Lu’s thumb paused on the side of her phone. “Texas?”
“Ghost.”
She looked to both sides. I tipped my thumb to my left. “Big mouth. Bad fashion choices.”
The ghost, to my surprise, laughed. “Asshole.”
“Problem?” Lu asked.
“Nope.”
She glared in the ghost’s general direction, then went back to her phone.
“So, it’s been awhile since anyone has talked to me,” he said.
“Nope.”
“I haven’t even asked you anything yet.”
I drank the rest of my water ignoring him.
“Come on, pal. Just give me a few minutes of your time. I know things. Things you want to hear.”
Since every ghost I’d encountered from the day I’d died said the same thing, I didn’t respond. Ghosts were a little like used car salespeople. The less eye contact, the better chance of getting out of the situation un-accosted.
“No, don’t ignore me. Do you know how long I’ve been dead? You’re the first Sighted I’ve met. I have things to say.”
He stormed around to stand behind Lu, then bent down right next to her, his cheek almost touching hers. She pulled to one side, away from him, her eyebrows raised.
“What?” he asked, watching me watching him. “You don’t want me to touch her?” He pointed a finger at her and moved it closer to her face.
Lu put her hand up by her cheek. “Is he next to me?”
“Yep.”
“Doing something annoying?”
“Not for long.” I pushed my chair out and wondered if I could still kick a ghost’s ass.
But before I could slap the boo-shit outta the guy, the door opened, and Cupid strolled in.
Lu stilled at the same moment I did, both of us feeling that deep resonant hum of power that was unique to gods.
“Bo,” I said, so she didn’t have to turn around to see which god was coming our way.
“Holy crap, you can see gods too?” the ghost asked. “Whatareyou?”
Lu stood and brought her chair over to sit next to me.
Cupid, who liked to go by Bo, didn’t even look at us. I knew it couldn’t be a coincidence he was here, in Devil’s Elbow, in this bar, exactly when Lu and I had decided to get some food.
“Do you know that god?” the ghost asked. “I’ve never met that one.”
Lu dragged her plate across the table toward her and dipped a fry in ketchup before biting it in half.
I spun my empty water glass between my fingers and wished I’d ordered that beer.
The ghost came round the table and stood at my left.
