Chapter 6 - What the FUCK?!
Cassie
I was sitting by myself at the bistro Kimi had told me to meet her at. It had been a few days since our meeting in the cemetery. She and I had gotten extremely busy and this was the day we both had free for lunch. She was running a little late according to her most recent message. It was a bright sunny day and I was seated outside with my sunglasses on. My bike was within my eyesight which is always how I preferred it. Now I can also drive a car, but today seemed like a motorcycle day. Plus, it was my day off and, yet again, I wanted to get some practice in before the next race on the circuit which was scheduled for next week. After a few minutes of me checking the weather forecast, I looked up to see that Kimi had arrived. She too was wearing a pair of sunglasses and more casual attire. It must be her day off too. She smiled and I returned it. If I ever saw her uncle again, I owed him a big thank you. It was nice being on non yelling terms with Kimi again. She was always like a big sister to me.
"Hey," she said as she sat down across from me.
"Hey," I responded. "I've never actually tried this place before. Is it good?" Kimi nodded.
"It's one of my favorites. The coffee can be a little bland sometimes but that's about the only criticism I have," she said and started reading the specials menu.
"That's good. I've never really enjoyed coffee all that much," I said as the server walked over.
"Can I start you two with some drinks?" they asked.
"Yes please," I said. "I'll have a Tequila sunrise." The server scribbled my choice on their notepad and turned to Kimi.
"I'll have…the Maple Latte today please," she said. Again the server scribbled on their notepad.
"I'll get those in right away!" they said and walked off.
I took a second to look around the area. God damn it was a nice day today! Not a cloud in the sky and it wasn't even humid either. I wish I had the foresight to wear sandals like Kimi had. Why I decided to wear shoes with restricted air flow was a mystery to me.
"Know what you want?" Kimi asked, pulling me back to the table. "Anything. My treat." I shook my head and looked back down at the menu. A couple things caught my eye like a Reuben, a patty melt and even a chicken salad wrap. Hmm, I had chicken last night and I haven't had a good Reuben sandwich in quite some time.
"Yes actually," I said. "The reuben sounds good. Not a huge fan of rye though."
"They do substitutions," Kimi explained. "So, I hear you have been making quite the name for yourself on the local MotoGP circuit." I nodded. It felt nice to be recognized for just my last name.
"I got into motorcycles and racing in college," I said. "I caught a race with some friends and decided that's what I wanted to do with my life. I have a degree in Automotive Engineering with a focus on motorcycles."
"Really?" Kimi said. "I never actually thought of you as that type of woman."
"Me either, but the track seemed to be calling my name y'know," I explained as the server came over with the drinks.
"One tequila sunrise!" they said and placed the glass in front of me. "And one maple latte. Have we made a decision?" Kimi motioned to me first.
"Yeah, I'll have the reuben but can I get that on wheat bread instead of rye?" I asked. "I'll also have regular fires on the side." The server nodded.
"Of course you can! And for you?" they asked Kimi.
"I'm going to go with the tuna melt today," she answered. "Sweet potato fries on the side."
"You got it ladies," the server said and held their hand out for the menus. "I'll get that right in for you. Until then, enjoy the sunshine!"
I took a sip of my drink while Kimi did the same. The drink itself was good but I could taste the cheaper tequila rather than the one I liked. Still though, I'm not complaining.
"So anyway," Kimi said, clasping her fingers together. "Back to you. I've heard you actually do maintenance on motorcycles now too over at the garage on Beech Street. Plus you test some of the newer models." I nodded.
"I've actually done some stunts for a few movies too," I said.
"Shut up!" Kimi said excitedly. "Which ones?!" I smiled.
"You ever see the Fatal Risk movies with Kiera Acker?" I asked. Kimi nodded. I tripped my glass in her direction and she gasped.
"No way!" she exclaimed happily and leaned forward. "YOU did stunts for Kiera Acker?!"
"Oh yes," I said and smirked. "In all of them. Remember the part in the second one where she's out running that flaming truck? That was me. I was also the person that did the slide under the tanker in the third one. Kiera is a nice person before you ask. She always made sure I was safe before I did anything."
"Was that truck actually on fire?!" Kimi asked. Again I nodded.
"It was controlled remotely but yes," I said and took another sip of my drink. This was nice.
