Page 50 of The Ghost of You

“Anna, are you still there?”

“Hey Mason.”

“What you doing around here?” Mason asks until he looks down and sees my white Jimmy’s t-shirt on under my flannel shirt. “Ahh, working.”

“Yeah, I actually need to get back inside.”

My phone is still near my face, and I hear my sister yelling at me. “Who are you talking to? What is going on, Anna May? Can you answer me?”

I pull the phone away and look at it. Before I can think of what to do, I hang up on my sister.

“Important phone call?” Mason asks.

I shake my head. “Not at all.”

He smiles. “Well, I just picked up some refreshments for the night. Stop by if you want to hang out after your shift. I’m in desperate need for a hangover tomorrow. Might keep me away from my parents.”

“You could just not show up like me,” I tease.

“Nah. Noah is always dragging my ass out of bed to go to family dinners.”

“You seem close with them.”

He shrugs. “Depends on the day.”

“Well, I better get back in for my shift.”

Mason starts to head around the corner to his studio. “Come by after work.”

“I’ll think about it.”

14

Noah

“Why are you calling me, Mase?”I answer my phone as I pull over.

“Because I have a question.”

I sigh as I put the car in park, mouthing an apology to my partner. I rarely ever take personal calls while I’m working. But due to the one in the morning hour, I won’t hesitate to answer. “This better be important, I’m working.”

I hear laughter in the background. “Oh, it’s important.”

“Are you drunk?”

“Nah, man.”

I know he is lying, but I choose to ignore it. “Make it quick.”

“I think you should invite Anna to Thanksgiving.”

I run my hand over my face. “Thanksgiving is practically today, and this isn’t important.”

“Ahh but you didn’t say no.”

I crack my knuckles as I look around the bustling downtown streets, filled with drunks who are all hesitant about seeing their families for the holiday. “She isn’t going to go. And I am not asking her. Why did you even bring it up?”

He burps before answering. “She seemed upset about her family when she left. Mumbling about a letter and a phone call.”

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