Me and My Ghoulfriends (33 page)

I was afraid to ask who
they
were.

I nodded. “Sure, I understand completely. Thanks again for everything.”

“We’ll talk soon.” She reached over and hugged me lightly.

“Bye.” I said, as I hugged her back.

I wasn’t sure what she wanted to talk about, other than maybe witchcraft. However, maybe she was just being friendly. I shouldn’t read too much into every word someone said.

Later that morning, I had just finished stacking the new-releases display when Mindy bounced through the door. She was in her usual workout attire, which thankfully didn’t include pasties. Just a Juicy Couture set.

“How are you feeling on this glorious morning?” she said as she plopped down on the leather chair. She’d better not ask me to join another class.

“No,” I barked, turning toward the counter.

“What? I just asked how you were this morning,” she said coyly. Showing me her innocent doe-eyed look.

I eyed her suspiciously. “And you expect me to believe that?”

She jiggled her head up and down. “Yes, I do.”

“I know what this is about, and the answer is no. Capital N. Capital O.”

“How do you know? You don’t know me like you think you do. I’m a very complex person.”

“After all these years, I do know you. I can read you like a book,” I said, and then giggled as I set down the book I was holding.

“One more time?”

“You keep saying that. And then bam, you ask again, and the next thing I know I’m twirling on a pole, bruising the heck out of my butt. Not to mention the other areas I didn’t know that even possessed muscles.”

She twisted her blond curls around her finger and stared at me. Contemplating what I’d just said. After a minute in thought, she said, “You enjoyed yourself, admit it.”

I hesitated, and then said, “I guess it was a little fun. But incredibly embarrassing.”

“It’s not that embarrassing. You’re just being overly dramatic. No one even sees you.”

“Sure they do! I mean, did you have to rent a building with windows for walls?” I studied her. “I’ll think about it, all right?”

“Okay, I’ll take that,” Mindy chirped. She sat her purse down next to her and glanced around. “Wait a minute.” She held out her hands in a ‘stop’ position. “I just noticed something. Why aren’t you talking to thin air?” Mindy laughed.

“They’re gone.” I smiled.

“Gone? As in not here anymore?”

“Yes, as in not here anymore.”

“What happened?”

“After I broke the spell, I guess they were ready to go.” I shrugged. “I don’t think that was the reason they stuck around in the first place, but I guess after a while they realized they’d be better off if they left, once they knew Callahan was all right.”

“I’m shocked. I mean, that’s great.”

“Yeah, it’s weird to have them gone. As soon as things were good with me again, poof they were gone. Maybe that really was what they wanted all along, except for Mrs. Williams of course. That old hen wasn’t going anywhere until I finally talked to her husband.”

“So you talked to him?”

“Yes, finally I talked to him.”

“What did he say?”

“Well, of course, at first, he thought I was crazy. If I were in his position I’d probably feel the same way. He was somewhat angry with me. I thought he might throw me off his front porch, but then his wife had me tell him something that only the two of them knew. So I think he believed me after that. I’m just glad it’s all over with. She was a real pain in the ass. I was worried I might lose all of my customers because of her. I do miss having someone to chat with, though.” I felt my stomach twist with a sadness I hadn’t expected to pop up.

“So have you talked to
him
yet?”

I took a deep breath before I spoke. “No. I watched when Karyn came for Brianna, but Callahan was nowhere in sight. He hasn’t opened his shop yet today, either.”

“I hope he’s all right.”

“Me too. Maybe he decided to get the heck out of this crazy town.”

“I wouldn’t blame him if he did. So, tell me every tiny detail of what happened when they came for Brianna. I would have given anything to be here when it went down.”

“Well…”

The bell chimed, echoing the slight tinkle sound throughout the building. I couldn’t see who’d entered from where I stood, so I glanced over at Mindy for an answer.

She just smiled warmly at me and said, “Speak of the devil. I’ll see you later.”

I shot her a confused look. Surely she didn’t mean Brianna was there.

Mindy reached for her purse, stood, waved goodbye and then turned toward the door to leave.

“Hi.” I heard the husky voice, and I hurriedly popped my head around the corner.