"What about you Kim? Whatcha been up to?" I asked. Kimi leaned back in her seat and crossed her legs.
"Oh you know, work mainly. But I've started to take up sketching as a hobby," she said. I raised my eyebrows.
"Oh really? Sketching what?" I asked. Kimi hesitated before she pulled out a small notepad from her purse. She flipped it open and handed it to me. If she had not just told me she had taken up this hobby, I would not have believed her if she said these drawings were hers. These were fantastic. I saw multiple things like a detailed portrait of what I believe was Amaterasu as well as other deities.
"They're not great I know," Kimi muttered.
"Kim," I said. "They're really good! You should do commissions or something for like extra money!" Kimi gave me a small smile.
Our food arrived shortly after that and the pair of us ate in silence for a few minutes. Again, Kimi was right. The food here was really good. I enjoyed the fact that my sandwich wasn't absolutely loaded with sauerkraut.
"Hey, what's that on your upper arm?" Kimi said. I saw she was looking at the bottom of the half tattoo I had. I put down half of my sandwich and pulled up the sleeve more so she could see it. My tattoo was a sizable portrait of the Egyptian goddess Bastet. I've always liked cats and the artist I found did such a good job on this, I planned to get more work done at some point. It wasn't fully colored but in my opinion, it didn't really need it. Bastet was fully colored black in her human/cat form with an elegant headdress with an ankh being designed by negative space. Kimi raised her eyebrows and nodded in appreciation.
"College?" she asked. I shook my head.
"It was my birthday present to myself last year," I said and went back to my sandwich.
"Speaking of that," Kimi said. "Isn't that coming up?" I could hear the bit of excitement in her voice but figured she was just being happy for me.
"Yeah," I answered. "It's today actually."
"Well then happy birthday! Any big plans?" Kimi asked. Again, there was that excitement in her voice. Weird. I answered her question by shaking my head.
"I took a day off from work and spending the whole day doing nothing is right up my alley," I said and finished off the first half of my sandwich.
"Honestly, that doesn't sound like such a bad day," Kimi added.
We continued small talk like this for the remainder of our lunch "date." Kimi of course paid the bill even when I tried to protest.
"My treat, remember? I told you back in the cemetery," she said and held up her finger while giving the server her card. I got up from the table and stretched for a few seconds. The weather hadn't changed. It was still unbelievably gorgeous out. Something good was going to happen to me today! I could feel it! Kimi stood up after getting her card back and signing the check adding a pretty generous tip. Before she could do anything else, I gave her a hug. While surprised at first, I felt her hug me back. Much like a sister would have. She let go of me after a few moments.
"You take care of yourself out there alright?" she said to my face.
"Yeah, you too. With the DEA and all," I said.
"Feel free to text me whenever," she added as we started walking to our respective vehicles.
"I might take you up on that. I've always enjoyed our chats in the past," I said. Kimi smiled as she pulled out her keys.
"Me too Cass. Me too," she said and waved goodbye. I picked up my helmet from the seat of my bike and slipped it on my head. I swung one leg over the bike as I watched Kimi drive away. Deciding it might be good to relax a little before hitting the track, I instead headed for home.
A Few Hours Later.
I woke up in a bit of a daze on my couch in the living room of my house. The sun was setting but I still wanted to get some practice on the track. I sat up and stretched before remembering I didn't have any socks on as my feet touched the cold floor.
"Gah!" I exclaimed to no one in particular. After a few seconds, I stood up and looked around the den area of my house my dad had so graciously bought for me because he is the best dad in the world. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm too spoiled. I looked down at my phone where I saw the latest news article about Thrash. I narrowed my eyes. Oh, don't you even think I forgot about you buddy! I know you're stalking me! I quickly skimmed the article and found out that he was spotted again a few nights ago after…assisting the police?! What?! That was new. Usually, the police were constantly telling people to stay away from him. Scrolling through the article I saw something that nearly made my blood boil. Kimi had apparently given a statement about Thrash. "The police department and DEA have determined that the vigilante, known by many under the moniker of 'Thrash', has been questioned about his motives. He is on our side and the public have no cause for alarm." I narrowed my eyes at this. "No cause for alarm" eh Kimi? Well he isn't stalking you is he?! I thought our relationship was starting to mend but then I find out you did this?! I watched the attached video of Kimi along with Kurtis giving the same statement. I did notice that Kimi looked like she had been crying a few minutes before giving this statement too. Whatever, this still didn't change the fact that I know that Thrash is stalking me!
