I’m staring into Cheryl’s face leaning over me, gently nudging my shoulder.
“Did you sleep out here all night?” she asks.
I push myself up on my elbows. It’s daylight, and I’m on the patio.
“You were yelling in your sleep. Something about you being alone.”
“Yeah, that’s right. I was alone in the foyer. You and Portia disappeared when I touched you.” I eye the full bottle of bourbon on the table. My wicked dreams were not alcohol-fueled. They were real, and I have to prevent my fucked-up future.
“Are you all right?” Cheryl furrows her brow.
“Yes. No.” I touch her arm, and she doesn’t disappear. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t look too good. Are you sick?”
“Are you one of the ghosts too?”
“What ghosts?” She narrows her eyes. “Are you sure you feel all right?”
I swing my legs over the cushion and stare up at her. “Who are you supposed to be?”
“I think you better go up to bed and lay down.”
“No, no, I don’t wanna sleep. Every time I sleep, I see the ghosts.”
“Nick, what are you talking about?” She rests her palm on my forehead. “It doesn’t seem like you have a fever.”
I pull her down on the couch next to me. “Last night after I came out here, I was visited by three ghosts. Samson took me back to the past when I was a kid. It was way worse than I remember. The Grim Reaper showed me my future.” I shiver. “And your father showed me what’s going on right now.”
“My father? He’s in Los Angeles.”
“I know, it wasn’t him. It was his ghost.” I drag my fingers through my hair. “I know it all sounds crazy, but it really happened.”
“Sounds like you had a nightmare.”
“It was way more than a nightmare . . . It was real, and it happened right here on the patio.”
She rests her hand on my shoulder. “Okay, just calm down.”
“I’m not fuckin’ crazy. It really happened. Like a warning.” I bolt off the couch. “Where’s Portia?”
“Upstairs in her room.”
“Are you sure? Pierce threatened to send her away.”
“Graham Pierce?”
“Everything was so fucked up. I thought I’d never see you again.” I hold her in my arms. “I’m awake, right?”
“Yes, but . . . you’re scaring me.”
“There’s no reason to be scared, ‘cause from now on,everything is going to be right. I have to talk to Portia. Tell her I’m sorry I missed her concert and all the other shit.”
“She’s fine.”
“No, she’s not. I saw her crying in her bed the other night. You were there comforting her.”
“You weren’t even home.” Cheryl’s eyes widen. “She didn’t want me to tell you. How did you know?”
