She shakes her head and smiles at me. “Must be the ghosts,” she tries to offer jokingly, and I laugh awkwardly, an uncomfortable silence settling between us.Can she see the ghosts, too?
Jocelyn leans forward and places her hand on my knee, her thumb rubbing back and forth as she looks into my eyes. “I had a really great time tonight, Grace.”
I glance at her hand stroking my knee as panic races through me, creating a trail of ice where her warm fingers stroke. So different from the warmth that Milly’s cold fingers leave behind.
I clear my throat and slide off the chair, her hand falling off my knee. Is she really trying to flirt with me?Fuck.Thiswasa setup. I push the chair in and turn to face her with a forced smile.
“I truly appreciated this, Jocelyn. It felt lovely to get to know one another. I’m definitely a little flushed from the wine, so I think I should get some sleep. Wouldn’t want to ruin the good reputation I have and all,” I jokingly offer as I back away slightly to create more distance.
She watches my body language and places a pinched smile on her face. “Seriously, call me Josie. I had a lot of fun! We should make this a weekly thing.”
I nod along to what she says.If I survive that long.“I’d love to! Do you need any help cleaning up?” I offer, trying to avoid abruptly leaving and making the situation even more awkward.
“No, no. It’s all good. I’m going to put some of these extra snacks into Tupperware. Feel free to snack on them whenever!” She stands up and walks around the table as she starts cleaning, humming to herself.
Unease scatters through me. “Well, thank you again, Josie,”
I don’t wait for her to reply as I quickly make my way to my bedroom and shut the door behind me. I press my back against it and exhale heavily.
Chapter 17
Grace
September 13th
“What the fuck was that?” I whisper to myself as a wisp of white flutters in front of me.
I look up and see Milly glittering, leaning against my bed. My jaw drops as I take in her beauty. I’ll never stop being stunned by her. Her skin is translucent, but shimmering with soft white flecks radiating outwards, creating a soft hue in my dark bedroom. Her red hair falls freely and a little messily, framing her face as she tosses it over her shoulder with a smirk.
She’s wearing a long white night gown trimmed with lace along every edge, from the hem to the cuffs on her wrists. The square neckline delicately frames her collarbones. And when I glance down? My fingers twitch with the need to reach out. Her nipples are tight peaks beneath the sheer material, rosy and begging to be tasted. I start to walk toward her, lost in the trance of her beauty.
“Milly…” I whisper as I approach her. She smiles brightly as I go to touch her curls with my fingers, but my fingers pass right through them. I frown and look at her eyes, noticing the pain she is trying to hide behind a mask of nonchalance.
“Milly, why can’t I touch you?” I attempt to feel her curls again with no luck. She stands up and passes through my hand along the way. I watch her pace around the room, lost in thought for a few moments, as I watch with concern.
“Do not fret, my shadow. This is merely a passing phase. I am simply restoring my strength.”
I walk forward, instinctively reaching for her once again, but thistime for her wrist. I pass through her again, unable to process the inability to feel the smoothness of her skin or trace her freckles with my fingertips.
I see her lift her head and stare at my hand through hers. “Was last night too much for you, Milly? I’m so sorry if I caused you any pain.”
She closes her eyes for a moment, and I know she’s trying to hide the emotion behind the brave facade. I want her to know she can break in front of me, and I would collect all the pieces to hold her together without a word.
“It was not too much–no, it waseverythingto me.” She opens her eyes, and they twinkle in this beautifully heartbreaking way. She’s my own star, illuminating everything, including my heart, shining a light on the darkest parts of myself. She’s drawn me in since the second I laid eyes on her, instantly capturing my love.
“It meanteverythingto me, too,” I whisper as I continue to gaze at her beauty.
Her skin sparkles a little brighter at my words. I step away, craving the calming lull of music. I reach for one of my favorite records off the shelf, then slide the disc from its sleeve. I place it down gently on the platter, lowering the stylus next to start from the beginning. The subtle crackle of the record beginning to spin slips into the quiet room. I pull the blankets from my bed and layer them on the floor, creating a soft haven for the two of us.
I plug in the small twinkle lights that wrap around the ceiling to illuminate the room with warmth. I sit down on the blankets and pat next to me as she gently sits down, placing her legs against the side of her body.
“How long until you're back to your… tangible form?”
She sighs and glances at me. “It won’t be much longer now, I imagine. I cannot recall ever having so thoroughly exhausted my energies before.”
My heart starts to race at the implication of her words. “You’ve never been with someone as a ghost before?” I tentatively ask her.
She grins at me. “No, my shadow. The honor is yours and yours alone.”