I went into my bedroom half expecting him to be sitting on my windowsill or laying across my bed seductively. If he had been, I would have kicked his ass so fucking hard. I am not someone you can talk to twice and think that I owe you…sex or something! Not how it works in Cassie's world buddy! I walked over to my dresser to get a fresh pair of socks and glanced at the old photos of me and Vic again. It had just now crossed my mind that I had spent almost an entire day without him entering my mind…because every time he did, I felt like I was never going to be happy again. My hands started to shake in anger. Anger at the world. Anger at whoever decided to take the man I loved with every fiber of my being away from me leaving me alone in this fucking world! That's when something happened. Something I couldn't exactly explain. One of my hands was starting to glow green. I quickly pulled it away from the dresser and looked down at it while panicking. What the hell was this?! I shook my hand a few times but the green glow stayed. I stared at my hand wondering what to do for a few seconds before I felt something begin to form in my palm. It felt spherical. Like a ball. Soon enough, a softball sized green ball had formed in my hand though no fault of my own. It just…happened. Still panicking, I threw it. The ball sailed across the room and smashed into my framed diploma which fell off the wall and the glass shattered. I didn't even care. I stared at my hands wondering what the actual fuck just happened. I gotta be dreaming. It's the only explanation. But no…that wasn't the case…because Vic would be here. Alive and well holding me close and I would be…
"NO!" I said as my hands started to glow green again. "What the fuck is this!" Again I felt the spherical object begin to form in my hand and then it appeared. I panicked again and lobbed the ball object upward where it hit my overhead light causing it to shatter. No…this wasn't happening. I...I need to hit the track to get my mind off this whole thing. Without thinking twice, I grabbed a pair of socks, shoved them on and then onto my bike and sped away.
Later. At the Race Track.
I ran into the locker room and locked the door after making sure I wasn't being followed. I looked down at my hands after seeing that I was alone in the room. That was so fucking weird. Do…Do I tell someone? But who? Jacqui? Kimi? Daddy? Yeah, real great idea Cass. What would that message say? "Hey, don't wanna alarm you but I just shot two green energy ball things from my hands! No, I'm not kidding! Lol!" I shook my head as I pulled on my racing suit from my locker. My mind was constantly replaying what just happened back in my bedroom. How did that even happen?! Where did that come from?! Wait a minute…Thrash. He had powers similar to that didn't he? Multiple people reported that he often fought with weapons that were brightly colored. AND they were usually colored green. That motherfucker had done something to me when we shook hands a few nights ago didn't he?! Oh he is so fucking dead the next time I see him!
I walked my bike onto the track all while thinking of good insults to throw at Thrash the next time he tried to talk to me. I could picture the scenario now. He'd emerge from the shadows going "Good evening ma'am" in that weird sounding voice of his and pretend to be all friendly by saying he was just passing through and just so happened to run into me. As if douchebag, you always seem to know where I am huh?! I have half a mind to install a security camera outside my house to see if your creepy ass is actually watching me sleep! I gave an involuntary shudder at the thought. I fired up my bike and revved the throttle a little out of habit while I got onto the seat. I took off down the track seconds later leaving my thoughts of green energy balls and douchebag stalkers back at the starting line.
I went around the track multiple times without a care in the world taking mental notes of where I could save time or overtake other racers. The sun had almost completely set but there was still enough light for me to go around again. As soon as I made the first turn, that was when it all went wrong. First off, there was a figure standing dead center in my way on the track. And I could tell it wasn't human. AND there were multiple similar figures there too. AND they looked like they wanted to tear me to shreds! I pulled the brakes hard but felt myself begin to lose control but I corrected this by pulling my bike into a slide maneuver. I closed my eyes as I crashed into a few of the figures and heard bones snap and flesh rip. I myself let out a yell of pain as my leg scraped against the asphalt and sparks flew up into my chest and face. I slid for a few feet and before I hit the grass and felt myself start to tumble through the air. Aw man! This is gonna hurt so fucking bad! I flew only a few inches before I felt myself hit a very soft object...but when I opened my eyes, I saw that there was nothing there. I was floating a few feet off the ground though and I did see my bike crash into the nearby stands. Great, GREAT! Now I need to spend all fucking day attempting to fix that! I had gotten that as a gift after shooting "Fatal Risk 3: Fatality" about a year or so ago! It was my favorite! Speaking of favorites, I felt my favorite person in the world made his presence known by saying "Wait right there."
