Page 117 of Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places
“I’m technically working. He’s technically my boss. Last night was the equivalent of after-work cocktails with a supernatural twist.” She closed her eyes, adjusting her position for maximum comfort. “I saw Xander’s specter. It’s his stepmom. He told me a little bit about her.”
“Oh, shit.” Maverick blew out a breath. “I know he’s been having a hard time since she passed.”
“You have no idea. I read it in him—he changed because of it.”
“Changed as in he’s—”
“No, not even close,” she said, quickly. “Xander isn’t rotting. He’shealing. I read the steps he’s taken since Brightly passed. He’ll be all right eventually.”
“You sound proud of him.”
“Because I am. You were right—he really is a good guy. Don’t be mad at him.”
“I’m not.” He sounded surprised. “I was just giving him a hard time. Georgia swears his sense of humor is underdeveloped and I’m starting to think she’s right.”
“No, it’s there. It’s justreallydry,” she said. “His specter behaved differently than mine. As soon as my head calms down, I’m on the case.”
“Why don’t I let you go so you can recover?”
“No.”
“If you insist.”
“I do.”
His warm, soft laughter felt like a balm to her soul. She didn’t feel half as exhausted as she normally did after a night with Hennessee because Xander had been its primary focus. But if she wasn’t careful, she’d fall asleep on the phone anyway. “I read the chapters you sent. I’m letting my thoughts simmer before I read it again.”
“You’re going to read it twice?”
“Once isn’t enough. I don’t want to say too much yet, but”—she paused to tease him—“Ilovedit. I was expecting something similar to the style you used on the podcast but that wasn’t it at all.”
“I’m really proud of those stories, but I’d like to think I’ve gotten better since then.”
“You have. It wassogood.”
“Thank you,” he said, and then delicately cleared his throat. “I’m sure there were some parts that were…not so good?”
Lucky covered her mouth and held the phone away from her ear. Hearing that voice again—so vulnerable, so nervous—made her want to scream because she almost couldn’t handle it. Allowing her to see this side of him meant she’d made it. He trusted her.
“It’s a draft,” she said carefully. “And yet, as a reader, I was fully invested by the time I finished.”
“Really?”
“Really. That’s why I want to read it again to focus on the craft stuff. I bought an ebook about plotting and character since I’m not familiar with all the terms.”
“You—you didn’t have to do that. General thoughts and feedback would’ve been more than enough.”
“Oh,” she said softly, hoping she didn’t overstep.
“I honestly don’t know why I’m surprised.” He chuckled. “Tell you what, after you’ve finished studying we can talk about it. You can ask me all the questions you want and I’ll teach you how I do it.”
Lucky sighed in relief, pressing a hand over her heart. It was okay to be a lot. It was okay to be too much. It was okay to be herself with him. She felt relaxed, settling into the comfortable silence between them…sinking into the soft bedding…eyes drifting closed to the sound of his even, steady breathing as if it were music.
“You’re falling asleep,” he whispered.
“Mmm.”
“Okay. One last thing—”
