“Hey,” Zoe smiled at Ever as he sat down. “All done?”

  “Yes,” he replied, pulling his chair in. “Thanks for waiting for me.”

  “No worries. By the way, the waiter came by a couple times with the bill." She leaned in. "I didn’t want him to think that you had ditched me."

  Ever became very still. What had he done wrong?

  It is considered good etiquette for the man to pay the bill on a date, young soul, Death said. Open that wallet, bucko.

  Right on cue the waiter returned, card reader in hand. Thanks to his mentor's timely advice Ever didn’t miss a beat, taking the wallet out of his pocket.

  “Thank you sir,” the waiter said, inclining his head. “Here are some after dinner mints for you and your partner. We hope to see you again soon.”

  —---

  “Where did Nika go?” Ever asked.

  “Who knows,” Zoe said. She craned her neck slightly looking at the street sign. “It’s here, right?”

  “Yes.”

  She indicated, turning in. “He just comes and goes as he pleases. Some protector he is.”

  “Maybe he left because he feels that you’re safe now?” Ever said.

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  Zoe smiled, glancing at him before looking back at the road. Minutes later, they arrived at Mimi's house. Zoe killed the engine and turned the headlights off. She sighed and turned to him, her soft, bright eyes infused with street light. “I had a really good time, Ever.”

  “I did too,"Ever smiled in reply.

  She unbuckled her seat belt and turned towards him as much as the space would allow. “Thank you for telling me that you’re Death’s apprentice.”

  A bolt of joy speared through Ever from head to toe; he didn't expect that hearing someone else acknowledge his true identity would make him feel so seen.

  “You’re really not scared?”

  She shook his head, chestnut waves caressing her milky shoulders. “Why would I be?”

  She offered her hand to him; he took it without hesitation, weaving his fingers into hers. “Does anyone else know?”

  “Taylor does.”

  Zoe stilled. “And was she scared?”

  “Sort of. For a while.”

  Zoe rubbed circles into the back of his hand absentmindedly with her thumb.

  “How long have you been able to see ghosts for?” Ever asked.

  She paused for a moment, as if deep in thought. "It started this year."

  “You don't see the ghosts of people?”

  She shook her head. “Nope, just animals.”

  “I think I might know why you–”

  Zoe pressed a finger to his mouth. “Let’s not talk.” She took out one of the mints, stripped it of its wrapping and popped it into her mouth. She repeated the action with the second before popping it into his. In one smooth motion she leaned across, cupped his cheek and kissed him on the lips.

  He didn’t know what to do. Her mouth was exploring, but his stayed shut. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for him to learn. He undid his seat belt too, meeting Zoe in the middle and let his feelings guide his mouth and tongue as the windows in the car began to fog up.