Okay, one thing at a time. Ghosts first, magic later. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sky, be honest with me. Am I losing my mind?”
So dramatic. Sighing dramatically—because we werebotha couple of drama llamas—I said, “No, but we all could’ve handled this better. Lee owes you an apology. Not that this is really his fault if he followed Buck’s and Stevie’s advice. We’ll need to make them pay. I don’t know how or when, but they shall pay.”
“Buck? Stevie? And Lee is real? I’m not imagining him?”
Shaking my head, I smoothed his mussed hair off his forehead. “No. I’m so so?—”
He jumped up so quickly that my hand flipped off his face. Beaming, he threw his arms up in the air with a shout of victory. “Yes! I knew it. Iknewit! I’ve been right this whole time.”
Apparently, it was my turn to be confused. “You knew what?”
“That ghosts existed. I freakin’ knew it.” He gave his elbow a hard shove back, his excitement palpable.
“You’re not mad? Freaked out?”
“No way. This is awesome. I feel vindicated!” he yelled.
Gran came back into the room with King trailing her, begging her softly to give us a little more time together. “Vindicated, sweet boy? Tell Gran all about it.” She paused. “But in an inside voice, if you please. Both Reign boys are so excitable,” she informed King. Like he didn’t know.
King shook his head slightly, putting his back to her as she settled into her rocking recliner and mouthed to us,I’m so sorry.
Gah!Wasn’t he the best? As much as I wanted to stare at him and list every quality I loved about him…hold the phone. Loved?That I loved about King?Okay, I’d have to dissect that later. For now, Ego had piqued my curiosity. “Vindicated?” I prompted.
He kinda fell to the floor, sitting crisscrossed in the middle of the living room. “Yeah,” he said in a quieter voice to mollify Gran. He opened his mouth as if to continue, then whipped his head around. “Where’s Lee?”
Pops appeared right in front of him, mirroring his posture, and saluted Ego. “I’m here.”
A smile crept across Ego’s face. “Yeah, you are,” he said slowly. Maybe even a little creepily. He sounded like one of those stalkery-type fans he mimicked so I’d know how much they spooked him.
Lee chuckled. “Buck thought you’d get a kick out of a true hauntin’.” He rubbed his hands together. “Can’t wait to tell him you passed out.”
Shaking my head, I frowned. “Surprised they didn’t come over to watch the show.”
That made Pops double over with laughter. Even Rosie’s lips twitched. “They wanted to, but Harry gave them a stern talkingto. He wasn’t too happy with their behavior. Told Buck his punishment was missing out on the moment of truth.”
“Serves him right,” King said, but I knew better. They were thick as thieves now. He’d sneak them off and give Buck a full breakdown of every single thing that happened tonight.
“Where’s Stevie, though? I’d have thought he’d come without Buck. I know he doesn’t like to leave his brother too often, but we’re talking about Ego.” Blocking the rest of the room with my hand, I whispered loudly to my cousin, “Stevie’s a huge fan.”
Pops scrunched his nose. “Ahh…well.”
Now I was laughing. “Scotty got pissed off that he even wanted to come, didn’t he?”
“Why?” Ego asked curiously.
The rest of us exchanged glances like we were trying to decide who was going to break the news. Gran held her hand out in a go-ahead gesture to her husband. “You started this, now you can finish it.”
Pops rubbed the back of his head. I got such a kick out of all the mannerisms the spirits used, as if they were still alive. What was the saying? Old habits die hard? Didn’t look like even death changed them. “Yeah, so Scotty isn’t a fan.”
“Of my music? Really?” Ego seemed genuinely affronted, and I had to resist the temptation to roll my eyes. Freaking diva popstar. Heaven forbid someone didn’t love his singing. Musicians, am I right?
“Welll…” Pops’ face screwed up like he was constipated.
As far as I knew, they didn’t have to…yeah know…use the bathroom anymore since they didn’t eat, but maybe…No, no. That didn’t matter. “Scotty thinks you’re a tool,” I admitted.
Ego gasped, throwing a hand over his chest. “What?”
