Page 78 of Haunted Ever After

Her smile widened, and when she blinked a tear hit her cheek. “I love you too.”

His breath caught; how long had it been since he’d heard those words? But those weren’t the words he was looking for. Not now. “And?”

“And…” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth. “And I’m staying.”

“There it is.” He stood up, tugging her to her feet, because it had been minutes now since he’d kissed her, and this would be their first kiss as a couple in love. He couldn’t wait one more second for that.

“To answer your question,” he said many, many moments later, “I think what happens now is we take this party upstairs. I’ve only gotten half of the tour.”

Cassie gave a hum of assent as he stood up, tugging her to her feet as he did so. “I think I know the perfect place to end it.”

The tour ended sometime around midnight, with both of them wrapped up in each other and in Cassie’s duvet. Slow kisses eventually transitioned into sleep, and an hour or so later the door to the second bedroom swung slowly open on its hinges. After that, the house was completely silent.

•••

Nick had never been so happy to get so little sleep.

His commute was also longer than normal: a quick walk down the block instead of down the stairs as the sun just barely crested the horizon. The streetlights were still on outside as he left Cassie’s house, and they blinked slowly out around him as he lightly jogged down the street, trying to get the blood moving in his veins. He was tired. He was sore, having used muscles last night that he hadn’t used in quite some time. He wanted a long, hot shower and to get back in bed with Cassie. Instead he got a lukewarm, thirty-second shower in his place above the café, his hair still wet and curling ridiculously on his forehead when he opened Hallowed Grounds at five minutes after seven.

Thank goodness for all the prep he’d gotten done yesterday, right before he’d gone over to Cassie’s house, gotten possessed, and his entire life had changed. He sliced the lemon pound cake and banana bread, filling up the pastry case before starting on the daily batch of blueberry muffins. Same old morning routine, but his life was no longer the same old life. This morning felt like the beginning of a new era, and he couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

“Someone looks happy this morning.” He’d been so absorbed in his thoughts that he hadn’t even heard the chime over the door. Libby had her elbows on the counter and a smug expression on her face. “I was dropping by to see how you were feeling—”

“And to get coffee.” He moved to the espresso machine to start her morning latte without being asked.

“And to get coffee,” she confirmed, “but mostly worried about you and Cassie. Y’all do okay last night?”

Nick almost dropped the milk jug. He glanced over his shoulder and Libby arched a brow. “That obvious, huh?”

“Oh, pretty obvious.” Her smile widened. “Glad you two managed to work everything out. Sophie and I have been getting sick of y’all dancing around each other the way you have been.”

“Look…” Acting stern would probably work out a lot better if he wasn’t fighting a grin. “Things have been complicated between Cassie and me.”

“And now?”

“Now they’re much simpler. Thanks to your grandma.” He popped a lid on her latte and handed it across the counter. “Coffee for Nan today or no?”

“No.” Libby’s smile dipped as she straightened up and accepted her latte. “She’s at home today. Resting. Last night really took it out of her, though you know she won’t admit it.”

“That sounds like her.” But that punctured a small hole in Nick’s shiny balloon of a morning. His brow furrowed. “She gonna be okay?”

“I think so.” But Libby’s eyes were serious as she took a sip. “She doesn’t do a lot of those, you know. Banishings. Even when she was younger. She’s very much a live and let live…well, afterlife and let afterlife?” She shrugged. “Anyway, it takes more energy to fight a spirit than it does to just understand one. She should be okay after a couple days of rest.”

“Let me know if we can help at all.” He was part of a we now. Incredible. He waved off Libby’s offer of payment as his heart swelled, tightening in his chest in the most delightful way. “No charge. Exorcism special.”

Libby snorted. “Say hey to Cassie for me. Tell her I’ll talk to her later.”

The rest of the morning was the same familiar routine, yet everything was different, and his day had a new shine to it. Theo chose a slice of the lemon cake instead of a blueberry muffin, making a short noise of pleasure around the mouthful.

“This is good.” He washed it down with a sip of his usual coffee. “You should make this more often.”

“I think I might.” Nick glanced up toward the ceiling, surprised Elmer hadn’t weighed in on Theo’s reaction. It wasn’t like him not to seize every opportunity he could to point out when he was right.

Theo didn’t notice, breaking off another corner of the cake while he paid for his breakfast. “Oh, by the way. Any idea how Cassie’s doing with the Hawkins House research? I keep meaning to check in on her.”

Nick didn’t even know where to begin. “You should ask today. I bet she’ll have an update.” Understatement.

Breakfast rush ended with Jo and her damn herbal tea, along with a gloating text from Elmer about the lemon cake.

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