Page 18 of Now You See Me
“It did, but you didn’t eat it. You spat it onto the floor.”
“What a waste,” Leroy says, doing the snake equivalent of licking his lips.
“The spider was black, Roan. Fully black, not invisible, after prolonged direct contact with your skin.”
The impact of her words nearly takes me out at the knees. I grab the back of the closest chair for support, grimacing as the upholstery immediately becomes invisible. “Shit. Sorry, Leroy. I owe you a new chair.”
“No worries.” His tongue darts out as he motions me over. “You’re not as afraid of mice as you are of spiders, are you?”
“I’m not afraid of spiders. I just don’t want to eat them.”
“To each their own,” he says, smiling his snaky smile. “I find them to be a light, spicy snack. Not as filling as mice, obviously. Go ahead.” He tips the box toward me. “Pick one up. Let’s see if Elise’s theory is correct.”
“Theory?” I ask, looking at her.
“That your physiology doesn’t affect living things, only porous, inanimate objects. I know you wouldn’t be willing to test my theory on another animal, but these mice aren’t long for this world anyway. They’re Leroy’s breakfast, whether they’re white, gray, or invisible.”
“And I’m quite hungry, so if you could get on with the experiment, and try not to agitate them too much while you’re handling them. Changes their flavor, all the way down.”
I’ve accepted and catered to our town’s monsterly needs for twenty years, but the knowledge that Leroy swallows mice whole is enough to turnmystomach.
“Please,” Elise says, getting as close to me as possible without actually touching. “Nothing between us will change if I’m wrong. We’ll still be together, with options. Lots of them, because I’m discovering a creative side I didn’t know I had.”
I chuckle as my cock rises to attention. It loves Elise’s creativity. I love everything about her, including her determination and optimism.
“And if I’m right, well…” Her voice is softer, vulnerable. “You’ll know that you can be with anyone you want.”
“That’s you, sweetheart. Only you. Always.” I’ve made a lot of wishes over the years, but I’ve never wanted one to come true more than when I dip my hands into the box and scoop up a small gray mouse.
The three of us watch that mouse in my hands for what feels like an eternity. And wecanwatch it, because it doesn’t turn invisible. It doesn’t change at all. Not even a little.
I’m still staring at the mouse when I feel Elise’s hand curl over my wrist. Skin on skin. Every wish comes true with that one simple touch.
“Let’s go to your house,” she says, her beautiful eyes glassy as she smiles at me.
“Not to my house, sweetheart.” I pass off the mouse, then cup her soft face in my hands, and brush my lips across hers for the first of a lifetime of kisses. “Let’s go home.”
Epilogue
ROAN
Having spent two decades keeping a low profile, it shocked everyone when we announced the location of our wedding—town square. If there’s one thing Screaming Woods likes, it’s a party. Showing the world how much I love Elise deserves the biggest celebration possible. The best way to do that? An open invitation.
The faces of our out-of-town guests dot the rows of white chairs. Beyond them, the standing-room area is packed with as many local monsters as the space can accommodate. WhenIf I Never Knew Youfills the spring air, and a fairytale-style carriage pulls up to the end of the aisle, I don’t see anyone in attendance. Only my beautiful bride as she steps out of the coach.
Sunlight bounces off her white dress, surrounding her like a magical aura. She’s so damn beautiful. The biggest smile I’ve ever seen bursts across her pretty face. Then she gathers the full skirt of her princess wedding gown in her hands and runs toward me.
“Your tuxedo!” she says as she reaches me. “It’s amazing. I love it.” She splays her palms on my chest, her bright eyes wide while she examines the fine-nylon mesh our neighborhood tailor used to create my three-piece suit and tie. “You didn’t tell me you were having an invisible-proof tuxedo made.”
“Because it’s bad luck to see the groom’s suit before the wedding.”
“That’s not how the superstition goes,” she says, laughing and tugging my lapels.
“I thought you’d like to have pictures where you don’t look abandoned on your wedding day.”
She giggles, leans in carefully and kisses me. “I love you so much. Thank you for the wonderful surprise.”
Screaming Woods’ resident pastor, who also happens to be a faun, clears his throat to get our attention. “Shall we get started?”
