Page 53 of Ghostly Bother
Lance smiled over at Angus. Things weren't okay yet, but he was sure they would be. They would talk, but they would work through the hurt they both were feeling. He loved Angus, but even more, he loved his ghostly family who were always thereto support him through the good and the bad. As Angus leaned closer, Lance kissed him. It was the first step in healing from the woman who'd managed to come between them.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
"Alone at last." Angus followed Lance into the bedroom. They'd enjoyed dinner, and after cleaning up, they'd said goodbye to Cel and Franks, and goodnight to the other ghosts. The surprise dinner had been just what he'd needed. Once Eden had left, they'd laughed and had fun, enjoying the time together. It had been a while since they'd done a dinner.
"It turned into a great night." Lance kicked off his shoes as they got into the bedroom.
"It really did." Angus went to Lance and pulled him into his arms. "I am so sorry. I should have never left."
"No, I think you leaving did help, but it was the way you did it that hurt so badly. Had we planned it, talked about it, then I would have agreed, but you took the choice from me and just made the decision on your own. That's what hurt. I felt like you were rushing to get away from me."
"No, not at all. I was trying to get Eden away from you. In my mind, I figured if you didn't have me around to feed you information, she'd come follow me around. I was wrong and that failed miserably. I'm sorry I didn't talk to you first." Angus brushed his lips down Lance's neck. "It was the most horrible few days of my life. Never again."
Lance smiled. "Because you missed me or because you were staying with your parents?"
Angus laughed. "Mostly because I missed you, but I forgot how loud Mom plays her music. I'm not sure how I managed to get through my teenage years with my hearing not affected. Seriously, it made me realize how much I've come to rely on you. I look forward to coming home to be with you, even if it's late some nights. Simple things like coffee together in the mornings.Dad's coffee was never as good as yours, because you weren't there with me to enjoy it."
"I felt the same way. I was just hurt. I wondered if you could walk out on me for something like this, what happens when it's something bigger? We don't fight a lot, but eventually we'll have a big one. When we do, are you going to leave?"
"No. I promise. I won't ever leave that way again. I can't say I might not go for a drive. Take the bike out to cool off after a fight, but I'll never stay away like that again. I won't cut off communication between us. That was the hardest part. I wanted to call, text, drop by work and see you, but because of Eden, I didn't dare. It was only a few days, but it felt like forever."
Lance nodded. "If it helps any, Eden did stop trying to get information about the case from me once you were gone, but she still followed me around, asking questions, wanting to know about the afterlife. She did nag me to call you a few times, but by that point, I was fully ignoring her. My salvation came when Betty showed up. Somehow, she managed to keep Eden distracted so she wasn't bothering me as much. I think I'm going to send Betty flowers. I know she can't smell them, but she'll see them and enjoy them, right?"
"She likes flowers. Yellow ones. Doesn't matter the kind." Angus smiled. "I used to pick her dandelions when I was a boy after she had mom tell me she loved yellow flowers."
Lance laughed. "I wish I could have known you back then."
"We'd have been best friends."
"Just like we are now." Lance kissed him softly. "So, what happens now?"
"With us or the case?" Angus asked.
"Well, I'm hoping with us, we head into the shower together, then end up in bed making up for lost time the last few days," Lance teased. "I meant on the case?"
"Well, we at least know what happened. I realized tonight that Eden kept saying 'find out why I was killed', not 'find who killed me'. She knew who killed her all along. We just need to find enough evidence to prove Rachel killed her. We'll start fresh on Monday and hopefully piece it together. I'm still torn on if Michael Anderson was involved. I'll get his phone records and see what else we can use to see what he's been up to. It will take some time, but we'll find a way to at least tie Rachel to the deaths."
"You aren't going in tomorrow?" Lance looked up, surprised.
"No. I'm all yours. I would like to go get my stuff from Mom's at some point, but I plan on lying in bed late and spending the day reminding myself of all the things I'd miss if I ever left you again." Sliding his fingers under the hem of Lance's shirt, he let his fingers skim over his skin as he lifted it up and over his head.
"I like that idea." Lance took a step back and undid the buttons on his jeans.
Angus watched him with a hunger he hadn't felt in months. Maybe time apart had been good. It made him desire what he couldn't have. It reminded him how good he had things with Lance. More than anything, it had confirmed that life with Lance would always be better than life without him. Angus was more secure in his relationship now than he ever had been. He could only hope that it was the same for Lance.
The shower together was cleansing. The hot water washed away their regret and doubts as they renewed their passion and commitment to each other. Angus held Lance against him as if he would never let go. "I love you."
"I love you too." Lance kissed his shoulder, then looked up to meet his gaze. "More than you'll ever understand."
"Don't be so sure about that." Angus kept hold with one arm around Lance as he turned off the water, then reached fora towel. He took his time drying Lance off before reaching for a towel for himself.
They slid into bed naked, curling up against each other. Angus loved how they could share the silence and not need words to be together. Lance was the best part of his life, and no matter what or who tried to come between them, he would hold on for dear life, because there would be no life without Lance beside him. He'd learned that lesson in just a few days. Lance was it for him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Angus smiled as he walked into the interview room. Franks was behind him. It had been a long two weeks since Eden had moved on after admitting her sister had killed her, and in that time, Angus had worked hard to link all the evidence they had together. Today, they'd finally be able to make an arrest and hand the case over to the district attorney to handle.
What they didn't know yet was if Michael Anderson would also be arrested. They were about to find out. Angus smiled as he set the thick file down on the metal table. "Gentlemen, thank you for coming in today." Angus offered his hand first to Michael, then to his attorney, Mr. Hemsworth.
