Page 25 of Baking With A Ghost

"What happens when it's bad?"

Mike brushes the crumbs from his hands. "Well, when it goes bad, and I mean really bad, usually one of you leaves."

"One of us? Wouldn't he leave?"

Mike snorts. "Not always. If things go pear shaped sometimes the ghosts get angry and, well, you leave."

My mouth goes dry. As I replay my interactions with Simon, I couldn't possibly see him being mean to me. He's so… nice.

"So it's like ‘good ghost gone bad’ or something like that?"

He stares at me, his blue eyes turning icy. "John, you need to understand a few things. These spirits are sometimes disgruntled, for lack of a better word. Even when they appear friendly, if you can't help or are unwilling to help, they do the only thing they can." He pauses to sip his coffee as I hang on his words. "They get angry because they're still stuck where they don't want to be."

Inhaling a sharp breath, I lean back, clutching my latte so hard it's a miracle the mug doesn't shatter. Would Simon ever be mean to me? He's so thoughtful, this seems like such an unfathomable thing to wrap my head around, him turning on me. But what the hell do I know about spirits and ghosts and all this mumbo jumbo shit? He did make that branch fall on Carl's car though, but that was for me, not at me.

"Your whole attitude just shifted. What are you thinking about?"

"Well… " I sip my drink, more to calm my racing thoughts than to enjoy it. "I just can't see Simon doing anything bad, you know? And, I get this is so weird, but… I think we already get along. I don't think me being able to see him finally would change anything for the bad. I really want to see the guy who makes me happy."

Mike's eyebrow raises in question. "Makes you happy? How?"

"Shouldn't Simon be telling you all this stuff? Aren't you the ghost whisperer?"

I know I can trust him with what's happened, but…. I can feel my neck heating just thinking about saying the words out loud.

He snorts. "Ghost whisperer. That's all you got? I've heard that too many times. They only tell me what they want to, just like you. I'm not their new bestie talking about boys on the phone and playing with my hair."

"Sorry, that was rude. I'm just… fuck, I don't know what I am, except confused, because I want to meet a ghost who I really, really like. Which sounds so stupid, but he does things for me Mike. Little things that add up to be something big. He folds the laundry when I'm at work. Sometimes he sets up the mixers and ingredients for me before I get down to the bakery and he makes suggestions for this loaf of bread I'm trying to perfect. And… he made me soup when I was sick."

Mike listens intently, with no trace of judgement, so I decide to spew more.

"He's there for me, but it’s frustrating because I can't touch him when he touches me. He's been, ah, with me physically and I really want to see him, Mike. It's like a blind date to the extreme and it doesn't matter what he looks like, I already know I like him. And I know I saw his photo but… that's different. I want to see and talk to this guy and it's frustrating as hell I can't just pick up a phone or send an email and I have to call some kind of, I don't even know what you call yourself."

He nods, like all this is completely normal. "Oh, ghost whisperer, actually. Seems to be a title most people can relate to." He grins when I glare at him. "I was just yanking your chain earlier, sometimes it's fun." He shrugs. "Sometimes I'm an ass… what can you do?"

I shake my head and laugh as he drinks his coffee.

"I'm all in knots over liking a ghost and you're just yukking it up over there."

"Hey, I'm sorry. I wasn't making fun, I just wanted to put you at ease, John. It's a good sign when a restless spirit behaves like Simon is. But I must tell you the bad stuff. I wouldn't be doing a good job if I didn't tell you everything." He pauses again, and this time it's me watching the thoughts cross his face.

"Why did you stop talking? You went off to your own world there."

He puffs out a long breath and studies me. "I get good vibes from you John, I think you're in the right state of mind. I get that this is all crazy to you, but you're taking it well. Who else have you talked to? About the ghost stuff?"

"My best friend, Ivy. I had to talk to someone, and you know what? She thinks she met a spirit guy or something before, so she was incredibly supportive and didn't rush out to assess my mental state."

"You might want to keep it to yourself from now on. Not many people believe in the whole ghost thing and I’d hate for anyone to get on your case about it.”

"Well, I won't make it a habit of going off and telling complete strangers I have feelings for a non physical entity I'm about to summon into my world. So, no worries on that one."

Mike stands to leave. "So if Saturday is good, I'll be by around 9 P.M."

"Yes, that's perfect. Do I need to do anything to prepare at all? Make a cheese board? Have a bottle of wine?"

A nervous chuckle escapes as he claps me on the shoulder.

"Relax. Just be there and once I arrive, we'll work it all out. I also can't eat cheese." He laughs again at my embarrassment. "Enjoy your week."

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