Page 107 of The Curse of Redwood
“We’ll be there.”
Zeke pulled me into his arms. “Does this mean we’re an official item?”
I snickered. “Not if you keep sayin’ things like that.”
Once we left the room and made our way down the hall, the usual heaviness of the mansion felt lighter. Sunlight lit the rooms, bringing life back into the place. Did the thinning of the veil between worlds allow for the cursed mansion to breathe easier too? That question brought forth another, and I looked at a smiling Zeke.
“Do the other ghosts get to leave the property on Halloween?”
I shivered at the thought of Jasper or the creepy thing that lived in the wardrobe roaming free in Ivy Grove.
“No,” Zeke answered, guiding me down the stairs. “I believe the curse prevents them from doing so. I always bring the children back some sweets when I go out. They might not be able to leave, but they can still enjoy some things that are lost to them any other day of the year, such as taste.”
“Lady Death can leave, though,” I stated, stepping closer to his side as I glanced around the entrance hall. “Ben saw her in town last Halloween.”
“She’s the exception, yes. However, she never takes a human form like I am now. She has her own curse, her own burden to bear.”
“Enjoy your day, Mr. Warren!” William said, appearing in front of us as we reached the back door. He stepped toward me and tugged on my shirt. I bent down so I could be eye level with him. “Sorry for scarin’ you last night, sir. And for running whensheshowed up.”
“It’s okay,” I said, before bopping his little nose and straightening back up. “Take care of the house while we’re gone, okay?”
“Yes, sir!”
We exited the mansion and walked across the back patio. The sun shone bright in the sky, adding warmth to an otherwise chilly fall day.
“I parked behind the shrubs on the left side,” I said, as we strolled across the grass. “I hope my driving doesn’t make you sick. Ben said I drive like a mad man and…”
I trailed off when I noticed Zeke wasn’t beside me. Confused, I turned around. He had stopped walking and had his face turned toward the sun, gently smiling as he closed his eyes. The rays danced off his pale skin and gathered in his blond hair like fiery embers as the strands caught the light.
“I feel the sun’s warmth,” he said, his voice shaking. When he opened his eyes, I saw tears glistening in them. “How I’ve missed it.”
I walked over and took his hand in mine. “There’s more where that came from. If you think the sun is awesome, just wait until you try the breakfast platter at the café. It’s heaven on a plate.”
We climbed the fence and reached my car minutes later. Zeke opened the passenger side door and slid inside like he’d done it a million times. I got into the driver’s seat and started the engine before turning to him.
“It’s so weird seeing you in my car.”
He laughed. “It’s not the first time, or have you forgotten? Last Halloween, you picked me up from that bar and drove me to your house. However…” He curled his nose as he looked at my backseat. Clothes were strewn everywhere, as well as empty soda cans, bags of chips, and smashed packages of Little Debbie cakes. “I don’t recall it being this much of a mess last time.”
“Don’t judge me, Legolas,” I said, putting the car in reverse and backing up. “To keep from having to leave you so much this week, I crammed a shit load in here. It’s bound to get messy.”
“I was wrong.” He picked up a dirty sock that had been in his floorboard and threw it behind him. “You’d be Sloth instead of Gluttony. Too lazy to pick up your own filth.”
“Yeah, keep talking and I’ll make you walk to the café.”
He responded with a light chuckle and moved his gaze to the window.
Main Street was busy as usual that Saturday morning, but it was even more so because of the holiday. Little kids ran around in costumes, going from store to store in a trick-or-treat event the local shopkeepers were having where the kids had to gather clues. If all clues were found, the kids would win a big bag of candy.
I parked a block from the café, then Zeke and I walked along the sidewalk. He stared in awe at everything we passed. Instead of wearing his vest and waistcoat, he’d worn a black button-up and dark-gray pants. The buttons on his shirt were opened at the top, showing his collarbone.
“Why are you staring?” he asked, sliding his palm against mine as he grabbed my hand.
“A gentleman shouldn’t show his collarbone in public,” I teased. “How inappropriate. You whore.”
He barked out a laugh. “In my day, two men couldn’t hold hands in public either, yet here we are.”
I gently squeezed his fingers as my heart grew wings and threatened to leap from my chest. “You know. I’ve never had a boyfriend. I never really held hands or anything with a guy in public before. It’s mainly been flirty stares from across the bar, followed by hot sex, and then I didn’t see them again. So this,” I glanced at our joined hands, “is new for me too.”
