Page 49 of Ghost Girl

She reared back like I’d hit her, crocodile tears shimmering in her eyes that I didn’t believe for a second. ‘Why are you being so mean?’ she whined.

‘I’m not being mean. You’re trying to insert yourself where you’re not wanted. It’s time for you to go before you start a scene. The owner of this house is sick and is trying to sleep.’

Her tune changed so quickly I felt like I was getting whiplash, but she still wasn’t taking the hint. ‘Who’s in there? Is it a woman? Are you cheating on me, Chancie?’ she shrieked, and I wanted to duct tape her mouth shut to stop any more noise from escaping.

‘No. And even if there was, it would be none of your business. You and I are not a thing. Now stop being such a delusional bitch and go, before I call the cops.’

‘How dare you?’ she seethed. For a moment, I felt a pinch of guilt and wondered if I’d gone too far, but then tilted her nose up in the air and sniffed in that self-important way all the ditzy socialites were so good at, and I couldn’t bring myself to care. She needed to fuck off before I said something worse. ‘Your parents will be so disappointed in your behaviour, Chancie. How could you do this to them?’

I couldn’t stop my eyes from rolling if I’d tried. ‘Yeah, that shit’s not gonna work on me, Florence. Now fuck off and don’t bother me again.’

Her lips pursed as she contemplated her options until,finally, she got the memo that she wasn’t welcome. ‘Your parents are going to disown you if you push me away, Chance,’ she said, ditching the act in favour of the truth. ‘You’ll regret this.’

I merely shrugged, completely unfazed by her threat. Or my parents’, for that matter, because I had no doubt she hadn’t come up with that threat on her own. I made my own money and avoided dipping into the trust fund Calvin had set up for me at my mother’s behest unless I was investing into the business. It was petty of me, but theyhatedwhenever I splurged on a new device almost as much as they detested my career choice, but it wouldn’t matter soon anyway. I would have no need for it whenI joined Kali. There wasn’t much holding me to this life anymore anyway. All of it was just… irrelevant.

Thankfully, Mikey chose that moment to come chugging up the driveway in his overpriced, two-storey RV, interrupting the silent stand-off that had commenced in the wake of Florence’s threat. He parked up and hopped out, then stopped short when he saw Florence standing in the doorway with me still blocking her way in. She sneered at my friend and stormed off, keeping a wide berth between them and the RV – like she thought one or both would bite and give her rabies or something.

It would have been amusing if not for the way Mikey wilted beneath her disapproving stare. If she wasn’t already walking away, I would have dragged her out myself. I was a gentleman, but I was also protective of my friends. I had no problem man-handling a woman if the situation called for it. It seemed she was suffering more than enough, however, when his stupid choice of high-heeled footwear sank into the dirt and skidded on the gravel. Her ankles rolled painfully, but she kept her nose in their air and fought for her balance as she wobbled away.

Mikey relaxed as soon as she disappeared down the driveway, though he still remained closed off after the interaction. He was a shy guy and had always been treated poorly by his rich peers, and it had stuck with him well into adulthood.

‘Good timing,’ I told him with a lopsided grin. ‘I was struggling to get rid of her.’

He met my grin with one of his own, even if it was smaller and meeker. ‘Glad to be of assistance.’

I let him in, locking the door behind us as I led him into the living room. He perched on the edge of the couch, uncomfortable in the unfamiliar space, but he quickly relaxed back into the cushions when he saw me treating the place like it was my own.

‘What brings you up here?’ I asked him. ‘I thought you’d be with the girls.’

‘They needed some time to themselves. They’re arguing again.’

I sighed. ‘This is becoming way more complicated than we’d planned.’

Mikey shook his head, a sad down tilt to his mouth. ‘They told me. About Kali.’

I nodded numbly.

‘I’m sorry, Chance.’

‘Don’t be.’

‘I hoped she was alive, too,’ he admitted, his voice breaking as his emotions clogged his throat. Kali had been his friend, too. One of the only people who had never judged him or treated him as anything other than an equal. I forgot sometimes that I wasn’t the only person who had lost her. I wasn’t the only one grieving.

Doubts trickled in about my decision. Maybe leaving Mikey behind would devastate him more than I thought. Oh, who was I kidding? Of course, it would. We were family, and the sudden realisation of how selfish it would make me if I took my own life when I had someone like Mikey in my corner slammed into me with the force of a battering ram. I gasped.

‘Hey, you okay, man?’

I nodded, but I could feel my forehead creasing and my cheeks aching as my entire face drooped downwards, revealing the thoughts and emotions running through my head.

He gave me a miserable, watery smile that proved he knew me better than anyone. Except maybe Ashe.

‘You need to talk to her before you make any decisions you can’t take back,’ he said, his voice warbling as he held back tears.

‘I…’ I began, but I didn’t know what to say, or even if there was anythingtosay.

‘I get it,’ he said. ‘I do. You love her. I’ve been waiting for you to make this decision for seven years.’

‘You have?’

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