Page 65 of Ghost

I couldn’t, it was my responsibility to deal with this myself. I ignored Damen and rushed into the hallway. It was a number that I did not recognize, and it was that which caused my heart to slow slightly.

It wasn’t Finn.

I opened the message, and my footsteps stopped entirely.

“Bianca,” Damen had followed me. “Give me—”

“It’s Maria!” I was so surprised, it was a wonder I could speak at all. Outside of my mother, I had never gotten a text from a girl before.

I was going to have to commemorate this occasion. Should I print out the text and frame it?

“What?” Damen’s face masked over with surprise.

“She wants to know if I like board games!” Reality began to set in. This would be the first time in all my life I’ve ever hung out with a girl like this. “Should I ask her to bring a movie?”

My dreams of a bosom-buddy were coming to fruition. We were destined to be together forever—just like in the books. My heart pounded as I opened a reply and began to search through a list of emoticons.

I had to find the perfect one.

“Titus, stop this,” Miles whispered urgently in the background. “She doesn’t have to be here. I don’t want her around Bianca. She’s too tempting.”

“I can’t tell her to do anything!” Titus sounded horror-struck. “She doesn’t listen to me.”

“She’s supposed to!” Julian sounded scared. “At least try!”

“I’m not even going to get into this,” Titus retorted. “You’re the worst one to talk about authority.”

I ignored them, even as Damen stalked toward the three of them and told them to hush. Whatever they were going on about, it was completely unimportant to this reality.

I finally did it. For the first time in my life, I had a female friend.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Damen

Coincidence

Bianca was glowing as she held out her phone in front of her, waiting for my reaction. “She sent me a message! What should I say? I don’t want to mess this up.”

Of course I was happy she made a friend. Female companionship was a good thing.But, Maria?I wasn’t certain if that counted.

“Make it stop,” Miles continued to hiss at Titus. “Before it’s too late!”

“Shut up,” I growled at them as I tentatively accepted Bianca’s phone. She clearly wanted our acceptance, and we had to do our best. The others moved around me—trying to see the screen. The question foremost in our minds—what had Maria said to garner this kind of excitement?

Hi cutie.

I’ll be there to protect you tomorrow night. I heard that you like games, I’ll bring some along for us to play. It’s going to be so much fun.

Oh Lord.

Titus and Miles whimpered behind me, but I couldn’t spare them my attention.

“That’sgreat, baby girl.” I forced the words out even as my throat closed in horror.

Tomorrow night we’d have to endure her company. Suddenly I was jealous of Titus. I’d rather go on a business trip than deal with the man-hater that was Maria Ducharme.

“Tell her what you like,” I answered Bianca’s question. “I don’t think she’ll judge you.”