I slowly turned my head to see that Thrash was indeed here. Of fucking course he was girl, he was stalking you remember?! I went to open my mouth but instead was struck dumb. Thrash's back was to me as I watched him fight. It was the hair that did it. I stared at it absolutely mesmerized. Because I knew that hair. I had run my fingers through it more times than I could count. I stared at the backside of Thrash and imagined a younger version of myself walking up to a younger version of Thrash and put my hands over his eyes and saying "Guess who!" There…there was no way. He…he was gone. I had held his body in my arms. I had placed my hand on his coffin and cried so loud that my dad literally had to drag me away from it. But…but I know Victor Harris well enough to recognize him fighting off the creatures that had wanted to attack me. He eventually turned his face to me and it wasn't doing that whole rattling thing it had done the last time I saw him this close. I gasped and held back a sob under my helmet. It…it was Vic. I know that face anywhere even if it was covered by a pair of sunglasses and a half face mask. But…but how was he even here? Had I blacked out from the crash and I was just simply imagining Vic as the vigilante as my body was being rushed to the ER or something? I closed and opened my eyes a few times. Nope. I was conscious. I watched as Thra- no…no Vic. I watched as Vic punched a hole through one of the creatures faces while forming a knife out of thin air with the other one. It was a green color and he tossed it right into the neck of another creature. I didn't…I couldn't…this was not real. It just wasn't. But…I knew that it was. Victor Dante Harris. The man I had loved since I was around ten years old was…was alive.
Vic eventually dispatched the final creature and made his way back over to me. Tears ran down my cheeks as I watched him walk in my direction. There was no doubt about it. It was him. I wasn't seeing things. I knew that's how he walked. Vic waved his hand through the air and I fell back down on the ground. I buckled a little when I landed due to the cuts and scrapes along my leg. Vic was standing there with his arms crossed.
"Good evening ma'am. Nice night for a ride eh?" he said…in the voice I heard almost every night in my head for the past ten years. It was a little deeper but I recognized it all the same. I started to limp over to him and I thought I saw his eyes narrow under those glasses. Good. I pulled my helmet off and stared at the man I thought I had lost forever. He recoiled.
"Yes. Good evening," I said through gritted teeth. "YOU FUCKING BASTARD!"
"Oh bugger…" he whispered before that vibrating thing he could apparently do engulfed his entire body. I still could tell it was him after finally getting a clear look at him. Tears were still flowing down my face but I kept my expression stern. Not only was he alive, he had been lying to me essentially. Motherfucker had been alive for ten years and never ONCE told me that he was still here! He went to turn away. Oh I don't fucking think so!
"VICTOR!" I shouted through my tears. "You look at me! Look at me RIGHT NOW!" Vic turned back around and stopped that vibrating thing.
"You…you know it's me?" he asked in a small voice. I exploded in rage.
"YES I FUCKING KNOW IT'S YOU! I'VE KNOWN YOU SINCE WE WERE TEN! I'VE SEEN YOU NAKED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T GOING TO RECOGNIZE YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE WEARING SUNGLASSES AND A MASK?!" I shouted at the man I…loved? I don't even know right now! He'd apparently been alive this whole fucking time and NOW he decides to show himself?! I walked right up to him, grabbed his jacket and punched him right in the face. His head rocked backwards and I heard him grunt. GOOD! He needs to know how fucking much I missed him! I pulled my hand back intending to punch him again but he was ready this time and caught my hand with his.
"Let go of me you LIAR!" I shouted at him. "Let GO!" I attempted to wrench my hand away from his but I was unsuccessful. It was almost as if my heart did not want me to become loose from his grip. I used my other hand to deliver insanely weak hammerfist punches to Vic's chest before I found myself sobbing uncontrollably into his jacket. I felt his arms engulf me and I was transported back to that day on the waterfront where I admitted to his face that I loved him. I wrapped my arms around his body and squeezed as tightly as I could. He was in my arms again. He had saved me. He was hugging me back.
I cried into Vic's chest for several minutes not even caring about the stinging pain in my leg. Eventually Vic spoke.
