Page 21 of Ghost of a Chance
“I have no idea.I never looked through the book before he died,” he said.
“Well it’s not a lot, but I can start there.”
“By asking him about it?”He wasn’t sure that talking to Paul’s poltergeist was going to actually work.But she was the expert.
“Possibly.We’ll see how he feels about talking to me.”
* * *
It didn’t work.
They spent fifteen minutes filming in the living room.Kirsty did her best to “talk” to Paul while holding the book—nothing from her research was particularly clear on how talking to spirits even worked.Was she supposed to sound casual?Or use some kind of exaggerated fortune-teller voice?She ended up doing a mix of both, but nothing happened.
Gia left to go talk to someone about filming at the college library, and Jasper hovered in the doorway to the living room observing her failure.
This might be quicker than even she’d expected.One day in and she was close to being exposed as the fraud she was.“I need a break.I’m going to head into town and stop by the bookstore.”
“For research?”
“Uh…no,” she said sheepishly.“I have a new book out.Figured I’d go sign stock, clear my head a bit.”
“I’ll go with you,” he said.“It’ll give us a chance to talk.”
“About?”
He gave her a look, his eyes sharp and penetrating.“That night.”
She arched one eyebrow.“What about it?It was an almost one-night stand with a guy I met at a concert.As far as I’m concerned, that’s it.”
“Cool.Me too.But we’re going to be working together.Might be nice to clear the air or whatever you need to do.And not in front of Gia and Dan.”
“Fine,” she said, getting her black wool peacoat and putting it on.It was cold today thanks to the rain from earlier.She gave herself a once-over in the mirror near the front door, noticed her lipstick was wearing off and touched it up.Double-checking she had some bookmarks and pens in her bag, she heard Jasper call out to Dan that they’d be back later.
“If anything paranormal happens use your phone to film it.Use the highest quality settings and landscape, not portrait.”
“Will do,” Jasper said.At this rate, she’d almost welcome something paranormal happening if it meant saving her skin from complete humiliation.
“Ready to go?”Kirsty turned to see Jasper approaching her in the hall leading to the front door.He’d put on a UVM hoodie, different from what he was wearing earlier.
“Mind walking?”
They weren’t that far from the town center.Kirsty knew she thought better when she was moving.Lord knew she needed to think and figure out her next step with the book and Jasper.She ignored her own car and Jasper fell into step beside her.Seeing him in his college sweatshirt he looked younger than she thought.This might play a part as to why he was so attached to the book and needed it to be Paul.“How old are you?”
“Twenty-five.You?”
“Thirty.”Wow, younger than she guessed.She’d matured a lot when she hit twenty-eight.Sure she’d felt all adult at twenty-one but looking back she’d still basically been a kid.
“I knew you were young.How did you sell your first book?”
She shook her head.There was something about him that reminded her of his dog.He was eager and completely unaware of how she spent most of her life preferring to be left alone.“By submitting it.”
He drew to a halt.
“What?”
“Is this seriously how you’re going to be?”
“It’s a legit answer.”
