For Shits and Giggles [2024]

Chapter 41

Sny was dead seconds after Santiago made his appearance.

It was almost comical, the drama, the tension built up, all for it to end like this. There was no shouting, no violent beatdowns, no pleading, or crashing through walls. It was instant. Santiago didn't even have to move. All it took was a flicker of his eyes and whip of his head and then, all of a sudden, two bright beams sliced Dr. Sny cleanly in half. He dropped to the floor with two heavy thuds. There was a gruesome, bloody mess on the floor and parallel burn marks sizzling on the wall.

Despite the viscera, relief washed over Gracie like a massive ocean wave. The intensity overcame her senses. She couldn't see the corpses, her eyes could only see Santiago's tall, slender frame walking toward her. She couldn't smell the singed flesh bubbling on the floor, she could only smell the faint sweat that she recognized as distinctly Santiago's, mixed with day-old cologne. So many times she had inhaled the same scent as he whisked her through the sky. Her mouth remembered the taste of his tongue, her ears registered his low, heavy breathing.

He rushed forward, throwing himself onto his knees at her bedside.

"I'm so sorry," he said franticly, fumbling with the restraints on her wrists. "I never should have left you. I was angry, I just needed time but... I shouldn't have left you. Not like that."

Gracie waited patiently for her hands to be free. She was mesmerized by him. Falling deeper, harder in love. It was like a dream. Was she still asleep in her room, waiting for a miracle? She touched her cold fingers to his cheek, as if confirming once and for all that Santiago really was there, warm blood and flesh. She didn't deserve him, but he was here. And he was hers. Her touch calmed the shame, the alarm boiling up inside of his chest.

"You came back for me," she gazed into his eyes with intent. For a moment, he was the one to blush. "Even after I... I'm the one who's sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry. I should've told you sooner... I'm sorry."

He placed his hand over hers, "I love you."

"Santiago, you have to know, I only have feelings for you. I'm only in love with you. What happened with Felix–"

"I don't care. I don't care what happened," he seemed frustrated, but mostly with himself, "I realize that now. I could've lost you again. Just thinking about losing you again... I'd go crazy if something happened to you. It's my job to protect you and I almost–'

Gracie closed her eyes and leaned in, waiting for the magical moment when their lips would meet, and she kissed him. His lips were soft, firm. Hungry. Immediately, he pulled her closer, his hand holding the back of her head with a deliberate gentleness. She felt his burning, unconditional love, and it breathed life back into her. She felt light, like she could float into the clouds right here in his arms. She didn't deserve this feeling of unbridled joy, but she relished it. Devoured it. Because at any moment, the curse could take it from her. Gracie pressed her body into his as he got back onto his, she didn't want to let him go. Their lips remained attached and his hand moved down from her hair to behind her waist, keeping her close. He leaned over her body as they kissed, resting one hand on the bed next to her to avoid crushing her under his own weight. She wrapped her arms around his neck as to not fall backward, his body pushing into her. They took small breaks only to pant for breath. He climbed onto the bed on top of her and she moved to make room for him. In this moment, nothing else existed. Nothing else mattered. The dead body and hospital walls all disappeared. It was just them.

When she finally pulled away, he was on top of her, gazing down into her eyes.

"Marry me."

Gracie blushed, her lips moist with their saliva, "What?"

"I know," he said, shaking his head. "I know you have to do this... your enucleation, or whatever. And I know it's sudden and fast and probably not the proposal you always dreamed of... but marry me. I'm so in love with you. All I want is to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to look into your eyes when I say I do. And whatever comes next, we can do it together. You won't have to do it alone. Ever, I promise."

Her heart could have burst.

He waited eagerly for her answer. He'd never been so nervous, so excited and scared at the same time. She saw the sweat drip from his jaw onto her collarbone.

"Yes," Gracie smiled ear to ear, "I'll marry you."

She threw her body into his and he held her. He wanted to hold her like this forever.