Page 59 of Ghost of a Chance
“We playedStar Wars Battlefrontand watchedGame of Thrones.”
“Did the series finish before he died?Maybe we should put it on for him,” Kirsty suggested.They were really running out of ideas.
“No, he saw it all.But he hasn’t seenHouse of Dragons.Want to sit up here and watch it with us?”That was really reaching.“I tried watching the first episode but it made me miss Paul, so I shut it off and went out instead.”
“I’m here now,” she said, taking his hand.“I’ve never really watchedGameof Thrones.I was waiting until the entire series was finished.My mom and I like to binge a bunch of seasons over the weekends.But that last season had so much controversy—”
“Yeah.It was nuts.I still like the early seasons.It’s got lots of stuff I think you’d like,” he said.
“Like what?”
“Snow zombies.”
“Ghosts aren’t zombies, you know.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.But they’re still paranormal.This new series is a stand alone.So?”
“Let’s do this.”Plopping down next to him on the couch, she patted the space next to her and Chewie jumped up, curling next to her.He draped his arm over her shoulder and pulled her close.They might not be any closer to their goal, but at least he wasn’t spending tonight alone.
* * *
Kirsty’s mom would be giving her so much shit if she knew she was watching this show.The same show she’d dissed when it first came out.
She was going to eat her words, because the show was good and addicting.Enjoying the steady warmth of Jasper’s body didn’t hurt, either.
Paul’s poltergeist self didn’t do anything as they watched the entire first two episodes.As the next cued up, her phone pinged thanks to her bedtime reminder.Nearly 2:00 a.m.
“What’d you think?”Jasper asked, standing up and stretching.
His shirt rode up and a patch of toned, tanned skin poked through, making it impossible for her to do anything.
“Kirst?”
“Yeah?”
“Want to watch another one after I take Chewie out to pee?”
As reluctant as she was to go in too deep, the genuine look in Jasper’s eyes made her melt.“Maybe.”
He arched both eyebrows at her.“Want to do something else?”
They were down here alone… “Make out on the couch?”
“That works,” he said, snapping his fingers.Chewie jumped off the couch and followed him out the door.“I’ll be right back.”
He practically ran from the room.With how hot and heavy things got earlier in the day, his reaction didn’t surprise her.
She turned off the TV and lit a fire in the fireplace.Not wanting to take any chances, she took the textbook into the kitchen.With her luck, Paul would finally show up again just to interrupt.
Jasper came back in and ordered Chewie to go to bed.The dog obediently left the living room and padded up to Jasper’s room.“Where is he going?”
“His dog bed.I put it in my room when we got here.”
Now that he was back inside, it wasn’t awkward exactly, but it wasn’t totally comfortable either.He didn’t know that he was the first man she was risking more than a one-night stand with since she had her heart broken.
What a dumb saying, heartbroken.Buck didn’t deserve to be the man who broke her heart.He broke the girl she used to be, made it so she’d never be the same.She’d never realized how vulnerable being fearless and impulsive left her.
“Kirst.Woman, that look on your face… I’m tempted to drag you outside.There’s a full moon and some mist in the air.We might as well howl and let loose like werewolves,” he said.
