Read Online Grim Crush (Grimly Ever After) by S.L. Bynum - Free Book Online

my free time,” she went on, “but it’s not the same since you can’t interact with the people around you. Wouldn’t it be cool if humans could see us? Living humans, I mean?”
    “Yeah, that would be cool.” I looked at the floor. There was no way I was telling Ziri about Shilah and Granna. Selfishly, I kind of wanted to keep them to myself. I didn’t want them talking to other reapers.
    “What do you do in your free time?”
    I shrugged. “I like to…well, I like testing the boundaries between life and death. Like standing on the edge of a cliff and leaning out as far as I can. It’s fun because I know I can’t die.”
    Ziri was staring at me with the same look Shilah loved to give me. “That sounds…insane.”
    “You won’t understand the adrenaline you get from doing it until you try it.” I glanced at the clock on the wall behind Ziri. “Almost time. You want to handle this death? You’ve practiced opening the portal to Purgatory, haven’t you?”
    “ Yes . I’m not an idiot. Hey, can I see your scythe?”
    I hesitated, then willed the weapon to appear in my hand. Ziri eyed the curved blade like a human would ogle at a pile of diamonds.
    “That’s awesome .” She reached out her hand, and I pulled my scythe back.
    “I’ll let you hold this if I approve of your reaping,” I told her.
    Ziri scowled. Then, in the corner of my eye, I saw a dark-skinned, snazzy-dressed woman appear at the top of the staircase. She was staring from some papers in her hand to a mobile device she was typing on. She seemed to forget there were stairs right in front of her as she strode forward.
    Down she went, screaming at the top of her lungs. Her body thudded down the staircase, and the papers and phone in her hands scattered over the steps. When she reached the bottom, her head slammed against the wall, snapping her neck.
    Ziri cringed and stared down at the still body, shaking her head. “Texting while walking. It should be banned.”
    I nodded in agreement. I was familiar with the human trend of texting because it was the cause of many fatal car accidents I had responded to.
    I watched as the woman’s spirit rose from her body. Then I motioned for Ziri to do her thing.
    “Welcome to the afterlife,” Ziri told the dead soul, who was staring down at her corpse with a wild look in her eyes. “I’m Ziri, and this is Xia. We are your grim reapers, and we’re here to guide you.”
    The spirit looked at her. “Put me back.”
    Ziri blinked. “Excuse me?”
    “Put me back into my body! I have an important presentation Monday, and I can’t miss it! It’s my chance to get promoted. Put me back!”
    Ziri glanced at me for help. I shook my head. She needed to know all spirits acted differently. She would have to deal with stuff like this when she went solo, so she might as well learn how to handle it now.
    Ziri sighed. “Woman, you are dead. There ain’t no going back.”
    I frowned in disapproval. Ziri hadn’t even remembered the spirit’s name.
    The woman stomped up to Ziri. They were the same height. “You will put me back in my body now , little girl!”
    Ziri stood her ground. “Read my lips: You. Are. Deeeaaad. Your death was caused by your own stupidity, so I’m pretty sure the world will be better off without someone so careless.”
    I slapped a hand onto my face, shaking my head. I had a lot of work to do with this girl.
    “Xia!” Ziri cried.
    I looked up. The dead soul had lunged at my trainee, pinning her against the wall and attempting to strangle her. It was useless, of course.
    I sighed and casually walked to the spirit’s side. Clearing my throat, I said, “Excuse me, could you please let go of her? She’s just a grim-in-training. She didn’t mean what she said.”
    “Tell her to send me back! I want to live!” the soul spat, still trying to squeeze Ziri’s throat.
    “I’m sorry, but you have to cross over now. Don’t worry, you lived a fulfilling life. You’ll be happy where