Page 113 of Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places
He stared at her hand long enough to make her think she made a mistake, but then he surprised her by covering it with his. Holding her there. “You called me a collector. What is that?”
“That’s who you are. You search for people and bring them in, give them somewhere to belong,” she said. “I can tell you more but we both know you knew that part.”
He smirked, laughing lightly as he looked away. “I wasn’t aware there was a term for it.”
“Because I made it up. I do that from time to time,” she said. “You’re doing just fine. As long as you continue on as you have been, healing and not shutting down, you’ll keep healing.” He nodded in acknowledgment, and she sat back in her chair, taking a deep breath. “I might have another small piece of an answer for you. You should sleep over again.”
“You’re in luck.” He grinned, before downing the rest of hisdrink with acompletelystraight face. “I plan on being too drunk to drive.”
•••
Lucky and Xander continued day drinking until it turned into afternoon drinking, then took a break to watch the sunset from the parlor room. Brilliant orange and amber light filled the space, hitting the stained-glass lamps just right. The room began shimmering with greens, blues, and yellows until darkness descended.
They lay side by side on the floor musing about the meaning of life, ESP, and, most surprisingly, sharing what it was like having an estranged sibling.
Xander also had one—a brother named Sasha. Their dad, Alexander, was apparently as funny as he was vain.
“I’ve been thinking about calling Reggie,” Lucky said, purposefully thinking of him. “An email might be better, though.”
“You should.”
“I mean, I knowwhyhe didn’t want to talk to me before but what about now? I’m different now. I think I can actually help him now, if he wanted.”
“Now.”
“What?”
He snorted and began laughing. “Nothing.”
“Hey.” She teetered as she sat up to glare down at him. “I’m trying to be mulnerable.”
“Vulnerable,” he corrected with a snicker.
“Shutupand listen. Don’t make fun of me.” Every now and then, her words slurred into mush, and she didn’t appreciate him pointing it out. “I’m almost sober.”
“No, you’re not.”
She pointed at him. “Anyway. As I was saying. I made myself believe I was alone by choice when it was circumstance all along. I could show Reggie there’s a better way.”
Luckywasthe problem, as were they—her family, her dorm mates, her nanny clique. None of them made a true effort to see and be seen in return. Doing so hurt and it could go wrong, but ultimately, it’d been so, so worth it. “I wish I didn’t have to be here alone.”
“I’m here.”
“Which is fantastic, but I don’t wanna kiss you.”
“Good. I don’t want to kiss you either.”
“We’re in agreement then.”
“Seems like it.” He closed his eyes.
Lucky sighed. “I miss Maverick.” Not thinking about him didn’t matter anymore.
“Are you complainingagain?”
“You should make an exception and let me see him.”
“I’ll take it under advisement.”
