95

MICHAEL

THE SUNLIGHT DANCES ON her bare back and ignites on the strands of her hair. Like licks of flame dancing and ebbing, I stare until the embers of her fire blaze into my memory.

For weeks now, I've woke first to soak up these quiet moments. How she breathes, hums, and sighs, how her fists clutch my sheets like they do my hair, and how her lips part in dreams.

I prop my head up and count every freckle across her shoulder blades, down her arms and wrists.

My very best friend. Haven't we known each other forever?

Ember's brows pin on her head and I frown. She's dreaming again, maybe about her Greyson, or maybe her parents. Maybe me. She says that losing me scares her, to which I always reply the same—I'm not going anywhere unless you ask. It's as true as my music, as true as my love for her.

Walt's group last night took another piece of Ember away only to return it fractured. Even though we attend each week, and I've grown somewhat numb to Walter's preachings, Ember shuffles into the room every night like an bleeding wound. When we came back here last night, she wouldn't talk, wouldn't eat, but she took my hand and brought us here to my bed. She gave me everything she felt without saying a word. Then I kissed away her tears when they fell.

I whispered that we shouldn't go again, and she disagreed.

Ember sighs, gripping her pillow—my pillow, actually, but over the past month, what's mine has become hers, and what's hers has become mine. I lean down and kiss her back. Her skin is warm against my lips, and she smells like honey. Bumps appear over her shoulder blades as she shifts, waking. I kiss my way down her spine. Her muscles shift under me as I unhurriedly make my way back up to her neck.

"Morning," I say, pressing a kiss on her shoulder.

"I have something for you," she mumbles into her pillow.

"Do you?" I brush her hair aside and kiss the skin between her neck and shoulder. She shivers.

"I do," she says, a sleepy smile finding her lips. Then, without looking, she drops a hand down to the floor and brings back a red rose. She groans as she sits up, pulling up the sheet to wrap around her as she holds the flower. "Happy February 1st, Lone Rider," she whispers with a grin, fitting the rose behind my ear. She kisses my forehead. My heart skips a beat.

"Is this day something I missed?" I ask, staring up at her while the sun filters through her hair from behind. She's lit by a halo of fire.

"It's the month of love, isn't it?" she asks, blinking slowly as she continues to wake. I take her hand and press a kiss on the back.

"I should be the one offering you flowers."

"Why? You like flowers, don't you?" I nod, and she smiles. "Then I don't see the problem."

My heart flies, and I couldn't describe the feeling even if I tried, but it's between fear and yearning. I squeeze her hand in mine.

"Will you keep me around for a while?" I say with a half-grin. She pretends to think about it.

"Well, you didn't get me a flower this morning—"

I roll over onto my back, crossing my arms. She giggles and lays on my chest, moving my arms to rest her cheek over my heart and stare at me.

"I'm going to keep you around forever," Ember says, brushing her fingers on the petals of my flower.

"Good, because I want to grow old with you," I say with a smile. "You'll finally grow into your sense of fashion."

"And maybe you'll grow into your personality," she says. I groan through a laugh and slide out from under her, setting my feet on the carpet. She laughs a resonant, beautiful laugh that carries in the air. I soak it in, let it roll over me like warm water, then reach down for my shirt. Ember steals it from behind and tosses it across the room.

"No clothes allowed."

"Oh?"

"Oh," she purrs, the word leaking with promise.

"Before you lock me to the headboard again," I say, "I'm obligated to remind you about your academic counselling appointment."

"Okay, gramps." I hear her drop the sheet, and then her bare chest is pressed against my back, two hands gliding around to my abdomen, then lower. My breath hitches.

"Did you just call me Gramps?"

"Of course not," she says innocently as her hands prove she's anything but. My mouth falls open.

"Aren't you going home today?" I say breathlessly, fisting the sheets beside my thighs. Ember hums, kissing my shoulder. "Do you...Do you..." I hiss a breath as she tightens her grip. "Ember," I pant.

"Use your words, love."

My stomach muscles contract as she continues, and before I lose myself and set her atop me again, I manage to say, "Do you need a ride?" She smiles against my skin.

"No, but I think you do."

My resolve fizzes away. I spin and take her waist, pinning her under me. "No manners," I murmur. She lifts her legs to wrap around my hips and pulls me down into her. We both lose our breath at that.

"Teach me," she breathes.

"WHAT IF I NEVER let go?" Ember whispers against my lips, clutching the lapels of my jacket. Snowflakes fall on her ginger lashes in the cold.

"Give it another few minutes and you won't be able to," I say, rubbing my hands up and down her back. After leaning in to kiss her one last time, I spin her around and walk her to the front doors. "I have to go teach a kid how to climb a wall."

"Micheal," she whines, slugging her boots through the slush.

"Your roommates probably think I kidnapped you again."

"That was one time!" she defends.

"Once is enough to deal with the cops at my door at two in the morning."

"Whatever. They're too busy making out in the kitchen and the bathroom and the sofa. I get no peace here."

"Yet here you must be." I open the door for her. "Go pack a bag, go home and rest for a weekend. No physics."

Once she's inside and warm, she turns and smiles at me. But her eyes are panicked. I'm fairly sure no one could notice, but I see it—her. So scared of goodbyes.

I love you, ghost girl, I mouth, flipping my collar up. Her lips turn up a bit.

You're alright, Lone Rider.

I shake my head and head back to the parking lot. I don't even make it one minute before a large dog as white as the snow is barrelling towards me.

"BONES!"

I brace just as the spotted mutt gets close—but runs right passed me to the field of snow, dragging a bright red colour around its neck. The dog drops into the fresh fall, rolling around as happy as anything.

"Sorry," someone pants, their steps sloshing to a panting stop behind me. I turn to see a guy with dark hair and gaunt skin, the areas under his eyes hued purple and yellow. Healing.

"No problem," I say with a nod, sticking my hands into my pocket. I turn back to the dog. "Rescue?"

"What gave it away?" he says dryly, wiping two reddened hands down a thin-looking black coat.

"I had a few rescues growing up. Never a dull day."

"Right." He blows out a tired breath. "This one kinda..." He shakes his head. "I was going to say he kinda rescued me, but that sounds dumb."

"There's nothing like a dog," I say with a shrug.

"It's only been a week and I think he's doubled his weight. And he refuses to sleep on the floor, which means my bed has halved in size." The guy, who can't be much younger than myself, drops to a knee facing the dog and claps three times. "Bones! Bones, come here!"

The dog shoots up and freezes with a big grin before shooting off in the other direction. He quickly finds a new patch of snow.

"You'll get there," I say, holding back a laugh. The guy sighs and stands.

"I was supposed see someone here. I've been trying to figure out if I should or not. I was up half the night."

"You look it," I say. He huffs, staring out to where his dog went.

"Yeah, well, point is, I can't do shit unless that idiot listens to me. I'm starting to think this is a sign. Like fate or something stupid like that."

"Maybe Bones thinks your pawning him off," I say. He contemplates that, wrapping two arms around his waist for warmth.

"I'm stuck," he says after a moment.

"With the dog?" I ask. He blinks, turning to me.

"Thanks for not freaking out and screaming at my dog or something." He nods once before stepping into the snow, going after the mutt. Eventually, snow obscures them both.

Thank you so much for reading ♥️
—Laurel 🌸