Page 38 of A Dead Girl's Guide to Living
“The shop,” she began hesitantly. “It’s my responsibility now... I—I can’t just leave.”
“You have Ida,” Liv replied with a dismissive wave. “She seems more than capable...”
“Okay, and what about money, genius?” I snapped, starting to lose the last tether of my already fragile patience. “This is going to cost money.”
Finally, Liv looked stumped, as if she’d encountered her first real problem. Then she turned to me.
“Don’t you get paid for your little videos online?” she asked with a frown.
“I do,” I admitted, my cheeks flushing. “It’s in a trust, though. I only just turned twenty-one, and we haven’t completed the paperwork yet to release it to me. I have, like... five hundred dollars in my spending account.”
“And you?” Liv asked, whirling on Dove, whose eyes widened.
“Oh, um,” Dove said, scrambling. “Well, I mean, not a lot. But some.”
“Okay, so that’s sorted,” Liv declared, planting her hands on her hips.
“Is it?” I demanded, mirroring her stance. “You can’t just come in here and force people into large financial commitments, then ride off into the sunset at the end of your little journey while we’re left trying to recoup whatever money we had to blow on this thing.”
“Well,” Liv said brightly, a sneer on her face, “it’s either come or be haunted. I’m stuck with you until I sort my shit out. I’ve got all the time in the world. So, unless your new friend here knows how to exorcisedonorghosts, you’re stuck with me.” Liv sucked on her lip before loudly smacking them together, smirking. “Spoiler, she doesn’t.”
“Cool, coercion. Love that for us.” I glanced at Dove. “What happens if you pack away those cards? Would it break this tether?”
“Ellis...” Dove began, her voice a little judgmental as she looked at Liv, then back to me. “Look, I don’t know. But that’s not very... You just want to banish her back to nothing? Forever and ever?”
“Isn’t that what life after death is?” I hissed, my skin going clammy. “She just proved there’s nothing afterward. Hell, this room could be filled with spirits we can’t see.”
“While I appreciate that you’re not used to seeing me in the room with you,” Liv cut in, crossing her arms, “I’m not going anywhere. You could shred that deck for all I care, but I’m holding on here. I can’t explain what it is... but it feels like gravity. No, something has changed. I’m not going anywhere.”
I scowled and looked back at Dove. “Can we burn them?”
Dove’s expression turned horrified, anger flashing in her eyes. “I would burn you first.”
I groaned loudly, realizing there was no way out of, whatever this was. It wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t a prank. I was about to embark on a road trip in close quarters with a ghost who was pissed I had her heart, and a stranger who was building her life around ripping off the vulnerable public.
I closed my eyes, trying to gather myself.
“So it’s settled, then,” Liv sighed, sounding far too pleased. “We drive at dawn!”
My eyes flew open. “Dawn?”
“What, do you want to spend more time with me?” Liv snorted. “The sooner we start, the sooner we get there. It’s not like I’m thrilled about being stuck with you either, Grumps.”
Breathe, I reminded myself, as the weight of the day settled squarely on my shoulders.
“I need your Google Drive login,” I told Liv firmly. “I have some planning to do.” I turned to Dove. “I need your contact information. I’ll text you the details tonight.”
Dove blinked, then nodded once. “Sure. Um, give me your phone. I’ll put my number in.”
Once numbers were exchanged and Liv rattled off her login info, I pocketed my phone and shook my head, glancing downat the table of scattered cards before looking back at the two of them.
“Okay. So we drive.”
The grin that spread across Liv’s face made it look like I’d just handed her the keys to heaven.
DOVE
Tip #6: Leggings are for larceny and jeans are for jury duty.
