Fight Like Hell: A Paranormal Romance by McKenna Cross

Author:McKenna Cross [Cross, McKenna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-14T00:00:00+00:00

chapter eighteen

CHAOS

None of the couples claim to know why they ended up in hell, and yet, after just one day of observing them in a more normal setting, it’s crystal clear to me why each of their relationships is in the shitter. It’s with this disdain to my subjects’ ignorance that I watch them file in, each of them taking a seat in one of the seven chairs I have set up on the beach. One for each of them, and then one for my love, of course.

Dallas flashes me an encouraging thumbs up and I wink at her, pleased with how we’ve been managing to overcome our own issues as of late. I know that Dallas is worried. She’s aware that I have a plethora of responsibilities that will soon become entirely mine, and there’s an undercurrent of worry that seems to flood our most intimate interactions these days.

Except last night.

Last night was different. It felt like the old Dallas had returned to me. The Dallas who trusts me. Who relents. Who believes in what we can be. What we are.

It’s that version of Dallas who receives my loving wink, her cheeks flushing under the lazy morning sun.

“Good morning, everyone.” I do my best to come across as friendly enough. I’ve already put these folks through the ringer, and while they deserve it, the point is still not lost on me that I can serve to be nicer. It’s mainly Dallas who has emphasized the importance of being a bit nicer—and I’ll admit, initially the sentiment was rich coming from her. But personal growth is a beautiful thing. Even I, at my darkest, can admit that.

Heather is the only person who bothers to respond to me. Everyone else groans or ignores me entirely as they shuffle across the beach, pick their seats, and then look up at me with uneasy eyes.

“I think we’re all here now,” I say once Ned has strolled in and taken the last seat. “Which means we can begin.”

Instantly, Dania’s hand shoots into the air. “No working out please,” she says, completely oblivious to the fact that I haven’t called on her. Knowing what I know about Dania, she probably doesn’t give a shit about waiting to be acknowledged. She believes her presence itself is a present. Go figure.

I ignore Dania’s comment and address the group as a whole. “Yesterday was an interesting day.” Groans and snickers ripples through the small crowd, but I don’t let them phase me. I’m still the one in the driver’s seat, after all. “And today the real work begins.” I pull out a sticky note from my pocket; I want to be sure I remember all of my most important points.

“What do you mean ‘real work’?”

I’m not sure if the question comes from Kip or Ned. They both suffer from the same affliction: generic, underwhelming white collar professional. And for that reason, their voices drone on in a similar manner to me.

I look up and try to use deductive reasoning to figure out which of the men lobbed the question at me.

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