Page 41 of Adored by the Grumpy Ghost (Mapletown Monster Mates #1)

“Right,” she says, her shoulders hanging lower as she shifts her weight between her feet.

“Look, it was totally uncalled for. I know that. But I had just gotten ghosted, and you had just told me about the existence of monsters, and the last fucking thing I expected when I came up here for the weekend was to discover that not only did you have a boyfriend, but you were already living with him in my house.”

The feeling continues to grow, but eases in intensity, just slightly. Rage. That’s what it is.

“None of that excuses my behavior, but I just want you to understand my mental state when all of this came out.” She rubs a hand across her forehead, trying to get her bearings.

“I was bitter, and jaded, and so over men that when you told me there was this guy, this one hundred and twenty-something year old guy who was obsessed with you and showering you with orgasms, it immediately reminded me of the situation I was in, and it also seemed seriously shady. As your friend, I questioned his motives. I was trying to figure out what he was getting from this arrangement. I promise I was only trying to protect you.”

That’s what does it. That last sentence. I explode. “What makes you think I need protecting? I’m not a young, impressionable girl, Linds. I’m in my fucking forties.”

She tilts her head, examining me with a pitying expression. “Come on, Nat. Look what happened with Kyle.”

“What about him? That was a million years ago.”

Lindsay fidgets with the string of her hoodie.

“I watched him treat you like shit, over and over, and when I thought you’d leave, that surely you wouldn’t tolerate another second of it, you stayed and let him do it again.

You gave up your entire life, your entire future to be his babysitter, and you got nothing out of it.

I didn’t want you to fall back into old patterns. ”

I’m appalled. Not about what she’s saying about Kyle.

All of that is true. I put up with far too much for far too long, but the audacity of this woman I trusted, whom I considered one of my closest, if not my best friend, stepping into my life and causing absolute chaos in the name of shielding my heart?

“You wanted to become a nurse, you wanted kids, and it made sense to put all of that on hold when you were taking care of Rita, but you were finally getting back on your feet, and I didn’t want Winston to do what Kyle did and railroad your potential.”

When I don’t say anything, Lindsay rushes to add, “You have to admit that you and Kyl–”

“I don’t give a fuck about Kyle. He’s in the past, and this has nothing to do with him.” I clench my fists, letting the fury that’s boiling my blood simmer over. “What makes you think those are dreams I still want to pursue?”

She looks around the parking lot with a scoff. “You can’t seriously want to be a bartender for the rest of your life, do you? In this tiny–”

“What’s wrong with being a bartender? If I’m making enough to cover my bills and feed myself, why do I have to scrape and push for more?

Not everyone is built to climb a corporate ladder, okay?

Not everyone wants to become a manager, or a vice president, or a chief of whatever the fuck simply because they’re good at their jobs.

” My fists start to unclench, and I realize I’m verbalizing thoughts I’ve had for years but could never articulate.

“Some people are happy to remain right where they are, and that’s okay. ”

She kicks a rock, looking like the girl I met in college. Weird and direct and brimming with sass. I hate that things are strained between us, but if we’re going to continue this friendship, I need to press on. She needs to know these are my boundaries and I won’t let her cross them again.

“I want to know why you thought you could breeze into my life after years without much contact, pretend like we were the same people we were a decade ago, and destroy the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Again, I’m sorry about the last few years. I feel terrible about it.”

“You don’t even know me anymore, Lindsay. You have this warped idea in your head of who I was and that, in spite of the time that’s passed, I haven’t changed at all.

“Do you have any idea what it’s like to watch your only remaining parent slowly die in front of you?

Do you know what it’s like to watch them age fifty years in the span of a few months because of the cancer that’s ravaging their body?

And the chemo that’s trying to fight it off?

Do you––” My voice breaks, and I have to swallow a sob.

“The woman who brought me into this world, who changed my diapers. I had to look into her eyes as I changed hers, knowing that she was fully aware of what was happening, and filled with shame that she no longer had the ability to do it herself. I felt honored to do it. To care for her during her most vulnerable time.”

She sniffles, but I don’t look at her. I can’t. The pain is too much.

“She was all I had left in the world, and I remained by her side until the very last breath left her body. Do you know why?”

