Edgar nodded confidently. “That's right! What do you think? A little too dusty for your tastes, I presume.”
That was odd. Why would he care about my tastes?
I chuckled. “It's your house, not mine. If this is what you prefer, then it's perfect for you.”
Edgar pouted, which was cute. “But I want you to enjoy my home, Mel. You're the first guest I've had since—well, I suppose Bert left a few hours ago, but he doesn't count.”
For some reason, I felt a prickle up my spine. “Who's Bert?” I asked.
Edgar waved a hand. “Oh, he's my friend. We were having a blast playing cards until he had to go to his job—” he said the word with dramatic vitriol. “And as usual, he left me all alone.”
Although Edgar said Bert was a friend, I still felt that prickling sensation. I had to know more.
“Is he a human?” I asked.
“Yes. Just like you.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Where did that come from?
“Is he… An omega like me?” I asked warily.
“No. A beta.”
I felt a huge wave of relief, then was confused for reacting that way. Why did I care if Edgar had omega friends? First of all, we'd just met, so why was I jealous? Second of all, he was a freaking ghost! Had I really developed a crush on a ghost after spending five minutes with him? Gods, I was an idiot.
Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Edgar swooped towards me with a bright smile on his face. His sudden proximity made heat rush to my cheeks. He didn't seem to have a concept of personal space, which I didn't mind. Was that a ghost thing or an Edgar thing? There was so much I wanted to learn about him, and not just because he was a paranormal being.
“Come, dear Mel!” Edgar declared. “Let me show you around. Excuse the dust and cobwebs—although you seemed quite interested in them earlier.”
“Earlier...? Oh, you mean when I was filming.” I blushed. “Sorry, I didn't know you were, er, home. I didn't mean to invade your privacy.”
Edgar swooped in the air as he spoke. “Not at all! You have no idea how exciting it is to have a visitor! You're quite rare in the world, dear Mel.”
Every time he called me that, I couldn't stop my cheeks from heating up or my heart from going pitter-patter.
He's just being nice,I reminded myself.
“Um, what do you mean by rare?” I asked.
Edgar paused his floating to smile at me. “Oh, yes! You're so easy to talk to that I've already forgotten we haven't known each other for ages.”
My ears turned burning hot.
“Not every human can see phantasms like me,” Edgar explained. “In fact, the only two humans I've met who were able to see me are my friend, Bert, and you.”
“Me?” I squeaked.
Why me, of all people? Was it because I was a ghost hunter? Was this Bert guy one, too?
“Wait... you called yourself a phantasm,” I said. “Is that what you prefer to be called?”
Edgar put his hands on his hips. “I'm not aghost, if that's what you're implying.”
I blushed hard again, except this time from embarrassment. “S-sorry! I shouldn't have assumed. What's the difference?”
Thankfully, Edgar didn't seem offended. He was all too happy to explain.
“I'm so glad you asked, dear Mel!” Edgar cleared his throat like he was about to launch into a spiel he'd prepared ages ago. “You see, aghostis a lingering spirit of a deceased individual. However, I am no such thing! I'm aphantasm. My existence is not tied to any other person.”
