He pulled out the matchbook that came with the candle and flipped it open. The same flowers that decorated the walls and tables were printed on it. Laura loved it when everything matched.
“So—don’t laugh—I know how stupid it sounds, but when we light the candle, we’re supposed to think about the people who aren’t here. To gather their spirits in the room.”
“Do they have to be dead?”
“No, just not here. It also doesn’t have to be someone from my family. You can think about anyone you want. Whoever you wish could be here with us.” He tilted his head. “Your dead grandmother, for example, or…” A grin tugged at his mouth. “…yourboyfriend.”
My next breath was heavier than the last. His eyes locked on mine, almost daring me to react. Why would he say that? Was he mocking me? Blowing off steam? Or maybe…? Earlier, he had told Mila he thought I was cute. So I couldn’t rule out the possibility that this was his way of telling me something without actually saying it.
“Who willyouchoose?” I shot back. “Dead grandmother oryourboyfriend?”
His tongue pushed his lips apart ever so slightly. “Usually, we don’t say out loud who we’re thinking about. But since you’re not technically family, I’ll let it slide.” His eyes narrowed, making it impossible to tell whether he was actually offended or just pretending.
“I didn’t mean to be disrespectful,” I said, just in case.
He held my gaze another second before breaking into laughter. “I’m just messing with you.” His chuckle lingered as he pulled a matchstick from the matchbook and struck it. “Since I don’t currently have aboyfriend,and my grandmother was the kindest person on earth, she’s who I’m going with.” He shrugged lightly. “Not that I really believe this summons any spirits or anything. But the idea of her being here is… comforting.” He touched the flame to the wick and watched it catch. “So, how about you?”
It was a harder question than it should have been. Even just in spirit, there wasn’t anyone I truly wanted to invite into this room.
I never knew my grandparents. My mom wasn’t on good terms with them, for reasons she never explained.
I never met my father, nor did I ever see a picture of him. I used to ask about it all the time when I was younger, but I stopped when I realized that Mom might not want to answer because she didn’t have one.
I also hadn’t had a boyfriend in years. The last one stopped replying to my messages after he got involved in the mess with my stepfather. And it was practically impossible to meet anyone in Seastone, mainly because there weren’t many people my age to begin with.
The only person I could truly think of was my mom, but?—
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” Sebastian said, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Well, I don’t have a boyfriend either, so that narrows it down,” I replied. “I guess I’ll pick my mom.”
“You guess?”
“She’s the obvious choice.”
“That doesn’t sound like you actually want to pick her.” He leaned forward, his shoulder twitching. The light from our candles reflected in his eyes. “Sorry. That was blunt.”
“No, it’s okay. You’re not wrong.” I looked down at my hands. This was a truth I didn’t want to admit: there wasn’t anyone I wished were here.
“It can literally be anyone,” he added. “A friend. A pet. Your favorite musician. Since you won’t tell anyone, no one’s going to judge your choice. If you can’t decide, you could even pick more than one.”
My thoughts drifted through the people who’d shown up for me lately, and after a little while, they settled on the friends I had made here: Jason and Nicholas, the gay couple who owned the gas station. They were never more than a text away. I saw them every other week. Just thinking about them made my chest feel lighter.
“Okay. I’ve got someone,” I said, finally setting the candle on the table. I opened the matchbook, struck a match, and lit the wick. We both watched in silence as the flame steadied. “So that’s it?”
“That would be too easy, wouldn’t it?” His right eye blinked shut. “No, that was only step one. The next part’s the real kicker. At some point tonight, you have to blow the candle out again. It’s kind of like blowing out birthday candles. You get to make a wish,butitcan’tbe for yourself. You have to wish for something forsomeone elsewho’s here.”
“That’s such a nice idea.”
“Maybe. But before you do, you’re supposed to talk to everyone. And when I say everyone, I meaneveryone.” Heexhaled sharply, causing his candle to flicker. “So brace yourself for some intense small talk.”
“Oh, that’s why you said we’d have to talk tonight sooner or later.”
“Exactly.”
We took in the two candles burning between us. Everyone else’s chatter took over for a moment until Sebastian’s quiet chuckle made me look up.
“That doesn’t feel forced at all, does it?” he said.