She doesn’t answer me.

“Because that’s what love is. Devotion. Family.

That’s what you fucking do for the people you care about.

And I don’t care that Kyle turned out to be an asshole and left me for someone else.

I don’t regret what I sacrificed for him.

When I was by his side, guiding him through that difficult time in his life, it felt right.

Being his rock was what he needed me to be. I would’ve done the same for you.”

Lindsay nods, taking a tentative step in my direction.

“I know. You love without caution, and it’s never about whether they deserve it.

The people you choose to keep close are the ones who are lucky enough to bask in your light.

” She uses the sleeve of her sweatshirt to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

“Winston is actually the one who made me see how brave that is. Here I was, worried you couldn’t protect yourself without my help, and you’re braver in love than I’ll ever be. ”

The mention of his name makes my heart squeeze. “Did you know that Winston has lived longer than us, longer than most, and no one has ever truly loved him?”

Shock fills her gaze. “What?”

I nod. “He had a terrible childhood. It’s not my story to tell, but he’s been through some dark shit, Linds. A lot of it. To the point where even Arya Stark would be shocked.”

Lindsay chuckles quietly. “Really, Nat? Still with Game of Thrones? No one cares about that show anymore.”

“But it was the most popular show in the world when it was on.”

“Yeah, but that was years ago, hun. You need new buzzy dramas to reference. Have you seen Severance ?”

I roll my eyes. “I can’t afford all the streaming channels.”

“I’ll give you my login,” she offers.

“This isn’t the point!” I shout, frustrated by the derailed conversation.

“Tragedy after tragedy hardened Winston. It made him think he was made wrong, and chronically undeserving of love. But when we were together,” I explain, “being on the receiving end of my affection, even for little things, it’s like he was starved of it, and once he knew how it felt, he was so much lighter. ”

“About Winston,” she says, her lips twitching.

“I know I fucked up royally, and I don’t expect your forgiveness.

But if you give me a chance, I’ll put all my effort into making things right between us.

You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, Nat.

These last few years without you have been miserable. I don’t want to lose you again.”

It’s a nice offer, and I believe her when she says she’s sorry, that she’ll work hard to change, but the betrayal is still too fresh. I shake my head. “I don’t know. I’ll think about it.”

“I understand,” she says with a solemn nod. “It’s just…I need you to come with me right now.”

“What?”

“There’s something you need to see, and if you still don’t forgive me after you see it, that’s okay. I’m not giving up on this friendship.”

“What do I need to see?” I look around, confused, and honestly, a little wary.

“It’s not here,” she says, a smile playing on her lips. “You have to follow me.”

My curiosity is begging me to follow her, but I can’t just disappear. “Linds, I’m working tonight. Can we do this tomorrow?”

Vyla’s booming voice shouts from the doorway. “Dom says you’ve got the rest of the night off. Happy Halloween, Natty Baby!”

“Wait, seriously?”

Rizlan pops his head out. “Yep. Have fun, Normie. See you tomorrow.”

My stomach flutters as I follow Lindsay toward the forest. Not just in any direction, either. She’s leading me toward the tree line that separates the property between the bar and Caraway Manor.

Winston .

I feel my heart pound erratically, so loud I wonder if Lindsay can hear it.

The woods are silent apart from the cool breeze whipping through the trees, the crunch of leaves under our feet, and the soft trill of creatures nestled in the safety of the forest. We’ve been walking for about six minutes when I notice a glow coming from up ahead and the beat of a song I can almost place.

Lindsay blocks my view, for the most part, but when we reach the clearing and she steps aside, the breath dies in my throat.

It’s a dance floor, surrounded by strand after strand of twinkly lights.

It’s freshly laid flooring with a glossy finish, and in one corner of the large square is a folding chair with a Bluetooth speaker on it, playing, “I Will Follow You into the Dark” by Deathcab for Cutie.

Winston stands in the middle, his shirt and pants freshly pressed, his light brown hair neatly swept off his face, and his hands shoved in his pockets. Though he’s standing tall, his gaze is anything but confident. I know this look well. It’s shy Winston, and man, have I missed him.

“Natalie,” he says, his green eyes trailing down my body, then back up to the bodice of my dress.