don’t feel tired.

Eventually, I check my phone.

“Crap.”

“What?”

“It’s almost morning.”

The words change something in him. Not visibly, exactly, but I feel him go still beside me.

“I should get you home.”

“I know.”

Neither of us stands.

I laugh under my breath. “I could stay out here all night.”

Erebus looks at me. “So could I.”

“Yeah, well, some of us need sleep.”

“I have heard.”

“And jobs.”

“I am familiar with the concept.”

“Barely.”

I stand and offer him my hand.

He takes it.

We walk back slowly, fingers linked between us, and by the time we reach my building I know I should be exhausted. Instead, I feel light, almost giddy, like I’ve somehow stepped sideways out of my own life.

At the bottom of the stairs, Erebus stops.

I don’t want him to.

I turn toward him, still holding his hand. “I had fun.”

“So did I.”

The simplicity of the answer makes me smile.