Page 41 of Click

“He’s a sucker for pretty girls.”

“You have that in common.”

Touché. I toss her an easy smile before making my way into the kitchen to start breakfast. Mak follows me and, of course, Cooper follows her. Filling my kettle up with water, I yawn before putting it on the stove to boil. Then I grab the waffle mix from my pantry and a bowl.

Mak sits at my table as if she’s lived here her whole life. Cooper lays by her feet like this is his home too. For a second, I’m awestruck by the situation. It’s easy with Mak. Fun and simple. I want to feed her and take care of her and protect her and—

Whoa. Nope.

Jesus Christ, the woman’s a witch and I’m under her spell. It’s the only thing that makes sense because where my thought train just took me was nowhere near where I’ve wanted to go in a very long time.

“Do you have any photoshoots today?”

I blink, snapping out of my mini panic attack and snag a box of black tea from the back of my cupboard. Ripping the package open with my teeth, I drop the sachet into a mug and then get coffee going for myself with my French press. “No boudoir shoots, but I do have other appointments.”

“Oh.” Mak’s knee starts bobbing. I wonder if she’s nervous or impatient to leave.

“What do you do for a living?”

“Um. I’m a hospice nurse.”

I nearly drop my bag of coffee. “Really? That sounds…” Sad, hard, scary, depressing… “Interesting.”

I suck at small talk.

“I love it.” Mak’s eyes round like she said something she shouldn’t have. “I mean, it’s sad and hard sometimes, but it’s also really rewarding. I’m not scared of death, and this job makes me feel like I’m making a difference when I’m with someone during their last days. I’ve been with some of my patients for a couple years before they’d pass. Others, just a few days. It’s all different, and somehow all the same. It’s hard to explain.”

I listen quietly and pour batter into the waffle maker.

“I feel bad for some of them. They don’t have anyone, and I think it’s tough for them to be lonely in the end. But we all die alone, right? Unless you’re in a plane crash or something like that, but also it kind of sucks to take your last breath with no one there to keep you company. But I’ve had some people ask for everyone to leave because they didn’t want anyone with them. It’s their call, obviously, but sometimes it’s good to just, I don’t know, sit with them in silence. Give them peaceful vibes until they’re gone.”

I nod because I don’t know how else to respond.

“Some of them have a lot of family that gather around. That’s beautiful too. And sad. I guess I was made without the emotion you’re supposed to feel when someone dies, because it’s never really bothered me. Not that I’ve had to live through someone close to me passing away yet, but being around it everyday kind of dulls the heartache of it, I guess.”

I think she talks a lot when she’s nervous.

“I feel bad for the spouses. It must be devastating to lose a soul mate.”

“I’m sure.” Flipping the waffle maker open to pluck out the first golden brown circle, I plop it on a plate. “At least they had time to spend together.”

“Yeah,” she sighs. “I’ve never been much for marriage or babies or anything, but I wouldn’t mind spending my life with someone. I think it would be nice to find my penguin.”

I grab syrup from my fridge and have a death grip on it and the plate of waffles. Placing both in front of her, I cautiously ask, “You don’t want marriage or kids?”

My heart holds its fucking breath while I wait for her answer.

“No. I don’t.”

I can’t, for the life of me, make the right set of words come out of my mouth.

She crosses her arms protectively around herself and glares up at me with worry in her gaze. Even Cooper must sense her attitude’s changed because he perks up from under the table. “Is that something you want?”

We’re going for the kill shot here.

“No,” I say firmly. “Those things are not for me.” I’ve never wanted to get married and I sure as fuck don’t want kids. Those things are great for other people, I just don’t have any interest. But I never expected Mak to be on the same page as me about it.

She blows out a loud breath and her shoulders sag. “That’s a relief.” She stiffens again. “I mean kudos to people who want those things. It’s just not for me. I never understood the point of marriage and I definitely have zero desire for kids.”