pressing my hand against both headstones one after the other.
“Yep, go date night!” Crux says enthusiastically before he mimics my gesture, kissing his fingers and tapping the gravestones.
“She’s gonna have a blast,” Echo adds before he sends them a wave. His warded shadows do this cute hug thing that only we can see, the black tendrils wrapping around the stones before slipping back onto his skin.
“We’ll get her home at a respectable time,” Iceman assures them, making a huge grin spread across my face.
I reach up and plop a kiss on his cheek. “My dad likes that you’re so respectful.”
“I’m aiming to be their favorite,” he says with a wink.
Crux and Echo start talking shit about how they’re definitely the favorites, and the three of them start walking off so that we can head to the road and act like we’re driving away, for Mrs. Lee’s sake and anyone else who might’ve seen us visiting.
Jerif hangs back, and I look at him curiously. Out of all the guys, he’s the most reticent, and he’s always been a bit awkward here at my parents’ resting place, like he doesn’t know how to act.
I watch as he sends the guys a quick look, noting their retreating backs. When he’s sure they’re not paying attention, he turns back to the headstones, and then he rattles off the stats to last night’s baseball game for my dad. I bite my lip, my heart immediately swelling in my chest.
As if that wasn’t enough to make me melt, then he really surprises me by reaching in his pocket and plucking out a single green stem. It’s in the shape of a cane, the green leaves drooping down to hold a yellow flower that hangs like a lantern. Gently, he places it on the top of my mom’s gravestone.
I’m so stunned that all I can do is stare at it.
Jerif looks up at me, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck. “It’s a Disporum,” he grumbles.
My eyes slowly lift to his. “What?”
“Disporum,” he says again, gesturing to the flower. “Your mom’s name is Tanya. That means fairy queen. A Disporum flower is called a fairy bell. I thought it fit.”
Did I say my heart was swelling? No. It has completely fucking burst now. My eyes grow wet, and I have to fight to not start sobbing at this heartbreakingly sweet gesture my grumpy demon just did. “I didn’t know,” I say with a hard swallow, looking away so that he doesn’t see my tears. I know that if I go all weepy on him, he’ll retreat, because Jerif and emotional talks don’t really mix. He’s a male that’s all about action. And he just showed me through his actions how much he loves me, by doing the sweetest fucking gesture I could’ve ever imagined.
When I’ve gotten myself under control, no longer in danger of flinging myself at him and wailing against his chest, I walk over and grab his face in one hand and press my lips against his. It’s a sweet, firm peck, and when I pull back, I reach down and thread our fingers together. “Thank you,” I say quietly as the two of us start walking to catch up with the others.
Jerif just lets out a gruff, “Welcome.”
Smiling to myself, we walk hand in hand, listening to the others as they continue to argue about who’s the favorite. I won’t tell them that Jerif just scored major points behind their backs. Wouldn’t want to ruin their fun.
We stop at the end of the road, where it forks off to another part of the cemetery. We’re blocked enough by the large trees that we can safely shift, away from prying eyes.
“Okay, date night,” I say with a single clap as we reach the others. “I’m thinking pasta and a movie?”
Crux frowns. “How about tacos?”
Jerif rolls his eyes. “You always want fucking tacos.”
Crux wags his brows at me. “Damn right, I do.”
I snort. “Okay, so tacos and a movie?”
“I’d rather have steak,” Jerif says.
“Fuck steak. And what kind of movie are we talking?” Echo asks. “Because I can’t fucking handle watching a chick flick.”
“We could go bowling,” Crux offers.
Iceman looks at him aghast. I guess it would look kind of funny to see him in bowling shoes paired with his full suit. “Not bowling,” he says with a shake of his blue head.
I huff out in exasperation. “This always happens! We can never fucking decide on what food to eat or where to go!”