“I remember, keep going,” I said, although I could tell he was tormented by something. As he went on, the story seemed to get harder and harder for him to tell.
“It was weird for me, Evey. I can’t explain it.”
“Try.” With my index finger, I drew circles around the little smattering of hair on his chest.
“When you called out to Brooklyn about it, I heard her say something rude to herself about your breasts. You came walking down the hallway in a towel—you know how Brooke is jealous of you?”
“I don’t think she’s jealous of me.”
“Yes, she is. That’s why she’s knocking on your door at two a.m. I knew she was going to be hurtful that day. I had witnessed it before, and you’ve always been so sweet to her.”
It looked like he was getting emotional. I was too.
“What did you do, Lucian?”
“You were going to open your towel and show her, so I popped into her body just for a minute.”
I remember that day well. I’d thought Brooklyn was out of her mind. She had said, “You’re beautiful, Evey. You have a really nice body, and you should never feel insecure about it.”
Lucian went on. “I got in trouble for that. I’m not supposed to protect your heart, but I didn’t want to see you hurt by Brooklyn’s words. And you were looking at me, just standing there completely naked, looking so pretty and vulnerable. It was selfish of me.”
“No, it was selfless of you.” I cupped his face with my hands and kissed him. “I love that you’d do that for me.”
“You haven’t heard the whole story. The worst part is that when I popped out of Brooklyn’s body, I stood behind her, transfixed. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.” He laughed. “I got turned on. It was the first time I became really worried about what might happen between us. I took off and went and got a bottle. That’s when I started drinking a lot more. I also got a serious scolding from Mona.”
“Well, I’m glad I turned you on.” I smiled.
He laughed once, but it seemed forced. Pulling my head down to rest on his chest, he said, “Go to sleep, Evey. I have some things to figure out tonight.”
I HAD SOME time before magic hour to lie in bed and think while Evey slept peacefully on my chest. I had lost another feather earlier but hadn’t mentioned it to her. I didn’t want to worry her. I gently removed myself from her bed and went outside. I felt weak and thought maybe it was due to extreme alcohol withdrawals. Across the street, I spotted an angel where Zack normally sat.
“Hey,” I said to him.
He flew onto the roof without responding.
Abigail was also nowhere to be found. I plopped down on the stoop until it was time to go find Mona. I flew slowly to the St. Francis soda shop and tried to open the door, but it was locked. I knocked, and then tried to pass through the glass but couldn’t. All I could see around me were humans frozen in motion.
I went to the Star Wars bar, but no one was there.
Standing on the street, I called out, “Mona, Zack, Abigail, anyone?”
I flew toward the Golden Gate. It was raining pretty hard by then, but there were always angels on the bridge during magic hour. It was the best vantage point to see the sun piercing the horizon. About halfway to the bridge, I looked down and saw an angel struggling in the wind and rain. As I got closer, I noticed it was Zack. His wings had always been too weak for bad weather. I grabbed him from above to right him in the wind.
“What are you doing?” he screamed. “Take your hands off me, you traitor.”
“No, Zack, listen.”
“No!” His voice was a high-pitched screech.
“Just hear me out. You’re my best friend,” I shouted over the rushing wind. I directed us to Coit Tower to sit on the roof and talk.
“I don’t want to be here,” Zack said.
“Please just listen to me. I need to know what’s going on. Am I banished? Why can’t I find Mona? Please.” I looked him in the eyes. “You’re my only friend.”
Compassion flooded his expression. “You’re not banished.”
That brightened me up. “I’m not?”
“Worse, I think.”
“What?” I asked.
Hesitating, he said, “I don’t know, Luc. They reassigned all of us, even Mona. They said we weren’t to talk to you.”
“Who is ‘they’?”
“Some David guy, along with you-know-who.”
“No, I don’t know who.”
Zack shrugged. “Your favorite person.”
“Jesus? I love him, and he loves me. He loves everyone.”
“You told me one time that you didn’t get the hype. Now you’re saying you love him?”
“We had a falling out a long time ago, but that’s in the past. I got over it, and he should too. Isn’t the forgiveness thing his whole schtick anyway? And by the way, that debacle with Mary Magdalene had nothing to do with me. I couldn’t control her. I think he and I are on good terms now though.”
“You’re always saying that, Luc. It was a long time ago, but you still haven’t taken responsibility for it. I think that’s the only thing causing problems for you now.”
“No, what’s causing problems for me now is that I’m in love with Evey. My past wouldn’t be an issue if it weren’t for her. Why didn’t they banish me to the Star Wars bar?”