Page 65 of Ghost of a Chance
“I bet you’re better than you think,” he said.
“Doubt it.Obviously you’re great at them, right?”
He shrugged, and she immediately resettled on his shoulder.“I’m alright.It’s not really about being good for me.After working at the studio all day and in my office I need to move.Otherwise I get cranky.I run and work out at the gym.Sometimes I play basketball in a league with some other shows that shoot in the Chicago area.”
Physical exercise really kept his mind clear, helping with his mental health on days when he battled being overwhelmed.He liked being outside and around other people but with his job and Paul sometimes he wanted to hide away.
“I walk.Somedays the words aren’t flowing.And you might not know this about me, but I’m stubborn.”
“What?Really?I’d never have—”
“Enough,” she said, mock-punching him.
“How does that play into your writing?”he asked.He enjoyed hearing her share her writing process.There was no way he could do anything creative.She looked so excited to talk about her process.
“I just make myself sit there while the timer is on… I write in twenty-five-minute sprints.And then finally I admit it’s not working and go for a walk.There’s something almost magical about moving your body.”
“Especially when I move mine with yours,” he said.
She gave him a disappointed look, sticking her tongue out at him.“I was being serious.”
He had been too.Magic was the best way to describe it.
“So you walk and then things sort themselves out?”he asked.
“Yeah.It’s like once I’m outside all of the parameters I’d been putting on my story are gone.I might see someone’s dog being naughty and running away from them or kids tossing a ball and bam!Different things spark ideas.”
“That’s funny.I never notice people when I’m running, other than as an obstacle I’m going to have to navigate around.”His head was clear when he was out which was nice since he was always overthinking everything.
“Makes sense, you’re out there for a different reason.I’m just trying to refill the well and force my mind into finding some new pathways,” she said around a yawn.
“Getting sleepy?”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to head up yet,” she said, her hand kneading his thigh.
He didn’t want that either.Should he ask her to come to his bedroom?Of course, Chewie liked to sleep with him so Kirsty might not like that.
And… What if she said no?What if he made things awkward between them?
“I like this,” she said.
“Me too.”Whatever she meant bythis.“I guess we should think about heading to bed.We have that physics class tomorrow and I think we’re getting closer to figuring out what’s going on with Paul.”
“Yeah.The class should help us a bit.Maybe we can figure out why he’s tied to this book at least.”
Do you want to sleep with me?The words were right there.
“What do you think?”she asked.
“Uh…sorry, I wasn’t paying attention,” he admitted.
“It’s okay.It’s late.We can talk about it tomorrow.Thanks for tonight,” she said as she got to her feet.“I’m going to keep your shirt for now.”
“Fine by me,” he said, gathering up their clothes after he banked the fire.Her insisting on keeping his shirt to wear to bed so casually was intensely hot.“Want to sleep with me?”
The words just slipped out as she waited for him, chewing her lower lip between her teeth.He knew the answer before she spoke.
“I’m not…”
