“Baby,”Andy said, reminding me that she was also still alive. She sat up and ran herfingers through my hair. Soothing. Calming. “Baby, you're okay. We're okay.”
“No.”I shook my head. “It's not okay.”
“Butdeathisokay,” she insisted, pressing her hand to my cheek. “When youlet go of your body, you're free.”
“Andy!”I shouted, my voice sharp with panic. “Stop!”
Ilooked at her naked body. Long, blonde hair draped over her breasts. Legs bentat the knees, crossed at the ankles. She looked like an innocent woodlandfaerie, with her pert nose and big, round eyes. The only things that gave awayher innocence were those eyes. Devious, black pupils, surrounded by a thin, icyring of blue. She was so crazy, fucking beautiful. And she gave me the chills.
“You'reafraid,” she whispered.
Inodded slowly. “Yeah, I'm fuckin' afraid. I don't like this shit.”
“Areyou afraid of ghosts?”
Ilooked away from her, acutely aware that my high was fading. “I don't believein that shit. You know that.”
“Butwhat if you're wrong?”
“I'mnot.”
Shesighed, curling her lips in a small, sad smile. “Oh, Vinnie ... you don't knowhow wrong you are. You're so wrong. The world is so loud, all the time, withall their noise and faces. You can't hear it, not you, but baby, I—”
“Andy!”I bolted from the bed and grabbed for my sweatpants.
“You'remad at me,” she stated quietly.
“No,”I said, shaking my head. “I'm not mad at you, sweetheart. But I told you, Idon't like this shit and I don't wanna talk about it. So, I,” I bent over herto press a kiss to her forehead, “am going to take another hit, while you,” Imoved my lips to her mouth and kissed her there, “are gonna pack your shit.”
Shesmiled and nodded, but that touch of sadness moved to her eyes and there itstayed. “Okay, baby. Cut one for me, too.”
***
“Iknow I've met your family before but I'm so nervous,” Andy said, sitting behindthe wheel. “This feels more serious.”
“Hateto break it to you, sweetheart, but we're pretty serious.”
Sherolled her eyes toward me for a split second. “I know that. But like, spendinga weekend at your brother's house ... That's practically a commitment.”
“It'snot that big of a deal,” I laughed, reaching out to mess with the radiocontrols.
“Oh,really?”
“Nope.”
“Okay,”she said, challenge in her voice. “Then, tell me. How many women have you takento stay with your family?”
“Oh,come on. I can count on two fingers the amount of women who have ever metmembers of my family, and you're one of 'em.”
“AndI'm the only one you've ever invited to stay overnight, right?”
“Yep.”
Shereached across the car and swatted my arm. “See! This is like, really serious!We might as well be getting married!”
Ichuckled quietly, while also imagining the two of us, standing together at analtar. Warmth spread across my chest and nestled in my belly. “You'reridiculous,” I commented softly, as I wondered how she'd feel if we were,actually, getting married.
“I'mso nervous,” she complained, gripping the wheel. “God, I really wanna gethigh.”
