“Bye you two, have fun!” Logan said.

  “‘Bye you two, have fun!'’” She mimicked, pulling a face, just after Ever closed the door to Pagoto’s behind them. “What does he think we are, ten years old?”

  Ever chuckled. They started walking pretty fast towards the central business district, using the pace to keep their bodies warm. “He told me to keep an eye on you.”

  “What?” Taylor said, jolting still. “He told you? To keep an eye on me?”

  Logan placed his hand on Ever’s, his usually unreadable eyes welling with emotion.

  “Please, don’t stop caring about her.”

  “Yep,” Ever nodded. He kept walking to catch the green pedestrian light. “Come on!” He waved for Taylor to follow.

  “Who does he think he is?” She said, almost jogging to keep up with Ever. “Hey, slow down!”

  They half-walked, half-jogged until they were amongst the Melbourne skyscrapers. Ever made a beeline for the Myer department store. He warily stepped onto the escalator, a huffing Taylor joining him on a step below.

  “He just cares for you, that’s all,” Ever said.

  “Yeah well,” Taylor swallowed and took a few deep breaths. “I don’t need a guard dog.” They stepped off the escalator. She immediately looked him square in the face, hands on her hips. “Speaking of dogs, let’s get this shaggy mutt a haircut!”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  —--

  Taylor found herself begrudgingly admitting that Ever had cleaned up pretty well. He only got a basic trim, back and sides with no fade, but that fixed the ‘lost dog’ look. Then she took him into Myer, straight to the men’s section and made him try on about half a dozen different jackets before settling on a dark green one.

  They repeated the process with pants. He’d been wearing the same basic pair of pants since… well, since he walked into the ice cream store that summer day. How had he ever dealt with laundry?

  “-next week?” Ever finished saying.

  “Hmm?” Taylor took her chin off her hand, putting her hand onto her lap.

  “I was asking if there was anything else you think I should be doing before my date with Zoe next week.”

  “I mean, it depends. What base do you want to get to?”

  Ever had the fork of food half way up to his mouth. “Base?”

  Taylor smiled at him. Oh sweet summer child. “Did Death ever give you the talk about the birds and the bees?”

  Ah curses! Death said. I did say I was going to do that, wasn’t I? Completely slipped my mind. Oh wait, I don’t have one.

  Ever ignored the cackling from his mentor, quietly finishing his dinner.

  Taylor’s indulgent smile faded. It was now or never – and never was soon. She clenched her hands in her lap, hunching forward.

  “Ever, I need to ask you something.”

  He looked at her, wiping his mouth with his napkin.

  “I know that you know about my parents. Unc told me.” She glanced to the side, as if scoping out an escape route before looking into his face again. “As Death’s apprentice, can you…” she paused for a moment, collecting herself. “Can you talk to my parents?”