Page 56 of Sleep With Us

CHAPTER 15

As the sun set in the bay, its descent cast long shadows across the street. Shadows that hadn’t yet reached the hotel’s flowerbeds.

I stood on the porch steps with Zee, watching the heat fade from the day. The city hummed pleasantly, and the hotel groaned and ticked, making settling noises. Or that may have been gremlins munching through the floors.

Zee had returned from Razorsedge early in the morning. I’d been tempted to rush to him, but Reynard had suggested he might need space, and that he’d come looking for us when he was ready.

Reynard had also suggested, it was time to talk about the flowers.

Zee emerged a little while ago, and met me in the foyer. He wore casual baggy pants and a torn string top. He didn’t look angry or upset. He just seemed content. His neck chain was missing, its symbolism no longer required.

I looked down at the flowers. This was the right moment.

“So, there’s a thing I need to tell you, and I should have told you before, but there was a lot going on, and you were dealing with so much. Reynard said I should tell you, but I couldn’t. So this isn’t on him. It’s my fault. I should have said before. I was scared I’d lose you, and well . . . it was selfish, I know. I was trying to protect you, and myself, but I think I maybe hurt you instead, and I’m so sorry, Zee, but⁠—”

He pressed a finger to my lips. “Cherise is under the flowers.”

“You knew?” I mumbled around his finger.

He plucked his finger away and looked down at the rows of happy flowers. “She fuckin’ loved flowers. And knives. But mostly flowers. She’d like it there.”

“I should have told you when he . . . When it happened.”

“It wouldn’t have changed anything.” He slung his arm around my shoulders and tucked me against his side. We stayed like that a while, watching the sun set and the shadows crawl over the flowers.

“Do you forgive me?” I asked quietly.

He ruffled my hair. “There’s nothing to forgive. If you hadn’t noticed, I worship the fucking ground you walk on. I’ve got no fucking idea why you keep fighting to save people who don’t deserve it, but I’m here for it, and you. And mac and cheese.” He booped my nose. “Also, I really like fucking you. Like, so fucking much. Did you keep those fluffy pink cuffs I got in LA?”

I grinned. “Maybe.”

“Maybe we can try them later?”

His being so understanding, proved I should have told him sooner. I tried to be a good person, but sometimes it was hard. Sometimes, doing the right thing hurt the most, and I already knew I wasn’t cut out to be anyone’s hero.

We walked, side by side, back into the lobby. Guests bustled. Madame Matase chatted on the phone. A new gremlin hole had opened up in the wall—I’d have to move the chair in front of it later. But the hotel was still standing, still offering a safe place for Lost Ones who needed it. Zee was right, coming home to the SOS Hotel felt good, in a world where there wasn’t much good to be found.

“I’m afraid to ask, but was Sebastien unalived?”

“We voted. It was close, but the prick gets to live. We all had to make the best of a shit sandwich after the veil sealed. Some think he was just trying to survive. Like that forgives him for being an epic, abusive asshole. But he sure ain’t in a happy place. Probably wishes he was dead.”

I didn’t want to know the details. Although, I kinda really did want to know every painful thing that had been done to him, so I could relish the taste of vengeance. Wait, I mean . . . vengeance is bad. An eye for an eye leaves two people blind. Or something.

“We persuaded him to sign over the club deed, so it’s owned by the team now. Team of demons? Horde of demons? Throng of demons? What’s a group of demons called? Whatever, he’s no longer the boss of us. Ramone’s the manager. He’s fair, he’ll be good at it.”

Would Zee leave the SOS Hotel and go back to Razorsedge? He had that right. He clearly loved the club, just not its boss, and his performances were a gift to any and all who watched them. “And you? Will you go back?” I asked quietly, hoping he didn’t hear how much it hurt to ask.

He could leave. That was his choice. We didn’t have contracts. We had made a deal to fix up and open the hotel together, but technically, that deal had been fulfilled.

Today, for the first time ever, he got to choose his tomorrow.

“Me? Go back there? Fuck that. I got a good thing going in this place. My own pole—which I will fix. My favorite human, free food⁠—”

“You don’t mean the guests, right?”

“Pfft, no. Why would I need to feed on the guests when I’ve got you? Oh, and hey, I almost forgot. You’re our general now.”

I stopped in the middle of the foyer. “Huh?”