Page 14 of All Your Tomorrows

I nodded.

“Wow.”

“Yeah. He still appears to me from time to time. But, he gives me space and respects my privacy.”

“That’s really cool.”

“I guess. But I’d rather have the real thing any day.”

Kyler was quiet, and I worried I may have divulged too much. I picked up my phone, trying to occupy the silence. Izzy had sent me back three angry-face emojis.

“Why didn’t you know I was a spirit right away?” Kyler asked.

“Spirits usually possess a very subtle glow. When you walked into the café, I must’ve been tired or something and missed it,” I lied, knowing full well I’d been distracted by his good looks.

He smiled a knowing smile.

“Did you know that anyone can learn to do what I do and communicate with the other side?” I asked, but he just shook his head. “Most people can learn to do it. It’s all about getting extremely relaxed and being open to it.”

“That’s kinda crazy,” he said.

I shrugged. It was my normal, so I didn’t really know any different. “Did you expect me to be a little old lady with a crystal ball when you came to the café?”

He grinned. “Not sure. But I was happily surprised.”

Embarrassed by his words, my eyes avoided his.

“Does that make you uncomfortable?” he asked.

I met his gaze. Yes. “No.”

“Liar,” he said with a grin.

“Spirit,” replied with my own. “You know, you’re kind of easy to talk to.”

“Yeah?” he asked surprised. “You should’ve met me as a kid. You wouldn’t be saying that.”

“Why? What were you like?”

He laughed. “A terror. You know I’m an only child. So, my parents had to know I’d end up that way if I got everything I wanted.”

I laughed. “Did you play sports? I picture you being an athlete.”

“Football. I played in college too. I wasn’t going to the pros or anything, but I was fast so I scored a lot.”

“I bet you did,” I smirked.

“Oh, I saw what you did there.”

“Am I wrong?” I challenged.

“Not exactly.”

“I knew it,” I said.

“Oh, you did, huh?”

I shrugged as I readjusted my blanket around me.

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