“Sorry. Can’t help it.” My voice betrays me, cracking on the last part. So much for playing strong.
Her features contort in concern, and I bite my cheek, knowing whatever’s coming next will either make me sad or prickly. “Please call your doctor and get to the bottom of your medication.”
I lift my hand, moving a piece of hair that escaped her messybun behind her ear. A large part of me wishes I didn’t have to lie to Ava, but the mother in me whispers,It’s for the best. Nothing good could come from me convincing my teenage daughter that I’m being haunted.
“When did you become the parent in this relationship?”
She smirks. “If you want me to stop, start taking better care of yourself.”
I grimace at all the ways I’ve allowed myself to go downhill, and the fact that Ava’s noticed makes it even worse. My eyes lower to my slipper-clad feet and shabby gray pajama pants. It’s nearly eleven in the morning and I’m still not dressed, which is sadly not uncommon for me these days.
“I know, Aves. I’ll call Dr.Lara as soon as you pull away.”
She gives me a tight-lipped smile, searching my face for falsehoods. When she’s satisfied, she opens the driver’s side door and takes a seat behind the wheel. “I’ll call you when I get back to my dorm.”
“Did you grab your parking pass?” I ask, worrying at my bottom lip.
She hasn’t been allowed to take her car to school because I didn’t want her having an excuse to constantly come home. With the holidays approaching and a hefty amount of begging on Ava’s part, I gave in—with the stipulations that she doesn’t speed and doesn’t attempt another visit until the annual fall harvest festival.
“Got it. All set, Mom.”
I nod, shutting the door behind her.
With one last smile and a wave, she backs out and drives away.
Taking a deep breath, I make my way back to the house. I don’t stand around to torture myself any longer.
Once the front door is shut, I lock it, a habit I’ve always had. When I turn around, I screech, hands flying to my mouth.
Less than ten feet from me is Billy Garet, looking alive andwell, wearing the same gray hoodie from before. Yet one more sign that he might look alive, but he’s not.
My hands slide down my face in hopes that when my eyes open, he’ll be gone. Otherwise, I’m paying a visit to Corinne. Pronto.
“Oooo. Who’s this Corinne?”
The man’s voice has my eyes flying open.
“You’re supposed to be dead.” I lift my finger, pointing at him accusingly, completely ignoring the fact that he read my mind, because I didnotsay that out loud.
“No shit. Kinda guessed that a while back.”
“Stay away from me,” I say, back bumping into the door. “Go to the light.”
His eyes roll. “Haven’t we already been over this? Not gonna hurt you.” He wiggles his outstretched fingers like some deranged cheerleader doing spirit fingers.
“Why are you here? What do you want?” The words rush from my lips, anxiety building low in my belly.
He puckers his lips and looks around the room. “I can’t answer that. Haven’t uncovered why exactly I got stuck with you, of all people.” His eyebrows rise animatedly. “No offense, lady, but you’re not exactly living your best life.” His hands motion toward my getup.
My arms cross over my chest. “You’re in my house for the second time, so clearly something has you coming back.”
“I never really left,” he says, examining his fingers and sounding bored.
My head jerks back. “What do you mean you never really left?”
“Just what I said.” He shrugs one shoulder. “I made myself scarce because I could tell you were freaked out. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about women, it’s that you’ll get nothing from them when they’re freaked.”
“Y-you’ve been in my home this whole time?”
