Page 83 of Medium
“I’m so sorry, Shane.” Ellis wrung his hands before reaching out to pat my leg. “I didn’t mean to stress you out. It just seemed perfect for you, since your old client reached out. But you don’t have to do it. We can find you some other job.”
“I don’t know. I should probably look at all my options.”
Rory hesitantly put his hand on my shoulder, so I reached up and grabbed it. Some of the tension coming through our connection eased. “I’ll help. We can go over your finances to see what kind of salary you need. I’m guessing the stipend or whatever you get for being a District Monitor isn’t enough to live on?”
I stared at him, and Ellis hooted. He slapped Rory on the back. “Hah! We don’t get anything for that. It’s a completely volunteer position. Even when we have socials or other celebrations for the Wonders, we have to do it potluck, because none of us can afford to foot the bill.”
Now it was Rory’s turn to stare. “Nothing? But you give up your free time, and your magic....” He gestured at me with his free hand.
I squeezed his fingers. “Cal found out some of the states have Financial Wizards—they’re magic carriers whose gifts allow them to make really smart investments, but they’re pretty rare. Anyway, those states have a fund for their DistrictMonitors, and their Hunters don’t have to be paid out of the rescue groups’ budgets.”
“What’d I miss? Why are you stopped?”
Pia’s shrieks had nothing on the one I let out as I ducked down and away from the elderly man who’d appeared in the front passenger seat.
“Holy shit, this one can see me!”
I cautiously examined the slightly transparent figure. “Fuck me, you’re a ghost!” I turned to Rory, who was slack-jawed and glancing back and forth between me and the ghost. Next to him, Ellis was as wide-eyed as I probably was.
Rory leaned into the car. “You can see him?”
“I sure can.” I patted my chest like it would slow my racing heart. “Um, hi. I’m Shane.”
The ghost smirked. “I know. I’ve been standing right next to you since Monday night.”
“Grandfather!”
The ghost turned to Ellis. “What about you? Cat got your tongue? Or was it my grandson?” He chortled.
“Uh....” Ellis rubbed his chin and gave Rory a side-eye. “I’m Ellis.”
Rory sighed. “This is my grandfather, Carlyle Blackbourne.”
“Hi, Carl!” I put on my perkiest Manny-esque voice. “It’s so cool to meet a ghost!”
He wrinkled his see-through nose. “It’s Carlyle.”
Arch honked his horn, and we all jumped. Except for Carlyle, of course.
“We should get on the road.” Rory backed up and herded Ellis away from the car as well. He shut the door and headed around to the driver’s side.
Ellis pulled open the front passenger door. “Excuse me, Carlyle, but I’d like to sit here.”
“I was here first, kid. There’s plenty of room in the back next to your other boyfriend.”
Rory rolled his eyes as he put his seat belt on. “Don’t listen to him, Ellis. Just sit in the seat and if he doesn’t like it, he’ll move.”
Personally I was more worried about whether Ellis wouldn’t like it than Carlyle. I shivered as Ellis hesitantly climbed into the seat. Carlyle rolled his eyes—he was definitely related to Rory—and popped from the front seat to the seat on my left.
Fuck. This close, I could feel a chill.
“Grandfather, I thought you were going to meet us in Houston.” Rory pulled out onto the highway behind Arch’s SUV.
“Hmmph. That billionaire is going to buy another Wonder. The auction’s Friday night.”
As the rest of us gasped, Carlyle poked me in the shoulder.
“Hey!” I wasn’t expecting his finger to feel solid.