"Please don't be mad at me," he said. I looked up at him. He was still wearing those glasses and that mask. I reached up and took off the glasses. He let me do so and I looked into his light blue eyes. I gasped. There was no doubt about it now. It really was him. I reached up and found the straps of the mask he was wearing and undid those too. The mask fell to the asphalt with a small clatter and I looked into Vic's face for the first time in ten years. It was…perfect. Just as I remembered it. The shape. The medium sized nose. The…the goatee. And with a soul patch now that made him even cuter. I placed my hand on his face and felt the familiar warmth…and a little sweat but that didn't matter.
"I know I should have confronted Lacey as soon as I found out.," Vic said. "If you're still mad at me, I'll go." He tried to walk away but I held onto him and pulled him back over to me.
"Vic, I never was," I said through another sob. "It was my fault. I should never have believed what I heard." I felt Vic squeeze me lovingly and I couldn't help but sigh happily. I felt the same way as I did back during our first date. Then I remembered something. Kimi. She was acting all excited about my birthday today. Wait a minute…he had told her first rather than me?!
"Does your sister know?" I asked. He nodded…almost reluctantly.
"I planned on telling you first but Kimi cornered me and my uncle wasn't going to let me go until I told her," he said. I narrowed my eyes at him…but he seemed to be telling me the truth. Then he placed his hand on my face and I nearly melted.
"Cassie, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you," he said. "I was never there. I was at Brian's or on my way home when it happened. My uncle needed to hide me and train me to fight back against the things that killed my…my…parents." I felt his body tighten in suppressed rage. I calmed him by placing my own hand on his stubbled cheek.
"That's what you've been doing all these years?" I asked him softly. I wasn't mad. I just wanted to know. He nodded.
"I missed you Cass," he said just as softly. "I haven't been stalking you in case you were concerned." I couldn't fight it anymore. I kissed him. Fireworks went off everywhere. It was as if I had never lost him. His soft lips. His strong arms holding me. His hand holding the back of my head. He was mine.
"Oh yeah," he said after pulling away and ran a finger down my cheek. "Happy Birthday Cass."
A few minutes later. At Vic's Uncle's House.
Vic brought me to where he had been living for the past ten years after we recovered my wrecked bike and stowed it in the garage at the track. It was a secluded home high in the mountains surrounding the city. The house was pretty sizable. Bigger than mine as it had more than two stories. What amazed me was that if you didn't know it was there, it was almost completely hidden by the trees and surrounding hills. My right leg was still stinging as we walked up the path. Vic noticed me limping and offered to carry me the rest of the way. I happily obliged and stared at his face as he made his way to the front door. He placed me back on the ground and opened the door. He motioned for me to follow him and I did so. The house was decorated almost like a combination of Japanese and American styles. I saw a few shrines in the living room with a large flat screen TV mounted on the wall. I walked right into Vic who was staring in the direction of the kitchen where I saw his uncle standing there dunking a cookie into a glass of milk.
"It is exactly what it looks like," I heard him say before adding "What's got you in such a good mood?" That's when Fujin saw me. He did a double take and then gave his nephew a wide smile.
"Excellent!" he said happily. "A good night for both of us then! You have the woman you still love back and I have out done myself with my baking skills! I trust you are staying the night, Miss Cage?" I nodded. I never ever wanted Vic out of my sight EVER again. Vic took a cookie before saying, "I'll be right back. Pretty sure there's chunks of demon bones in my shoes." He walked up the nearby staircase leaving me with Fujin. He was in the middle of chewing on his cookie and offered me the plate. I took one and bit off some of it. Fujin was right. These were amazing!
"How did he tell you?" Fujin asked after swallowing his bite. I quickly told Fujin how I realized that the vigilante Thrash was my favorite person in the whole world. Fujin did raise his eyebrow when I admitted I straight up punched his nephew in the face though.
"But…I have to know…" I said before I could stop the thought.
"Miss Cage, it is him. It is the same man you loved in high school. He has not changed how he feels about you. I only figured out it was you he had been referring to as his girlfriend only a few weeks ago," Fujin informed me. "Here let me show you." Fujin pulled out his phone (that I'll admit, I'm surprised he had) and opened a video. It was of a much younger Vic, around the time he had supposedly died, brandishing what looked like a sword and fighting imaginary enemies with it. I could hear him making his own sound effects too. I smiled. Yep. That was definitely Vic. Cool on the outside but still a big loveable dork on the inside.
