Time Jacker by Aaron Crash (nonfiction book recommendations .TXT) 📕

Jack felt his heart swell. They’d both lost so much, but keeping his mom safe and happy felt like his greatest accomplishment yet. He gave her a big hug.

He even kissed Aunt Sue’s cheek, but the mean old woman wiped it off. “Yes, yes, don’t get mushy on me, Jack Masterson.”

Gabby and Bailey came over to say goodbye. Gabby shook Annie’s hand a bit too long. The blonde’s smile was as brilliant as her halo, which gleamed a bit brighter. “I know we haven’t met, Annie, but I would hope we can get to know you better. Both Evelyn and Jack have such nice things to say about you.”

Annie blushed. “Well, Jack is a good man, despite being an asshole. And Evelyn is the best as well. She’s my work wife.”

“She wishes,” Bailey spit. She stood with her arms crossed.

Annie couldn’t meet the demon’s hateful gaze. “Well, we should be going.”

“Wait.” Bailey had tears shimmering in her eyes. “Annie, you were very important to Jack. Just because he’s with us doesn’t mean...that...you know, you and he can’t be friends. And maybe I’m stupid enough to be your friend. Because you are so sweet and kind. Can I hug you? I feel like I need to hug you.”

Annie tried not to wince, but Bailey’s overly emotional reaction had turned the whole encounter super weird.

“You can hug me.” Annie let out an eep when the demon hugged her hard. And for way too long.

Annie’s eyes were pleading with Jack to end it, but it was Gabby who saved the day. “Come on, Bailey, you’ve imbibed a bit too much of the intoxicating liquors as served by our host Pinetree. No need to make Annie feel uncomfortable.”

“I’m not drunk!” Bailey snapped. Then she rolled her eyes. “And Annie is so full of Decaysia she’s the one making us feel uncomfortable.”

“Decaysia?” Annie asked.

Evelyn was smart enough to end things before they spiraled further out of control. “So, on that note, we’re going to go. Bye, everyone!”

Pinetree escorted them out. Jack watched them leave, then turned. “How much Decaysia was in Annie? I knew it was high, but not that high.”

“It wasn’t terrible,” Gabby said. “And she has been feeling down. Who can blame her? Being kidnapped and dragged to hell can’t be easy. Human bodies aren’t meant to be subjected to that much Decaysia.”

Bailey sniffed. “That’s probably why she has all that death energy. And there’s probably a part of her that hates her decision to have me wipe her memory. She probably spends her nights wishing she was in bed with us, loving us, gently, sweetly, for hours on end.”

“Are you drunk?” Jack asked.

A dark look stormed over Bailey’s face. “No, and I hate that Annie girl. Can we just not fucking talk about Annie for five fucking minutes?”

Gabby took Bailey’s hand. “I’m sorry she’s not with us as well.”

Jack shrugged. “Well, that might change. Hugo talked about my brides, and that we’d watch the rise of the Mistress of Death.” He then told the girls about his conversation with Annie.

Bailey cut him off. She truly didn’t want to talk about Annie anymore, but Jack thought that maybe, just maybe, Annie might join them. Life was long, the universe was strange, and anything was possible.

It was way past midnight, but Jack didn’t want to go home. He sat down in front of the real fire this time. He’d thought about bringing his guitar, but he wasn’t good enough yet to play in public. He’d get there, though. He’d get there.

Bailey climbed onto his lap, and Gabby pulled a chair up close. They all watched the sweet pine burn.

Jack thought of his adventures, thought of Annie, and his heart felt full. His life felt complete, like he’d never imagined it could. Yes, he might not have Annie, but he had Bailey and Gabby.

All of them were silent in the sacred night.

On a whim, Jack touched his thumb to the tattoo.

The flames stopped dancing.

Gabby turned to him, eyebrows raised. “Why did you stop the Influunt?”

“Do you wanna fuck?” Bailey asked hopefully.

Jack laughed and squeezed the demon on his lap close. He interlaced his fingers into Gabby’s. He could feel the souls in the angel and the demon. They weren’t your normal minions of heaven or hell anymore. They were something different. Well, so was he.

Jack let out a satisfied breath. “I wanted to stop time because I could die in this moment, with you both, with our victory, and with our current troubles behind us. I wanted to pause this moment, and enjoy it, really enjoy it.”

Bailey’s eyes filled with tears. She was struck speechless. For being a soulless succubus, she sure did have a soft heart.

Gabby kissed him gently. “To see a World in a Grain of Sand, and a Heaven in a Wild Flower. To hold Infinity in the palm of your hand and Eternity in an hour.”

Bailey laughed even as tears rolled down her face. “That’s so lame. Did you just come up with that?”

“It’s from a poet, William Blake,” the angel whispered. She kissed Jack again. Her eyes then turned to Bailey, and they were soft, full of love.

The demon didn’t respond, she just laid her head on Jack’s shoulder.

They watched the frozen flames—time stopped—so they could all enjoy that eternal moment.

When Jack started time again, he knew that this was only one second in their long life together. He’d enjoy it all for as long as he could. For a guy who could stop time, that just might be forever.

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