When It Ends

by Penelope Black

And not for the first time, I fucking hate her for making me hate her.

This is serious. In three days’ time, the DHS will be sending out alerts to everyone who has been chosen. We are on that list.

“Hey, Cher. You come here often?” His face splits into a boyish grin as he feeds me the same line from a few nights ago. My lips spread into a smile before I even think about it. “Is that the best you got, Sonny?”

“You’re staring.” My gaze snaps to the windshield and my neck straightens. “I was not.” “It’s alright, baby girl. I like the way your eyes feel on me,” he murmurs.

“I didn’t want just one night.”

Be safe. And Gray?” Sonny looks from his phone to me. “Yeah?” “Don’t let anything touch her,” he practically growls. He holds my gaze and says, “With my life.”

“I'm gonna give you three seconds to get your fat, fucking fingers off of my cart and step away from my girl. Or I’m going to cut them off and shove them down your throat,”

“You are, though. A hero, I mean.” I reach over and grasp her hand in mine. “Only for you, Cher. Only for you.”

“I think falling in love at the end of the world would be tragic. Reckless, even.”

“What if this is it? If this is when it ends?” Sonny smooths his thumb between my bunched brows. “Then I’ll find you in the next life.” “And in the one after that,” West vows. “In every life,” Cole promises.

“In every lifetime, baby. I’ll find you in every single one, and I’ll never stop.”

You’re the love of my life, in every life.”