Page 10 of Ghostlighted
I nodded. “He’s over by the windows. He was standing a little behind me when you pulled up and he’s still there.”
I cut a glance over my shoulder at him and mouthedasshole. Avi just chuckled, shaking his head.
Ricky pulled his lower lip between his teeth. “I’m not sure, but IthinkI may have caught a glimpse of him.”
Avi was by my side as though he’d teleported. “He saw me? So maybe other people could see me?”
“Avi is… really excited by that possibility.” I jerked a thumb at where Avi stood at my shoulder. “He moved.”
“Can he see me now?” Avi’s voice was trembling as he edged forward. “Does he know I’m standing right in front of him?”
“He, um, wants to know if you can still see him.”
“Sorry.” Ricky spread his hands, one of which passed through Avi’s cardigan sleeve. “Nada.”
Avi seemed to deflate. “I suppose it was too much to ask.”
“What exactly did you see?” I asked Ricky.
“I thought I saw someone next to you, but it was just a hint, like a reflection, but on the other side of the window?” He grimaced. “I didn’t mean to get anybody’s hopes up.”
“Hey, it’s still a possibility. Something to consider.” I picked Gil up so he could bump his nose against Avi’s shoulder, which had seemed to fade a little after his disappointment. “Although if I were you, I wouldn’t mention it to Saul or Patrice yet. They might camp out on my lawn just on the off chance of a repeat sighting.”
Ricky laughed and Avi managed a somewhat watery chuckle. “You’re probably right.” He clapped his hands and rubbed his palms together. “So. Are you ready for our gardening adventure?”
I spread my arms, putting my much-maligned outfit on display. “As you see.” I shot Avi a glance. He was gazing at Gil, and although he was stroking the cat’s head, he still looked dejected. Almost… forlorn. “Although Avi’s been giving me grief today about my wardrobe.”
Ricky’s brows rose. “Why?”
“He seems to think I don’t dress well enough to?—”
“Woo him,” Avi murmured.
I cleared my throat. “That I don’t dress well.”
“You’re dressed fine for gardening.”
I jabbed a finger in Avi’s direction. “Exactly. Besides, I don’t have the money for new clothes.”
Ricky huffed a laugh. “Don’t feel pressured to adopt a style you don’t feel suits you, but if you wanted new clothes, you have more than enough to beef up your wardrobe.”
“I don’t want to waste my resources unnecessarily. Saul pays me well and I’ve gotten some decent-paying gigs through Ghostline, but I’m not exactly rolling in the dough.”
“You could roll in it if you wanted,” Avi said. “You’re just being stubborn.”
“Itoldyou,” I said through gritted teeth. “That’syourmoney. Not mine.”
Ricky reached out to pet Gil, who, from the sound of his purr, deeply appreciated getting attention from three people at once. “I’m guessing Avi just told you to use the money you legitimately inherited.”
“I sense a certain double standard here.” I pinged my narrow-eyed gaze from Avi to Ricky. “You want me to take money for something I had absolutely no hand in earning, spend it on luxuries like new clothes and a car, yet you refuse to accept a penny for an entire decade of actual, physical labor.”
“A car?” Ricky’s expression wouldn’t have been out of place on a teenager unwrapping the latest gaming system on Christmas morning. “You’re getting a new car?”
“That’syour takeaway?” I threw up my hands. “I give up.”
He hit me with pure puppy-dog eyes. “Does that mean youaregetting a new car?”
“No, I am not getting a new car, despite Avi and Taryn nagging me about it.”
