I closed my eyes and pictured what I’d seen the night before. “They’ve steadily felt more real, but last night went to a whole new level. I was in this monstrosity of a house, and there was this guy there.” My eyes popped open, and I turned toward my friend. “It was like I could reach out and touch him if I wanted.”
“How is that different than before?”
How could I explain something I didn’t understand? “In the past, it always felt like I was hovering right above the things I saw. Like I was seeing things through some kind of magical looking glass.” I ran my hand over the top of my head. “Now they feel as real as you and me sitting here. Like I could easily become trapped in the dream and part of its scenery.”
Jetty frowned. “Kingston, that sounds more like a nightmare.”
“It’s starting to feel that way,” I whispered.
Did I confess that I was pretty sure I saw shadowy figures just beyond the guy in my dream? That a grey-scape of ghostly apparitions had been hovering, watching every move he made? But that couldn’t be real, right?
I wasn’t like Chance. I didn’t have the ability to see spirits on my own. The only reason I saw them at Willowhope Manor was because the property was on ley lines and belonged to Chance, a medium, and those of us close to him were able to link up and see and interact with the same entities he did.
Jetty scrubbed a hand down over his face. “I don’t like this. I think you should speak with Elyse.”
Marc, Chance’s father, had suggested the same thing multiple times. While his wife had never experienced what I did in her sleep, she was more knowledgeable about things beyondwhat the natural world considered normal than anyone else I’d ever met.
As of yet, I hadn’t worked up the courage. I preferred living with the illusion that she might be able to help me than to find out that she was as clueless as I was. What I’d always considered a gift was starting to feel like a burden, and I worried about the long-term ramifications for my mind.
The kaa of a bird startled me from my thoughts, and Jetty jumped next to me. Two low-flying ravens swept by in front of us. “Well, that’s not ominous as fuck,” Jetty muttered.
Wasn’t that the truth? I blew out a shaky breath. “Maybe we should change the subject. How’s business?”
He studied my face for a moment, and I prayed that he’d let the subject of my dreams go. I’d hoped speaking with him would lessen my stress, but seeing his concern only made it worse. Finally, he nodded.
“It’s booming. Ego closed on his property yesterday, and Skylar will pick him up at the train station tomorrow morning. It’s going to be the biggest project I’ve ever had, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Ugh—Ego. Like all of this nighttime crap wasn’t enough, I’d been trying desperately to shove thoughts of the famous popstar to the back of my mind.
“What are you making that face for?” Jetty asked curiously.
Doing my best to school my expression, I forced a grin that felt more like a grimace. “What face? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
The corner of Jetty’s lips twitched. “Are you sure? You’re not jealous or anything, right?”
I jumped up and began pacing. “Jealous,” I scoffed. “No way. I’m really happy for you and Skylar. This sounds like an incredible opportunity. I mean, come on. It’ll be awesome for Skylar to work day after day with a rich, hot, famous person. Imean, I’m sure, Ego will stick around for a while, right? His tour doesn’t start for another couple of months.”
Jetty barked out a laugh. “His tour, huh?” He continued chuckling. “When we talked about him two days ago, you’d never even heard of him, and now you know his tour schedule. Interesting that you’re not mentioning that I’ll be there, too. Nope. Just Skylar. No. You’re definitely not jealous at all.”
My face heated at what I’d accidentally admitted. Looking Ego up online wasn’t that big a deal. It didn’t mean anything. Hell, I researched for a living. “Why would I be jealous? I’m sure he’s not in the market for a best friend.” Who cared that he was pansexual and newly single? That didn’t have anything to do with me.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure you’re safe when it comes to me. But Skylar…” He whistled. “Your boy is a looker.”
“He’s not my anything,” I muttered, turning back toward the path we’d followed in. “Let’s head back to the truck before it gets dark.”
Jetty caught up, clasping my shoulder as he walked beside me. “He could be,” he said softly.
“I’m not his type.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that. The real question is, is he yours?”
Ignoring him, I trudged back to the vehicle with my mind a swirling vortex. Everything felt like it was changing at once. It had taken me weeks to believe that the happy-go-lucky Skylar seemed to enjoy my company. Now, if Buck was to be believed, and Jetty’s little hints were true, maybe all of Skylar’s little touches and constant text messages meant something. Did I want them to?
Of course I did. I wasn’t blind. Not to Skylar’s beauty or to how his insides shone even brighter than his outsides. He was everything that I’d ever want in a partner. But…but we weren’ta good fit. I was too introverted, too caught up in whatever happened once I closed my eyes for the night.
Then there was Gran. I loved that old gal more than myself, but she was basically a shut-in. She needed me. I wouldn’t saddle Skylar with my issuesandhers. So no. It didn’t matter how I felt or what I wanted. The best thing for him was for our friendship to remain exactly as is.
Unless Ego’s presence changed that. How could I blame Skylar if he preferred the other man’s company? From all the videos of the popstar I’d found online, he was the life of the party—fun, flirty, and playful. That was the type of person Skylar needed in his life. Who knew? Maybe having Ego around would help Skylar see that he was too big, too perfect, for the little town of Willowhope.
