Groom Wars

54. The Secret that Numbs Lips

I picked up a spoonful of cotton candy ice cream that grew arms and legs, then jumped off the spoon. Its tiny, skinny feet hit the tiles, and it ran towards the store's front door. I called out to it, "Come back."

"Who should come back?" A voice that didn't belong in my dream permeated my mind. "Did you know you drool when you sleep?"

Leandro's form entered my dream without permission. He glanced at the bowls of ice cream on the table and said, "What are you dreaming about anyway? Me?"

"No, why would I dream about you when I'm unhappy with you. Go away; you're banished."

He chuckled. "What have I done?"

"You sent me in."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." His thumb brushed my lips, his countenance soft, vulnerable. "Unfortunately, I can't touch you like this anymore; we have to be far more discreet."

"About what? You want ice cream?"

"Adriel, stop talking nonsense and wake up."

My body shook. Someone had grabbed my shoulder in the real world. The dream faded, and I saw my blackened eyelids before prying them apart and surveying the area. Leandro was standing next to me.

"You," I muttered.

"I brought a peace offering." He held up a dinosaur half his size with camouflage green skin and jagged white teeth. It was the most adorable creature I had seen. His huge black eyes watched me. The child in me was quite pleased by the sight of him. I studied Leandro and noticed some discolouration around his right eye. It was half closed in comparison to the other.

"You look hideous."

"I'm sorry," he said.

"No, I quite prefer the hideous you to the usual you. It makes you quite human."

"Wasn't I a human before?"

"Who knows."

He chuckled. "I'll take the compliment." He pressed his chin to the rail and whispered, "I want to kiss you."

"But you can't."

"Not till we go on vacation, no."

"So, you plan to kiss me then?" I asked. He smiled; I noticed more bruises on his face. A cut on his lip. "Did you get into a fight?"

"You should see the other guy."

"Who was it?"

"Cadmus."

"Cadmus doesn't really care enough about you to fight you."

"On the contrary, we fought about you."

I laughed. "You're drunk."

"I'm sober." His smile faded. "Seeing you with him while you were avoiding me. I went a little insane."

"And picked a fight with a wall?"

A wide smile brightened his face. "Yes, I'm an idiot, aren't I? But I now realize I should go and apologize to the wall."

I poked a finger between the rails, drew a line down his chin, and said, "And though bruised, you still look beautiful."

He kissed my finger and pushed it back inside, tucking it under the sheet. "Don't tempt me, little one, or I'll break my contract and accept whatever consequence awaiting me without a second thought."

I covered my head with the sheet. "I would never tempt you."

Across the room, Luke's dry voice came from a human-shaped lump beneath a grey comforter as he said, "Must we do this now? While everyone's asleep? Can't you make up tomorrow?"