Page 6 of Undo Me

“Where? Where are we going?”

“It’s okay. She’s not a fan of airplanes, but she can handle all kinds of things other people can’t. And she believes in ghosts. Don’t you, Bethany?”

Her eyes narrowed. Where was Michelle going with this? “We’ve only had this conversation a few dozen times.”

“Why do you believe?”

Bethany shrugged. “Because ‘there are more things in heaven and earth’ et cetera. Honestly, I was always surprised you didn’t, growing up here the way you did. It’s hard to believe New Orleans isn’t full of spirits.”

Everyone was staring at her in surprise, and she bit her lip. “I believe in fairies, too, but don’t let that get around.”

The men chuckled at her weak attempt at humor and Michelle smiled, but it was strained. “I’d forgotten about your fairies.”

“I haven’t. I’m telling you, those pesky buggers steal my reading glasses all the time.”

Michelle laughed. “And then conveniently set them on your head when you aren’t paying attention?”

Bethany made a face and everyone laughed again. Not at her. With her. She realized she was actually enjoying herself. Maybe her anti-anxiety medication was still working. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d bantered with people who weren’t on the phone or on some online forum. And living, breathing, gorgeous men usually turned her into a mute with an eye tic.

Bethany felt another tug on her braid and pulled it over her shoulder protectively, looking around once more in confusion. “Is it ferrets? Gnomes? Seriously, something keeps tugging on my hair. Am I being hazed?”

“No,” Michelle said slowly. “You’re not being hazed, Bethany. You’re being haunted. Or let’s say, affectionately teased by the boy who lives in this house.”

No way.“You’re saying you have ghosts? You, Michelle Toussaint? The person who laughed at anything metaphysical and changed the channel every time I tried to watch—”

“Yes,” she interrupted, looking at the others as if embarrassed. “I was going through a phase for a few years.”

“Try over a decade,” Ben murmured.

Michelle ignored him. “And there aren’t ghosts, plural. Just the one. Emmanuel kind of came with the house, although he can leave whenever he wants. We didn’t see him again until a week after I moved in.”

Bethany stilled. “Again?”

Ben nodded. “Mimi and I used to play with him as children.”

“There’s a ghost behind my chair that Michelle used to play with as a child?”

Her friend winced. “I’ll explain everything later, but he’s the one who wants your attention now. I’ve never seen him smile like that. He’s glad you’re here.”

He was? And Michelle could see him? “I swore that was a cat. He’s a little short, isn’t he?”

The air blowing on Bethany’s back grew colder, and Michelle laughed.

“He’s sensitive about his height. Especially since we’ve gotten so much bigger, and he hasn’t. Emmanuel, give Bethany a second to catch up. She just got here.”

“Oh, hell.” But excitement tingled up her spine. “Now I’ll have to stay, won’t I? And you have a lot to fill me in on.”

“We need more wine.”

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