For Better or Hearse

by Ava Hunter

Sure, she ruins lives, but she ruins lives with purpose.

“Apologies for the inconvenience of being a type-one diabetic,” Ash says calmly but sharply. “I can drop dead if you prefer.”

“It’s giving big main character energy.” Ash scowls. “I don’t want to be a main character. I want to be that statue in the corner of the room that sometimes gets mistaken for a ghost and scares the shit out of people.”

It’s not trauma; it’s spicy sadness.”

She’s a demon. The prettiest demon he’s ever seen.

Because isn’t that what past relationships are? Ghost after ghost after ghost?

It makes him itch. Makes him want to get down on his knees and tie those fucking laces. And maybe get a closer look at those tattoos.

“Am I alive?” she gasps. “No, you’re in heaven, and even the angels don’t want you.”

She wants more. Wants it harder. Him against her. Like paperweights.

Because she’s always been too much to so many people. Or not enough.

“That’s a brave thing to do. Live for yourself. Most people don’t realize it’s what they want until it’s too late.”

“What do you feel when I do this?” His blue eyes sear hers. Hungry and heated. “Everything,” she whispers. “I feel everything.” “Yeah,” he murmurs. “I do too.”

He was obsessed with hating her, now he’s just plain obsessed with her.

“I’m truly split between adoration and complete violence.”

“Come to my room tonight. Don’t make me fucking beg.” He’s looking at her like he’ll die if he doesn’t get an answer. If it’s anything but yes.

He could eat her name, swallow it down into that warm, chiseled, tender heart of his and hold it there. Keep her.

He’s still trying to figure out how this woman made him go from emotionally unavailable to having feelings and tying her goddamn boots in the middle of a hotel lobby in front of his entire family and a handful of strangers. One thing’s for certain. He doesn’t care. Not one goddamn bit.

“Maybe I’m not good at it, but…” “But,” Ash clarifies, unwilling to let her do this. “But you like it, right? Bare minimum, no one says shit about it. Best is they support you. It’s not hard to support a hobby that someone you care about loves.”

The minute she lurched out of her chair, he knew he loved her.

After today, he’s never seen clearer in his life. She’s the woman he’s going to marry. And not someday. Soon.

“I want you to be warm and safe and most importantly…be mine. Be mine, Ash.”

“Are you okay?” Nathaniel opens his mouth. Looks into Ash’s eyes. He doesn’t know how to tell her. That he’s not okay if she’s not okay. That he’d give his own life to keep her safe. That she’s endgame. In his head, heart, blood, soul. She owns him.

“The thought of not being with you makes me want to die.”

“I want to make you look like this all the time.” Her lips part. She blinks. “How’s that?” “Happy.”

No free will with this girl. He only wants to fill his veins and blood with her. Obsessed.

He means it. She’s his. She will always be a sharp object. And he will never stop loving her.

“The sun will rise, and I will still love you tomorrow. Understand?”

“I’ll miss you.” “It will be great to be missed,” he says. His smile is wide and his eyes are bright. “It will be an honor.”

“For better or hearse?” she teases. “For better or hearse.”

Death has taught her that having the chance to say goodbye, to find joy in the sad, truly can change a life.