“Thank you for everything. I don’t know what I would have done without you.” Callahan said. He was standing there with that amazing smile that I hadn’t seen for quite some time. It was the smile that had been there the first day I’d met him, and again on the three dates we’d so happily shared.

In that moment, I knew he was back. Returned from whatever strange world Brianna had sent him to. The bizarre look in his eyes had disappeared and the sparkle that had so easily radiated from him had replaced it.

He stood close to a display table with his hands shoved in his jeans pockets. His smile eased into a shy grin.

“Oh, hi.” I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. I was embarrassed. I’d gone through a lot for the guy, and I really couldn’t explain why. Other than I felt I was doing the right thing, somehow saving him from a miserable life with Brianna.

“Can we start over? Pretend this never happened?” he said, gazing down at the floor.

I could tell he was embarrassed.

“You know, I don’t think we have to pretend it never happened. It was a lesson learned, that’s all.”

I moved from around the counter and walked closer to him.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’ll know not to drink something anyone gives me without asking if it’s a love spell first.”

I laughed. “So you know what happened to you then?”

“Yes, I spoke with Karyn. I woke up from it last night, and I felt as if I’d been asleep for days. I don’t remember much of what happened.”

“You’re lucky you don’t remember,” I smiled.

“How about dinner tonight?”

I couldn’t stop myself from giving him a huge smile. I really didn’t care if my feelings for him were obvious. What harm could come from just being myself? But then, I also knew that being myself in front of him meant I’d have to tell him about the dead people, too.

I wouldn’t know how to begin to tell him, though. When was the right time to tell someone that you talk to dead people?

“I’d love to have dinner with you.”

A new start, a new chance for us. I didn’t know what it would bring, but I was glad I had the opportunity to find out without any evil standing in the way.

*

My doorbell rang and I took in a deep breath. I stole one last glance at the mirror, checked my teeth for lipstick and headed for the front door. Callahan was standing there, looking as handsome as ever, wearing his jeans and casual button-down shirt. His hair tousled in all the right places.

As I stepped out onto the sidewalk and we walked toward the driveway, I noticed Callahan’s in-need-of-a-wash car. There was an elderly man in the backseat. The thing was, though… he was dead. Fortunately, I realized right away he wasn’t living, because I could see the other side of the car right through him. As Callahan hurried me to his car I knew that he had no idea someone was sitting back there.

I looked at the spry-looking man and he immediately tipped his fedora at me and said, “The name’s Seth Weiss. I’m Callahan’s grandfather.”

He was so lively I wondered how could he possibly be dead—I bet he’d put up a fight before he left this world. Seth eyed me up and down, and then let out a low whistle.

Finally he said, “You sure are a pretty young thing.”

I bit my lip and tried to keep from chuckling.

Callahan had no clue we had a chaperone for our date.

I slipped into his car, resisting the urge to write
wash me
in the dirt on the side with my finger. When Callahan jumped in, I could feel the energy that zinged between us.

Seth said, “You two make a great couple.”

As I shot a side glance back to Seth and he winked, I knew then that it was going to be one heck of a date.

Callahan steered through the streets, glancing over at me every few seconds with an eager grin on his face.

“How are you? I mean how does it feel to be a zombie?” I asked with a chuckle.

He laughed. “Strange. Feeling like a zombie feels very strange. I’m great now, though. No more zombie.” He looked at me, but he had a more impish gleam in his eyes that made my stomach dance.

As we neared the restaurant Callahan slowed, pulled his car into the parking lot and then turned off the ignition.

He reached for his door, looked at me and said, “Stay right there. I’ll open the door for you.”

Before he could open his door my phone rang loudly, and I knew instantly that meant trouble. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but somehow I did. The caller id displayed a number I knew well, and I knew they would only call me if it were an absolute emergency.

My throat tightened and I said nervously, “I’m so sorry. Do you mind if I take this call? I’ll only be a second.”

“No, please take it. It doesn’t bother me.” He smiled.

Flipping open my phone anxiously, I said, “Hello?”

“Larue,” gasped the voice on the other end. “We need you to come help us, now!”

I wondered if Callahan could hear the voice booming through my phone.