Page 26 of The Ghost of You

Carson raises a brow at me. “That is quite the description. Maybe I should have you handle some of my opening statements and closing arguments.”

I punch him in the arm and head outside. I breathe in the crisp air as fall settles on Asheville. The leaves are beginning to change and the shift of summer into fall always brings me a sense of relief. Summer lasted far too long this year. Summer is reckless, wild, unpredictable. Fall is a sure thing, something you can rely on, the changing of the leaves, the drop in temperature allowing you to turn on a fireplace, the security of coming home every night as the chill is too much to go out and explore in.

Claire left me in the summer.

And for five years I’ve gritted my way through summer. The memories of our lives become fresh every time the weather changes in the spring. The heat of summer rising earlier and earlier with the sun. We would spend our summer days taking out our Scout into the mountains, weekend trips to the coast, dancing to old movies in the park. Now when I think of summer, I think of dark homes and empty spaces.

But the smell of fall air brings calmness back. I feel in control. I feel alive again.

I’m about to head back into the party when I hear my name. I turn around and see Anna walking down the street in a pair of tight jeans and a puffy jacket.

“Hey.”

“I know it’s really late but I thought I would see if the party was still going on.”

I run my hand through my hair. “Yeah, it is. You got out of work early?”

She shrugs. “Not too early, just an hour. I was off at midnight.”

I look at my watch and see it’s just past eleven. “You walk here?”

“It was only a few blocks.”

“It’s not safe on these streets at night. A lot of drunks. And a lot of guys on the prowl.”

“Okay, Detective,” she says with an eye roll.

I shake my head. “Still just a cop.”

“For now.”

I like how she has faith I’ll pass the test. I smile as I hold the door open for her and follow her inside.

“You step outside for a few minutes and come back in with a sexy woman. Maybe I should try that.”

Anna looks at me, and I sigh. “Anna, meet Mason. Mason, Anna, my neighbor.”

“Ahh the one I told him to invite. Definitely not Mrs. Wilson,” he says as he looks her up and down.

“Who’s Mrs. Wilson?” Anna asks.

“My other neighbor who Mason thought I was inviting.”

Mason shoots me a look from behind Anna and I know that look. He thinks she’s hot and he wants to bang her. And I am fine with that. They are closer in age, have more things in common. I am just a man who is longing after his ex-wife.

He holds his arm out to Anna. “Come with me, Anna. I’ll give you a tour of my studio. Get you a drink. I heard you are into music.”

I watch them walk away and let the pang of jealousy hit for a second, then let it pass but not before calling out to my idiot brother. “Yo Mase. She has teeth,” I say as I put my fist near my mouth.

He flips me off and continues to walk with Anna.

“What was that all about?” Carson says from behind me.

“What?”

“Mrs. Wilson?”

I laugh at that. “Well you know how Mase feels about blow jobs. I said I was going to invite my neighbor. He thought I meant Mrs. Wilson. I told him at least she can take out her dentures.”

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