Page 24 of Road Trip With the Ghost Hunter

“Attention. Now boarding for Rustic Junction, Colorado.” The announcement cut me off.

“That’s me.” She stood, and I went with her. I walked her to the line of passengers waiting.

“Thank you for getting me this far.” She still wasn’t looking at me.

“You don’t have to thank me.” Not when I felt like I had done more harm than good.

“I do.” She finally met my eyes. “You aren’t the only one who was running or searching for something. I needed to leave home, and you allowed me to do that. I’d still be there if you hadn’t agreed to let me come with you.” She raised up and placed a small kiss on my cheek. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

The line moved up, and I realized this was it. After she got on this bus, she would be gone. I’d never see her again.

I turned her toward me. My hands were on her face. “Take care of yourself.” My chest tightened at the thought of her all alone. “Don’t get in any more cars with strangers. Make some friends. Laugh and please, smile.” I missed her smile. “Promise me you’ll smile all the time.”

“I’ll try.”

It was now or never. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers. Had I ever kissed anyone before in my life? The feel of her mouth tentatively moving against mine was amazing. Her hands went around my waist, and I deepened the kiss.

I could have stayed there for the rest of the day just kissing her, but the woman behind us cleared her throat, and I knew I had to let Li go.

“I’ll miss you.” I gave her one more quick kiss.

“I’ll miss you too.” She let me go and stepped up into the bus, but turned right as she got to the top. “Promise you’ll find a reason to smile.”

“I already have.” I turned my lips up. I’d smile every time I thought of her.

I stayed until the bus drove out of sight, and then I found the first person I could and asked where the closest bar was. Getting drunk wouldn’t solve anything, but right now, it didn’t feel like there was anything that could make my life better.

I dropped the car back off at the hotel and extended my stay another night. The last thing I was going to be able to do was drive tomorrow, and if I wasn’t going to Rustic then I needed to find another place where I could test out my equipment. Maybe even go back to the ranch one more time and see if I could make contact.

Or you could just walk away and go after Li.

The voice in the back of my head was tempting, but if I didn’t keep trying, I’d always wonder. I had to find a way to reach the other side. How could I expect my uncle to rest in peace if I couldn’t apologize? If he didn’t know how sorry I was that his death was my fault?

The bar I found was dark and dirty and perfect for what I wanted. I settled in and opened a tab. I started with a shot of whiskey and followed that up with my first beer. Two more later, and I still wasn’t close to the oblivion I wanted. I could still see the tears in Li’s eyes. The hurt on her face.

“Hey there, Roy.” Some random dude said one stool over from me. “Set me up.”

“Sure thing.” The bartender put a glass under the tap and filled it up. “How’s the day treating you?”

“Can’t complain and it wouldn’t do shit for me if I did,” he laughed.

“Ain’t that the truth?”

I wished they’d both shut the hell up. I wasn’t in the mood to hear about some local’s issues. Was he nursing a broken heart? Had he sent the girl he was falling in love with away?

Falling in love?I had to be closer to drunk than I originally thought. There was no way that I was falling in love. I hadn’t known Li long enough. I didn’t know her well enough. We weren’t close enough. Sure, I felt protective of her and a connection that I couldn’t explain, but that didn’t mean anything, right?

When that happens, you don’t waste time with logic. Fuck what society, family, people say.Jeremy’s words came back.

“How’s your uncle doing?” My head snapped toward the guy sitting by me. How did he know about my uncle?

“Broken leg and high blood pressure.” The bartender shook his head. “He’s gonna have to learn to stay off ladders and take his meds.”

“At least it wasn’t anything serious.”

“Don’t I know?” The bartender laughed. “My aunt put him on punishment. Told him he isn’t allowed to do any more housework.”

Both men laughed. “I always liked your aunt. She’ll make sure he gets better.”

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