Page 33 of She is the Darke

Halloween used to be so fun, but she’d lost herself in work a bit over the last few years, and this year especially.

But now, it was different. She could feel her love for the holiday returning. She was taking a moment to stop and smell the roses.

She had been desensitized to appreciating these little moments, but now she wanted to change that, and take stock in the good times again.

Tyler was reminding her that she was still alive, still fun, still could enjoy a spontaneous moment.

She wouldn’t admit it out loud—not yet—but she was really glad he had come back into town.

Chapter Ten

Demi closed the door to her home and pressed her palm against the cold wood to steady herself.

She felt absolutely drunk, but she’d only had three sips of a beer tonight.

She had this excited, buzzing feeling zinging through her veins because of Tyler, and it was equal parts enthralling and terrifying.

All of her old feelings from back when she was younger had returned, but so much more intense.

Her mom was going to maim her if she found out what Demi’s animal was doing.

She didn’t want to think about that though. She just wanted to enjoy the moment. Enjoy this sensation of flying, or perhaps it was falling—she hadn’t figured it out yet.

Her phone buzzed with a message, and she fumbled in her purse to retrieve it fast.

Tyler had sent a text.I had fun tonight.

She closed her eyes and grinned as a wave of excitement washed through her.

She connected a call to him before she could change her mind.

“Hey,” he rumbled, and God, she liked the sound of his deep voice vibrating against her ear.

“I don’t really know why I called. I got home safe. You said to tell you when I got home safe.”

“I know you did. I followed you in.”

“Stalker,” she murmured, pushing the curtain of her front window aside. “I don’t see your truck.”

“I left when I saw you go inside.”

“Well…do you want to turn back around?”

He got quiet. “And do what?”

She blew out a steadying breath. “And do whatever you want to.”

“Fuuuck, Darke. What are you doing?”

“Giving in to the messiness.”

He was quiet for a full minute, and her insecurities reared up. “It’s a lot. I get it. I should’ve just said I had fun, too.”

“It’s not that. It’s just…”

“A bad idea.”

“Horrible idea.”