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How are you feeling?

It never fails to amaze me how much energy it takes to heal after being tattooed.

Tired.

Casper

It was a long session today, you did great. Any pain?

A bit sore, I took ibuprofen earlier.

Casper

Good girl.

I blink a few times at his message, then lock the phone and let it drop on the mattress beside me.

“It’s two words. Stop ovulating, you absolute idiot.”

I ignore his compound-praise grenade and drag myself out of bed to make dinner.

After shuffling to the kitchen, I stare at the food in the fridge. It’s right there, prepped and ready to be eaten. I pick up the container of casserole I’ve eaten so many times over the last couple years. It’s part of the rotation. However . . . tonight I don’t want to eat casserole.

A smile grows on my lips and I stuff the prepared meal back in the fridge.

I’m going to order a pizza.

A storm rages outside while we’re texting only a few feet apart—but Anna doesn’t realize that. I never thought it would be so entertaining to skirt that line of flirting and friendship, but perhaps that’s because I have the privilege of watching her every reaction in real time via the secret window I installed.

A loud crack shakes the house at the same time a bright light fills the space, nearly blinding me; Anna screams and then everything goes dark, which means my show is over. I can only see her if there’s light on her side. She must have really been startled by that lightning because I can hear her scramble off the bed and slam the pocket doors. Then it’s silent. Did she leave her bedroom?

My phone lights up, but this time she’s calling me, not texting. As quickly and quietly as I can, I rush toward the far end of the hall and slip into the room with all the shelves. I answer it on the third ring.

“Funny, I was just thinking about⁠—”

“Casper!” she gasps. “I saw it! I saw the ghost!”

I chuckle. “What?”

Her voice shakes. “I was sitting on my bed, right? And then there was this huge lightning flash and—and—and I glanced up and saw the silhouette of a person in my mirror—a shadow person!”

I freeze. Fuck. It was bright enough to shine through and give away my hiding spot. Great, now I’ve freaked her out. “Where are you now?” I ask, needing to confirm her location.

“I’m in the living room. I’m never going back there!”

That statement makes me roll my eyes. She will if she ever wants to use the bathroom again.

I hustle back to the mirror and replace the block of wood so no light can shine through it the next time lightning strikes nearby.

“Hang on a sec,” she says. “I’m putting you on speaker . . . Okay.”

“What are you wearing?” I ask.

“What?” she snips. “Pajamas.”

“I’m asking the ghost, not you.”

“You’re the worst.” It sounds like she’s rifling through a drawer. “Ugh, I can’t find my matches. Wait—” A moment later I hear the snap as she strikes one. “Found them.”