Page 9 of Ghostlighted
He lifted an eyebrow. “A thing? What kind of thing?”
“The kind of thing where my conflict avoidance kicks in and makes me want to barricade myself in a blanket fort to stress-eat Sofia’s tres leches cake.”
“While I would take any excuse to gobble up Sofia’s cake, would you care to be more specific about the conflict in question?”
“Specifically, the conflict with my ex.” I sank down the onto window seat, drew one knee up and clasped my hands around my shin. “In order to get the rest of my belongings—not that there are many of them, mind you—I have to face Greg again. The boxes are all in his condo.”
“Ah.” He shoved his hands in his cardigan pockets, making the front hem dip, and shrugged. “I’d offer to accompany you when you confront him, except for one tiny issue.”
“You can’t leave the house.”
His eyebrows rose, his eyes widening in exaggerated shock. “I’d forgotten about that.”
“There’s another problem?”
“Yes.” He smirked at me. “Can’t you guess?”
I shook my head, rolling my eyes. “I know I’m going to regret this. What?”
“Because I wouldn’t be caught dead in your car.”
I turned away as he snickered. “Are all ghosts smartasses, or is that just you?”
“If we ever find another one, we can ask.”
I caught a glimpse of chrome and shiny gray paint beyond the maple leaves.Ricky.
Avi stood behind my shoulder as Ricky got out of his truck. “I have vague recollections of hearing a lawn mower and seeing him weeding the flower beds. But I don’t know if that’s from before or since.” He smiled wanly as Ricky got out of the truck and headed up the walk. “He took care of the lawn back then too, you see, so maybe I’m remembering those times instead.”
I thought about this as Ricky neared the porch. He caught sight of me in the window and he lifted one hand in greeting, his smile dawning, which sent its usual thrill down my spine.
Ricky’s smile was deadly.
He paused for a moment, his smile fading, then shook his head and mounted the steps.
“You said you promised Oren to wait here, in the house. Maybe you needed somebody tobein the house before you could, er, manifest. Nobody had been inside since Saul locked everything down after the funeral.”
Avi shrugged again. “I must have been able to dosomething.” He gestured to the room. “No dust.”
“Right. And sawdust in the keyholes.”
The door opened and Ricky called, “Maz?”
“Come on in. We’re in the library.”
I turned to meet him, but Gil beat me to it, greeting Ricky with an imperativemrrowat the library’s open french doors. He leaned down to skritch Gil between the ears.
“Hey, Gil.”
He stood when I reached the edge of the rug.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey,” he replied.
My smile must have been absolutely ludicrous because behind me, Avi snorted and muttered something that sounded suspiciously likeglaciers.
Ricky peered over my shoulder. “Is, um, Avi here?”
