Page 89 of Ghost of a Chance
Victor put his hand on the book again.“I’m definitely getting something from the book but it doesn’t feel malevolent.”
Kirsty believed that Victor had a gift that she would love to explore sometime.He was getting stuff from the book that she hadn’t.She hesitated for a moment.Thinking of Jasper who needed some closure with Paul.“Have you had any contact with Paul after his death?”
“Nothing like Jaz has been experiencing with his creepy ass textbook.But sometimes I feel this warm breeze on the back of my neck, I guess.Usually it’s when I’m having a bad day or feeling down.He used to kiss me there so…yeah, I think it’s him.”
Kirsty squeezed Victor’s hand.“I bet it is.”
He finished his coffee while Jasper observed him, perplexed.“Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.I have to head to work now.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Jasper said.
Kirsty jotted down a few more notes.Looking at her notebook right now reminded her of all of the failed story ideas she had on other pages.If she was trying to write this as a story, she’d throw it out and start over.
It was clear to her why Jasper had assumed it was Paul.He was roommates with Jasper, so theJudge Judyshow and the physics connection coming from the book itself would have been present in the apartment with both of them.Jasper just had no idea of knowing it was from a haunted book, that Paul was probably dealing with the same thing he was now.
Accepting the truth was hard.But why was he still hiding stuff from her?
He needed to come clean.
He walked back in looking a bit sheepish.But she wasn’t in the mood to let him off easily.He owed her some answers and no more half measures.Not this time.
* * *
Kirsty waited by her car after he finished talking to Victor.She had questions.And she deserved answers.
He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t just come clean about the project before except that…he hadn’t.There were some things that were harder to talk about.His dad was always hard.And Paul’s death had cast a long shadow over the sci-fi short story.
Even in his head it was an obvious excuse.
She didn’t say a word as he entered the car, which was somehow worse than if she outright berated him.
She drove back to the house.Gia’s and Dan’s cars were gone.“After you let Chewie out we need to talk.”
“Yeah, we do.”
Fine.It was totally justified that she was upset with him.But he hated that he’d upset her again.He kept saying he wanted to make her happy and make her smile, but he had no clue how to do that.
He had a lifetime of regrets and longing, stuff that he never wanted to surface.How the hell was he going to tell her that?
Chewie was anxious for a walk and a piss, so he took the dog out around the block, hoping that maybe he’d figure out how to tell her about the tangled emotions that were tied to the secret he’d kept from her.
Would she even care?
That was a cop-out.His way of still trying to justify not telling her.He’d hurt her by not telling her.
It seemed he was pretty much an expert at putting himself first and shutting out people he loved.Kirsty might not be comfortable letting people into her life either, but she finished what she started.And she knew when to open up even if it hurt.
Was there something he could say that would change her mind?Show her that he hadn’t been playing a game with her?
“What do you think, Chewie?”
The dog just barked at him.Not helpful at all.
When they returned, the smell of coffee was strong and led him to the kitchen.Kirsty had made herself a cup and left him an empty mug.
He made one for himself, adding extra sugar and milk because it comforted him and then he found her in the dining room with her laptop.Her fingers were moving quickly across the keyboard.She didn’t glance up when he entered.She held up a single finger.
He took a seat across from her, sipping the coffee that was too sweet and left an aftertaste in his mouth.He wanted to go back to bed and start the day over.