"Believe me now?" he asked. I nodded. Then I remembered the thing that I had done earlier tonight back at my house. Maybe…maybe Fujin could help. He seemed to know about mystical powers and shit.
"Fujin?" I asked.
"Yes?" he responded. I told him about what happened back in my bedroom. How that green energy appeared around my hands out of nowhere and how I threw two glowing balls of it around my room.
"Hmm, peculiar," Fujin said. "I could look into it for you if you would like. I have some contacts overseas. That sounds like something out of the Mediterranean area."
"But…am I going to die?" I asked finally getting the burning question out there. Fujin smiled warmly.
"I do not believe so," he said. "If you ask me, it was dormant inside of you for many years before deciding to awaken now. Much like Vic and his powers. I bet once you shook his hand, the power became active. Much like how I sensed Vic's power activate when I parried one of his strikes he threw at me when I confronted him. I can help you train if you would like. Vic's starting to be able to beat me in sparring more consistently now. He could use a female opponent. I assume you plan on dating him once more?" I smiled at him and then nodded. That was a given Fujin. I want him forever. Plus, his explanation in that calm voice of his was extremely reassuring for some reason.
I heard Vic's footsteps come down the stairs. He was wearing just a sleeveless undershirt and shorts now. I saw the samurai tattoo and that yet again reassured me it was him. I limped over to him and gave him another hug. He really was here. I might tell him about my green energy ball thing at some point. But not tonight. I wanted him. Just him. I honestly didn't even care if his uncle was watching but I heard him clap his hands together.
"Well, now that you have returned Vic, I believe it is time for me to, as you say, hit the clubs," he said. Vic rolled his eyes.
"Hopefully the date you bring home tonight is less annoying than Heather from the other night," Vic said. Hold the fuck up. Fujin was a ladies man? I mean…I myself would be lying if I didn't say he was rather attractive for his age…but I had someone way hotter in my arms at the moment. Fujin smiled at the pair of us before he grabbed his jacket and walked out the backdoor. Vic walked over and locked it before turning to me.
"My room's the far one on the right," he said. "Bed's made and everything." He extracted himself from me (unacceptable) to sit on the couch.
"Excuse me, what?" I asked and folded my arms.
"You get my room, I'll sleep on the couch tonight," he responded.
"Oh I don't think so," I said. Vic looked over at me.
"I thought you were still mad at me," he said.
"If I was, why did I kiss you, with tongue by the way and then agree to come over?" I said to the adorable dumbass who's strong arms I was eyeing hungrily. "Vic, I spent so much time trying to forget you but I was never fully able to. Imagine what you would do if you were in my position. What would you want most of all from me?" Vic thought for a moment.
"I…I would want you…want you back…" he said more to the ground than to me.
"Exactly," I said and rubbed my hand on his shoulder. "And it's my birthday. I want my present." Vic smiled, got up from the couch and before I knew it, I was being held in his arms again. Perfection. Vic carried me up to his bedroom and opened the door with some difficulty. His room was pretty much exactly how I expected it to be. Guitars on stands in one of the corners, a stack of CDs on his dresser, metal band posters on the walls and…a photo of Vic and I at junior prom on his night stand. He really didn't forget about me. Vic gently laid me down on his bed and I started to undress. I wasn't about to sleep in a torn racing suit. I flinched a bit as I pulled my injured leg out of the pants. I felt Vic lay down next to me and I immediately wrapped my arms around him. He offered something to me. It was…it was the necklace he had given to me sophomore year for Christmas. A gold chain with a heart charm engraved with my initials "C.C." I opened this gift right before we…we made love for the first time. I took it from him with tears in my eyes and put it back around my neck, where it belonged. I gave my man multiple kisses on his face and neck while rubbing my finger against his goatee and he let out a small moan in pleasure. That made me smirk internally. Your girl's still got it!
"Well, where's my other present," I whispered into his ear. Vic ran his hand down my face and body and I kissed him again.
"Uh…me being alive?" he asked tentatively when I stopped. "I don't have anything el-mmph!" I placed my finger on his lips and whispered "Just what I wanted" into his ear.
This was the straight up best birthday of my entire life. Victor Harris. The man I loved. Had returned to me.