Page 15 of Dream Girl

“How’d you know? You aren’t a paranormal investigator.” My foolish Amelia isn’t deterred from going to the store for fairy lights.

I would like to be more productive and buy things that are of necessity, and fairy lights are a bothersome useless thing.

“I was there when you cried,” I remember Amelia being so terrified in the first scene where the nun had appeared that she cried into my chest, and she continued to cry throughout the movie even after I had told her to turn it off.

Stubborn Amelia is more bullheaded than an egotistic and prideful man.

“It was a really scary movie, okay?”

Eddie intercepts with a helpful smile. “If you’re looking for the brightest, then Tanya-Ton’s Glow of Afterlife is the best in the line of fairy lights.”

“Really? How bright?” Amelia’s face turns into giddiness.

“Cleanse-your-soul bright.” Eddie seems too proud of his knowledge on fairy lights that it makes me question what the hell his home looks like during Christmas week.

I don’t have to be a betting man to know that I would win since his home would most likely, at least ninety-nine percent, the same as our home. We have a massive tree under red carpeting that she brought just for the tree and presents under the decorated tree.

She never forgets the star on the top to finish the decoration. Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without fairy lights around the house and mistletoes.

Amelia bounces on her heels. “Yes! That’s exactly what I want! All the lights I buy are the dying flames of the energy on my video games.”

“I understand totally! It wouldn’t be Christmas unless I can be a glowing snow angel in my own house.”

If Amelia can be brighter, people are going to call an ambulance to secure her from blinding them in the eyes.

“Finally, someone understands me!”

I grunt, scowling down at her happy face. “He doesn’t know you.”

“Hush, Milo. I like this new friend of yours. I’m Amelia!” She waves, and he waves back like a mirror to her actions.

These two are puppies. Playful and animated, and I don’t think I have the strength to keep up with them when Amelia makes my heart take in so many emotions at once.

Eddie doesn’t have that effect on me, but he’s got this robust momentum that could be tiring to deal with for a whole day. Though, he wouldn’t be bad to have around. He can keep up with Amelia and her liveliness.

A faint throb at my side starts again.

“Eddie here, a pleasure to meet you, fairy lady!”

“Pleasure’s mine, elf lord!” Amelia pointedly looks at the shirt he’s wearing with a picture of an elf.

This is completely out of order. They should be introducing themselves before they have a full fifteen-minute conversation as if no one else in the physical therapy group exists. None of them notices the abnormality of it. They are too busy in their chattering to witness the amusement across everyone’s faces.

“Amelia.” My voice works as a command to her body, and her mouth slams shut. Another throb at my right side pulses; the aching becomes worse when Eddie looks at me with his head tilting to the side.

“Oh, sorry, sorry!” She laughs, wrapping her arm around my side and gently caressing the scar on my skin over my shirt.

“We have to go before the store closes!” Amelia waves at Eddie as I take her to the door.

“Bye, see you later, guys!”

My head turns over my shoulder, watching Eddie wave his hand in the air passionately. The front door closes, and Amelia pulls out my coat from my gym bag to hand it to me.

“You’re going to get a cold!” she scolds, eyebrows drawing together disapprovingly as I slip on my jacket.

The cold hasn’t caught up with my mind yet as I’m too preoccupied with the tenderness on my scar. It has been healed for years, but the phantom pain lingers keenly.

“Are you okay?” she asks, more quietly now as we walk down the street.

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