Page 99

“Says Billy Elliott, who was literally dancing around these London streets not two weeks ago. I think they’ll hold a funeral for you. The twinks will be weeping in the gutters.”

“Shut it.”

I tilted my head. “I’m lost. Did you use to dance, Ryan? You never told me.”

“Not anymore.” Noel wiggled his eyebrows. “He recently retired from the field, like I said. But I’m still twinkle-toed if you’d like to dance.”

“If you don’t want me to pluck you one hair at a time, stop,” Ryan growled to his friend, and I finally got it.

“Oh! Dancing is a euphemism.”

“It doesn’t have to stay one,” Noel purred. “If you want to make things more physical.”

“I will literally chop off your balls and strangle you with them, Noel!” Ryan said, holding a fist up at the screen while Noel smirked.

I waved my hands clearly, making a huge X sign. “I am currently involved with someone; I want to be very clear. I’m sorry if I accidentally flirted with you and made you think that I was interested. I am very much not interested. NOT BECAUSE YOU’RE UNATTRACTIVE! But also, I’m not saying that you are because I’m not flirting! But I’m also not lying. I—”

“Take a breath, love,” Ryan said, bypassing my block and grabbing my cheeks.

I inhaled deeply and the spots vanished slowly from my vision. “Thanks. I think I needed that.”

Ryan smiled and rubbed his thumbs over my nose and the apples of my cheeks. “To breathe? Yeah, kind of important. But it’s okay. You have me to remind you.”

“Ugh. I know a lost cause when I see one.” Noel sighed. “C’est la vie.”

Ryan glared at the screen again, dropping his grip on me. “Why can’t you stop talking, huh?”

“Someone needs to give you a push. Maybe some healthy competition will give you a kick up the arse to do what needs to be done.”

Ryan gave me a quick, slightly anxious look that I didn’t understand before glancing back at the screen. “Stop,” he snarled.

I smiled bemusedly as they started to bicker back and forth. It reminded me of Harri and Larri.

I tuned out their voices and stared at the home page of my new website. It was this gorgeous sepia colour, with distortions shimmering over it every few seconds like little phantoms. The letters would flicker in and out but the message was clear.

This place was for those who needed it.

If a ghost latched on to you, or an object around you, if you felt a presence that wouldn’t let go, if you knew a loved one was lingering and couldn’t find peace…we were there.

The package included a stay in our B&B with breakfast and dinner included, a helpful hand with getting the ghost to go where it was supposed to, an expert on site to keep everyone safe should something go wrong, and a scenic tour of the cliffs and caves, with a real-life pirate battle reenactment every night at midnight.

It looked inviting despite the spook factor. It felt right, despite all the things wrong with whoever needed it. I had a really good feeling about it.

I was about to melt in happiness when the website gave off a little ping.

The bickering stopped and we all looked.

One booking confirmed.

“OH MY GOD!” I screeched into Ryan’s face. “It’s working.”

“Your retreat ready?” he asked, smiling at me.

I nodded. “I think so?”

“Then let’s do this!”

The glow was undeniable this time.