Page 91

Just. Just. Fuck, I hate that word. Hate it as much as should.

‘It wasn’t just anything. It was very important to me, and you didn’t show. You didn’t even have the common decency to tell me you weren’t going to show. You… embarrassed me.’

‘I was going to come⁠—’

I stop mid-step and face him, giving him all my undivided attention. ‘Then why didn’t you?’

Fine. He wanted me to hear him out, I would. Now. It wasn’t going to make a difference, but if this is what he needed to move on then fine.

Hot Face suddenly looks unsure of himself. ‘Well, I—um…’

I huff a laugh and shake my head. ‘You didn’t even come with an excuse?’ I start walking again. Hot Face tries to follow, but I shoot him a look that makes him stop in his tracks.

‘By the way, your pet gerbil’s an asshole!’ I call back over my shoulder.

‘Gerbil?’

‘How’s things with evil roommate / lover?’

Damn. I was hoping I’d have more time for internal contemplation before this subject was broached. Alas. The hellions wait for no man. Or woman.

‘I… I don’t know. How much of a life can I really have with a ghost?’

It’s been eighteen hours since… the event. And what an eighteen hours it has been. My head has been a non-stop rollercoaster of surprise, joy, uncertainty and a touch of existentialism since my love life took an unexpected turn in the deadish direction. Things between me and Walker have been… let’s call it heated. The way he’s been sneaking glances at me through the loungeroom window the past half hour has got me burning up like a furnace. However, time – as it usually does – has given me the opportunity for contemplation. Stars, damnit. I hate thinking things through.

‘Have you considered a pros and cons list?’

‘Girl, it was the first thing I did.’

‘Let’s hear it then,’ Delilah prompts and I pull out a folded sheet of paper from my back pocket.

‘Okay, pro: obviously number one is going to be the sex. It is safe to say that ghosts do not suffer from a lack of stamina. That guy can go and go and go and⁠—’

‘Please, say less.’ D stops me. Lav huffs and rolls her eyes. Fine.

‘Con: we’ve gotta trek all the way to the stupid fields every time we wanna do it properly. That is a lot of walking. You know your girl here ain’t exactly fit.’

‘Yeah, yeah – next.’

‘Um, pro: he can teleport. Con: sometimes spite teleports to jump-scare me when he’s moody.’

‘Anything else?’

‘Uhhh, yeah! Pro: won’t leave the toilet seat up.’ I click. That’s a good one. ‘Con: I don’t get to hold it.’

‘Stars, give me strength,’ Delilah mutters.

‘Honestly, I get the holding it thing.’ Lav points.

‘You two are mental. Is your entire list like this?’ Delilah asks.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Give it here.’ Delilah snatches the small paper sheet from my fist.

‘Fuck me, Miller.’ D throws up her hands and raises one perfectly plucked brow. ‘Walker liking your queefs is not a green flag.’

‘I beg to fucking differ.’