Grim Crush (Grimly Ever After) Read Online Free PDF

what Shilah was doing now.
    “I think so. I don’t know the whole story. My grandmother is especially intrigued by our ancestors. My parents didn’t used to care about that stuff, but they got into it more when my little sister died.” Shilah stared at the ground, his hair falling forward to curtain the right side of his face.
    “Oh, I’m sorry,” I said. “When did she die?” I might’ve been the one to reap her soul.
    He wrapped a blade of grass around his finger. “About four years ago. She was nine.”
    Grim reapers didn’t start reaping till they were fourteen, and I was thirteen four years ago. “How did she die?”
    “She had cancer.” He yanked up the piece of grass.
    “Oh.” I sighed. “I hate seeing kids die from something inside their own bodies.”
    Shilah stared at me. “You’ve seen that happen a lot?”
    “Uh…yeah. I’ve…worked in hospitals.”
    “Volunteer work?”
    “Yep.” I sure wasn’t getting paid. “Were you close to your sister?”
    Shilah sniffed and nodded. “I was only thirteen when it happened, but I was like her protector. When we were in school together, I made sure the older kids didn’t mess with her.”
    I smiled. “You must’ve been a great big brother.”
    “I guess.” Shilah was silent for a minute before saying, “I wish I understood death better. Why does it have to happen to the young and the innocent?”
    “I think it has to do with the balance of life and death,” I replied. “For every death that happens, there is more life to replace it.” When Shilah gave me a funny look, I added, “That’s what Italians say, anyway.”
    “Right, you’re Italian. So, tell me about your family. Any brothers or sisters?”
    “No. I’m an only child. Is your–”
    “What about your parents?”
    He was trying to keep the conversation about me. This was not good. “Uh…I never get to see my father. He’s always busy.” That was part true. The Angel of Death was the closest thing I had to a father. He was more like a creator though. And he was so busy that reapers, unless under very special circumstances, never got to see him. I had never seen him before.
    “And what about your mom?” Shilah prodded.
    “I don’t have one.”
    “Oh, sorry.” He appeared sorrowful, and he didn’t even know how true my answer was. “What happened to her?”
    “I never knew her. Complications in child birth.” Ironically, I was the one who had died as a human baby. That’s how I arrived in The In-Between and grew up to become a reaper.
    “Wow, I can’t imagine having never met my mom,” Shilah said sympathetically. “That must be hard for you.”
    I stared at the ground. “Well…you can’t miss what you never had, right?” Then, I sensed that a death was occurring in my area. This one was unscheduled. “Dammit! I have to go.” I got to my feet.
    “Now?” Shilah asked, looking up at me. “Why?”
    “I just remembered I have to do something.” I didn’t want to go. I enjoyed talking to Shilah, when I wasn’t making up lies about my supposed human life.
    Shilah stood too. “Will you come back tomorrow? Or I could meet you somewhere else, like at the mall or–”
    “No! Here’s fine.” I imagined everyone in a public place staring at Shilah as he talked to an empty chair. Or I could allow myself to be seen by other humans…no, no, I shouldn’t think about breaking a Rule. Aquil would kill me…or try to find a way to. I’d heard reapers could be sent to Hell.
    “O-kay,” Shilah said, probably wondering why my answer had been so vehement. “We’ll keep meeting here. What time will you be here tomorrow?”
    “I seriously don’t know. I have to see when I’ll have time. Got to go. Bye.” I started jogging away.
    “Hey, Xia?” Shilah called.
    “What?” I stopped and turned back, frowning at him. I was already irritated that I had to leave, and if I was late for this death, I’d have to deal with a wandering spirit.
    Shilah’s brown