Page 129 of Pretty Thing

“Do they know what caused the fire?”

She shrugs.

“They think it was the furnace. My parents were storing boxes too close, and it just happened to catch fire. A total accident. I feel like I’m a giant walking hazard sign lately.”

She wipes away the tears sliding down her cheeks.

“Hey, look on the bright side, at least no one was home when it happened.”

“I guess. It’s not much of a consolation considering I have nothing. I don’t even have the paperwork I need to start over. I just…I don’t know what to do,” Eden says.

I hand her back her phone, then wrap my arm around her waist as we walk out.

“I know, and I’m sorry. Do you want to go shopping? The mall is still open, and it’s my treat for the crappy day. Unless you love wearing my boxers as underwear.” I smirk.

“Felix, you…”

“Don’t you dare say, ‘You don’t have to do that.’”

Eden laughs when I try to mock her voice.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“And you have never said a sweeter sentence. I love you, Pretty Thing.”

I brush my lips against hers and then open her car door.

Eden can’t fathom the exquisite agony of how I crave her, or how our fates are tangled together. But it doesn’t matter. I hold the keys to our destiny, and when the dust settles, Eden will finally look me in the eyes and see my devotion. She’ll realize everything I destroy keeps her safe.

thirty-six

​. . .​

Eden

First day on the new job. It’s not my dream, but it does feel great to be useful and have a reason to get up.

Watching Felix with clients is like watching a curator describe art in a gallery. He’s so passionate about his work and making sure that the client is happy. I have to admit that even though my arm only has an outline so far, it’s incredibly beautiful. Once I get over the itching, I’ll think about him filling it. He was right—again—it did feel therapeutic in a way I wasn’t expecting.

“I’m going to grab us all lunch,” Felix says after his client is gone.

“You’re splurging? What’s the occasion?” Matt teases.

“Our newest employee, of course. I have to make her want to stay,” Felix says with a smile, making me blush.

“Hey, as long as I get to reap the benefits, I won’t complain.” Matt leans on the counter, groaning when he takes a bite of one of the brownies that Felix has sitting out today. “Fuck, these are good.”

Felix smiles. He can open a bakery if he decides not to tattoo because the German chocolate brownies he made last night are out of this world and totally addictive.

“I’m thinking Chinese. What do you two want?”

“I can come with you,” I offer.

“Nope, just text me what you want. Matt can finish showing you the POS system while I’m gone.”

Matt salutes. “I’m on it.”

I watch Felix leave and don’t notice that I’m smiling until Matt clears his throat.