Page 13 of Ever After

“Well, you married me.”

A peaceful silence falls and I lie quietly, thinking over the day. “In the church ceremony they say, ‘till death do us part’,” I finally say.

He jerks as if he was dropping off to sleep. “Do they? I wish we’d said that, but it’s not true anyway.”

“Why,” I ask cautiously, gazing down at him. His head rests on my chest, his expression peaceful.

“Because I love you too much for one lifetime,” he says simply and I feel the heat behind my eyes.

“Same,” I say thickly.

He gives me his wry, charming smile. “I never used to believe there was anything after this life, but now I have you, I want it to be true. There must be more, because I love you too large for just this world.”

“Blue Billings, did you just say something devastatingly romantic?”

He snorts. “Maybe. Let’s not tell anyone.”

“Your secret is safe with me.” I nose in amongst his hair and drop a kiss on his temple. “You know it’s the same for me, don’t you?”

He pinches my nipple. “We can’t be sentimental in stereo, macushla. You may have your turn tomorrow.”

“Deal.”

CHAPTER 3

BLUE

“Istill say that the person who suggested travelling while enduring a hangover from Satan himself needs a good slap.”

Levi chuckles. “That was you, dear.”

“Next time I have a suggestion on anything, please feel free to smother me.”

The service station is packed with people. Children run around screaming and adults shout over each other. It’s like bedlam but with Burger King.

I look over at Levi who’s calmly sipping his tea. “You okay? Tired?” It’s a long drive from York to Cornwall, and we had a really early start.

“I’m fine.” He nudges his hand against mine, making our rings click together. I shake my head, not even trying to hide my smile. They’re a tiny secret that we wear on our fingers amongst all these strangers—the knowledge that yesterday we bound our lives together.

“Pack it in with the sentimentality,” I advise him.

His grin is as wide and bright as the sun and then he drops his hand and starts to unwrap his sandwich. “I’m fine. We’re only about half an hour away. I just needed to stretch my legs and get a drink.”

“I’ll drive next,” I declare.

“Hmm. Yes.”

I narrow my eyes when he doesn’t say anything more. “The incident on the motorway could have happened to anyone.” His eyebrow rises and I amend my statement to, “Well anyone who’s psychic. There are a lot of ghosts on these roads and some of them lack any bloody manners at all.” I huff. “Fucking see-through hitchhikers. The nerve of the last one. I’m not happy about him getting in the car and then demanding to be taken to his destination.”

“I’ve never been so thankful not to share your talents. Luckily, I’ve grown used to gripping the seat while you wave your arms and shout at thin air.”

“Did I look handsome while I was doing it?” He laughs and I nudge him. “Go on, you can tell me. My ego is not too inflated.”

He grimaces as he takes a bite of his sandwich. “Good job those ghosts aren’t eating the food here. Being dead would be the least of their problems, then.”

“Maybe it was the cheese and pickle panini that got them in their condition.”

“Words to strike fear.” He chews meditatively. “It’s funny because it is a panini and it does have cheese and pickle, but it somehow doesn’t taste anything like either of those things.”