The sound of the air conditioner chugging against the Texas heat was suddenly very loud.
“I don’t think she’s okay,” Abbi said in a small voice.
“Yeah.”
I wanted to follow, to slip through the walls and drift down the street by her side. I wanted to watch over her like I had for years and years.
She used to want me there with her, when I was a spirit. But now that I was flesh?
Fragile.
I blew out a breath. “I’m going for a walk.”
“To the Blarney Stone?”
“No, just a walk.”
“To follow Lula like she doesn’t want you to?”
“Abbi.”
She scrambled off the couch. “I know I’m not a people the way you and Lula are, but I canseethings. Let’s go to the Blarney Stone and make a wish and lick—kiss—it and get luck smashed all over our mouths.”
She patted Lorde, who was taking up most of the couch, her black fur ruffling under the blast of the air conditioner.
“There might be ice cream too,” she said. “Don’t you think there might be ice cream?”
“You should stay here, Abbi.”
“I want to go. Me and Hado. Where are you, Hado?” She lifted the bed cover, peering under the bed.
“Hado and you should stay here with Lorde,” I tried again.
“No.” She lifted and dropped the two flat pillows, then rounded the bed and opened dresser drawers. “Stop hiding, Hado.”
“Abbi.”
“It will just take me a minute—”
“Stay.”
A knock on the door cut off her reply. Her eyes went wide, and her mouth dropped open in surprise. “Oh.”
“Who?” I whispered.
She shook her head.
“Danger?”
She shook her head again but bit her bottom lip.
The knock rattled. “Hello. Hello, in there,” a woman’s voice lilted. “Is this a bad time?”
“No!” Abbi slapped her hands over her mouth.
I rolled my eyes and walked to the door. I peered through the peephole.
“Oh, there you are,” the woman outside said. “Hello.”
