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“Well…me.”
His grip loosens and he gives me a lazy grin. “Oh, if that’s the case, then I most definitely can be with you all the time,” he states.
I decide to leave it alone. Aiden and I can go back and forth all day if we wanted to. I want to get to the part that bothered me.
“I also heard you tell Joey that you aren’t warming up to me.” I tilt my head. “Why wouldn’t you just tell your best friend about us? Yirah knows about us.”
“Because, my Joy,” Aiden explains, “he tends to let things slip out by accident. I don’t want him accidentally mentioning something to Director Taevian. You know how he can be. Also, I haven’t told Joey about anything dealing with my case. He can find out like everyone else. I don’t want anything or anyone distracting you. Unless, it’s me, of course.”
I think for a couple of seconds. It would overcomplicate things, and we are trying to keep it casual. Director Taevian finding out would only cause him to give us a big speech, at best. I would rather him not threaten my supply of champagne again.
I finally nod. “That makes sense.”
“I know it does,” he informs me, his mouth in a half grin.
Aiden pulls the t-shirt that I’m wearing over my head and holds it up, leaving me naked again.
“Did I give you permission to wear my shirt?” he questions.
“Um,” I mumble. “I don’t recall exactly. But I’m sure you did at one point.”
He slowly shakes head and smirks. “I didn’t, baby,” he informs me. He moves my braids out of the way so he can have a clear view of my chest. I move my hands to cover myself, but he stops them.
“Let me show you how you can earn the privilege of wearing my shirt.”
He doesn’t wait for a reply as flips me on my stomach and places a pillow under me. He proceeds to show me exactly how to earn that privilege.
19
LOVING RAISINS IS A SIN
It’s a couple of days later after the incident with the system shutting down. Aiden, Joey, and I are sitting on the couch in the office, eating lunch. We are betting on what famous people we think are in Hell, when the door to our office opens and an influx of reapers walk in. They are wearing beige suits, which means they are from the Reaper’s Resources department. It worries me that the director of Heaven, Jia Young, is with them.
Aiden raises his eyebrows at them and begins to ask, “How can I he—"
One of the reapers turns to look at me, ignoring Aiden. “Are you Joyce Parker?” she asks, her voice filled with determination.
There aren't any other ways to phrase it, other than to say she is a very attractive woman—locs that reach past her waist and are a bright ginger color, her eyebrows the same gorgeous shade. Creamy cocoa skin with hints of tattoos peeking from under the suit.
Director Young chuckles. “Please excuse her enthusiasm. These reapers had some concerns, so I brought them here to hash it out with you, Ms. Parker. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not,” I reply immediately, even though I do indeed mind. Everywhere I turn I see Director Young being nice, or helping someone. Doesn’t it get tiring to be that nice? I heard she has never yelled at one of her reapers. I mean, Director Taevian is a nice guy, but even he gets fed up with other reapers’ shit. My point is—I don’t trust anyone who’s too nice. I know she’s the director of Heaven, but still. Too nice.
“Excellent. I will leave you all to it,” she says as she smiles. She gestures to Joey. “Mr. Gomez, could I speak to you?”
Joey grabs his food. “Of course, Director Young.” He winks at us and makes his exit with her. I wonder what’s that about.
Aiden turns to look at me, raising an eyebrow as if asking me what I did. I press my lips together and shake my head. I am assuming since they are from the Reaper’s Resources Department that they came based on a report filed. Damn. Everything really does come to bite you in the ass. I guess it’s time I pay my dues.
I drop my head in thought, attempting to encourage myself to face my sins. I take a deep breath to prepare myself for my punishment. What was I thinking when I did what I did?
I look at the group and admit, “I know, I know. I shouldn’t have stolen the three bottles of champagne from the staff kitchen, but it was an emergency. The bottle of champagne in my apartment broke and I—”
She shakes her head and cuts me off. “Girl, I don’t care about the champagne. We need your help.”
I let out the breath I was holding and laugh. “Whew. For a second there I thought I was a goner.”
Aiden shakes his head. “We talked about this, Joyce. You don’t have to steal things here.”
