Page 25 of Warmer, Colder

Navigating through the Murphy house is like riding a bike. It’s been many years since I’ve been here, the pictures on the walls are different, and the furniture is updated, but I could walk these halls with my eyes closed. Within a minute, I’m standing outside Becca’s cracked bedroom door.

I’m about to shove it open when my eyes catch on the strand of butterfly charms that hang from the handle. The little bells might be a bit rusty, and the beads have faded over the years, but there’s no mistaking the gift I’d bought her on one of my family trips over a decade ago. Before I can think better of it, I reach for it, the metallic tinkling ruins the element of surprise.

“What the hell was that?” A man’s voice grunts from inside.

Becca lets out a long sigh that covers her footsteps, so when she pulls the door open, I let out a gasp of surprise. But she doesn’t notice, she looks through me, down the hall searching for the source of the sound.

I guess being dead isn’t all that different—I’m still invisible to her. Using that to my advantage, I slip past her before she shuts the door behind her. In my haste, I don’t chance a look aroundand find myself running right through Nate who’s hovering around the door.

A full-body shiver courses through both of us for very different reasons. There isn’t time to fully process the fear and loathing that seeing him stirs up, because he’s crowding her, forcing her back up against the door, and despite everything that’s transpired, my instincts are rioting within me to keep him away from her. My first thought is toprotect herof all things.

I reject the impulse and remain where I am. This isn’t my problem anymore; they made sure of that when they put me in the ground.

“I promise; I didn’t do anything,” Becca resumes their conversation. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Nate.” She tugs at the jewelry that adorns her left ear.

“You’re telling me that you didn’t send all that shit to the dean? You really expect me to believe that you’re not the one trying to get the fraternity disbanded.” He towers over her. “Who’d have a better reason than you?”

I bark a laugh.Could this be some tiny taste of justice?He thought killing me would save his ass, but maybe my goddess didn’t abandon me after all. If she’s turned her vengeance on him on my behalf, his life is falling into chaos. Aphrodite doesn’t take kindly to people mistreating her devotees, and nobody is more deserving than him.

“It wasn’t me.” Her words are jittery with the nervousness that’s vibrating through her. You have to believe me,” she insists. Her fists ball into his shirt and my stomach turns with the potency of her desperation. “You have far more incriminating evidence on me. Why would I risk pissing you off?”

Everything is silent and still for several seconds, all the swirling emotions cloying the air.

A bitter laugh breaks the eerie quietness, but it only puts her more on edge. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. It was your little fucking girlfriend wasn’t it?”

“My—” realization flashes across Becca’s face and she pales even further. “She wasn’t my girlfriend. I barely even knew her. Why would she do this?”

“Wouldn’t she?” Nate finally gives her some space to breathe, turning his back to her as he paces. “You can’t really be that fucking oblivious, can you?” He casts a withering look over his shoulder.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Haven’t you wondered at all why she was here in the first place?” He takes a step back in her direction. “She was in my back seat waiting for me when I left.”

Becca’s brows tense with confusion. He takes another step forward.

“That bitch held a knife to my throat; she was ready to spill my blood for you.”

Her mouth opens and closes, words evading her completely.

“She was here for you under the pretense of protecting you, but make no mistake, she was intent on having you to herself.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. Nothing was going on between us.” She pleads her case.

Nate doesn’t respond right away; he peers down at her daring her to lie. “For your sake, you better be telling the fucking truth.”

“You have to believe me. Whatever she did or didn’t do has nothing to do with me.”

“I guess we’ll see.” With one more look at her, he storms out.

He might be done with her for now, but I’m not done with him. I want that motherfucker to pay. Being dead limits my options, but if the movies taught me anything, it’s that you shouldn’t underestimate a vengeful ghost.

Taking off after him, I chase him through the yard. He doesn’t even suspect me coming as I gain ground on him. Just a few more feet to go, and then his ass is mine. I can almost taste the satisfaction of a bit of revenge when I reach the curb, but as I go to step off, he’s ripped out of my line of sight.

In a disorienting flurry of confusion, I find myself reeling in Becca’s backyard.

What the actual fuck was that?

I race back to the front yard, but as soon as I round the corner of the house, I can tell his car’s gone. Still, I’m determined to pursue him down the street.I won’t go quietlyinto the silent night of death.

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