Page 6 of Ghost of a Chance

“I wasn’t planning on involving her psychic skills…when I heard you asking her in the greenroom I knew I had to step in. My gut told me this would be a good segment and let’s face it, that was phenomenal.”

“It was…expensive. He’s never been destructive before,” Jasper agreed.

“Worth it! I’m going to talk to her PR person about filming her while she helps you get rid of Paul,” Bri suggested. “We can air it on the show after he’s gone.”

“Uh…” Kirsty wasn’t going to like that.

“No need to thank me. It’s good television. Let me talk to her people,” Bri said, disappearing before Jasper could stop her.

“Wow. Had no idea your book was that powerful,” Fern teased, coming up to him. “Want to watch the playback?”

No. He didn’t. But he followed Fern to the monitors where everyone on the crew was gathered around watching it happen again and again.

Paul seemed to be getting stronger and manifesting differently and more frequently. The first few times Jasper watched the replay his eyes were on the book, but this time he watched Kirsty.

Her eyes were wide and she rubbed her hands on her arms as if she felt a chill…

Had Paul spoken to her?

Jasper noticed Kirsty appearing back on set and picking up the textbook. He went to join her.

“Can you talk to him?”

She shrugged. “It’s not that easy. I… I’m not really in the right state of mind to do it.”

“Yeah, don’t blame you. Those lights were loud and freaky.”

“They were. Can’t say I’ve ever experienced that before. How often does that happen?”

“The lights?”

She gave him a hard duh look.

“Like never. They’re maintained and kept clean and changed. Paul usually limits himself to Judge Judy , the odd song and lights…though he has recently started fucking with the blender,” he said. “You look really different…where did the tattoo come from?”

He pointed to her chest. Last night her skin had been smooth and unmarred by the designs that were there now. The design showed off her delicate bone structure while indulging the unapologetic person she was. He liked them. They suited her.

“I put them on when I’m doing press,” she said. “If anyone asks, they’re real.”

“Why aren’t they permanent? You have the butterfly on your wrist.”

“None of your business,” she said. “I don’t want to be buddy-buddy with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m ticked and feeling bitchy and cornered,” she admitted. “I don’t like being forced to use my…abilities. Sort of makes me feel cheap. Like I’m doing a trick.”

“That’s okay.”

“No, it’s really not,” she said, turning away from him and stalking backstage to the greenroom.

He let her go. He had five years to get used to Paul. Even if she was used to dealing with spirits, she must not have expected this today. Maybe he should apologize or tell her to forget about it…if she’d even talk to him.

Before he could figure out what to do, he was summoned to the greenroom where Kirsty, Bri, the show’s producer Landon and Gia were assembled.

“Okay, we’ve all had a chance to talk, and Kirsty’s publisher Periwinkle Press has agreed to pay her expenses for a few weeks while she helps Paul’s spirit move on,” Bri said.

“We sent them the raw footage and they agreed that it could be a huge moment for all of us. I’m going to supply the crew and Jasper, we’ll have someone cover for you while you’re filming with Kirsty.

We’ve decided on a four-to-six week time frame.

As soon as we have enough footage, we’ll have you back on and share it with the nation. ”

Kirsty’s mouth fell open. She turned to Gia, whispering fiercely to the other woman. He had the feeling she wasn’t into this idea, but Jasper was secretly pumped. He might actually be able to help Paul move on after all.

“Thanks, Bri. This means a lot to me.” Trying to keep emotion out of his voice but failing.

“You’re welcome, kid. I can’t wait to see why Paul’s hanging on and what it takes to help him finally leave this book. He must really love physics.”

Jasper felt a hint of guilt but brushed it aside. This wasn’t the time to open old wounds.

Kirsty had her arms crossed over her chest and looked like she was seconds away from letting loose on Bri. Gia strongly gripped her shoulder, holding her back.

Gia nodded. “That’s all settled. I just need some details about where you went to school, Jasper, so Bri’s team and I can get their permission to film. Then I’ll set up an Airbnb nearby.” She turned toward Bri. “I also need the names of the crew you’re sending.”

“Landon will handle that.” Bri glanced around the room.

“Our temporary lighting setup is finished so I need to get the audience back in and finish the show. Kirsty, I’ll plug your book and the follow-up segment we have planned.

The audience is getting a copy. Gia mentioned you’d sign them before you leave. ”

“I’m happy to,” Kirsty said, following Bri out of the greenroom.

And just like that, everything changed.

Jasper went back to work but he was distracted. Excited to see what happened next. He’d always wanted to know why Paul had lingered…

* * *

At her book signing later that day, Kirsty had all but shrugged off the incident on Bri’s morning show. For now she wanted to focus on staying in the moment.

Meeting her fans was the best part of being an author.

She’d always felt like the odd one most of her life.

But her readers were her people. They were funky dressers who talked to her not just about her book but about true crime which Kirsty often used as the backbone of her plots.

When she was here she felt like she belonged.

She enjoyed hearing about how they loved the series and what they were excited to see next from sleuth Eva Clare. It did stir a bit of guilt since she was struggling to write the next book. Everyone was telling her how excited they were to read it. Somehow that made it worse.

Especially since the more she thought about writing it, the harder it was to actually get the words on the page.

But right now that didn’t matter. Today was about connecting with her fans and appreciating what she had. Along with signing her books, she posed for photos and handed out smaller versions of the temporary tattoos that matched the one on her chest.

Gia showed up toward the end, chatting with a few readers they’d met before. Kirsty put away her pens and swag and headed over to her friend. “So. Where are we going for this ghost disaster?”

“Burlington. You’ll love it. University town in fall. It’s just like your fictional town of Satan’s Brook. I even found an atmospheric house that’s near where Jasper was living when his roommate died.”

She grabbed Gia’s arm and pulled her outside so they wouldn’t be overheard. “Are you sure we should be doing this? You know I have no real ability.”

“I know you don’t think you do. But you have felt things before,” Gia reminded her.

“When I wanted to get out of something. I really don’t feel anything spiritual or otherworldly. I’m as normal as it gets.”

Gia shook her head. “When we were in the Godfrey, I felt something . The air was cold and heavy. It felt like all the energy was being sucked from the room until you left and the spirit seemed to follow you out. I wasn’t the only one who thought it was real.”

“That’s coincidence.”

“Too bad, it felt real. You’re stuck anyway.

The publisher loves the idea of getting this kind of publicity with Bri’s show.

Plus the internet loves this kind of stuff, even if it ends up being a hoax.

It will go viral. They were happy to pay for the Airbnb and expenses but it’s a small per diem for food. ”

“I have a deadline,” she grumbled. “I really need to be at home writing.”

“I’ll clear that with your editor. We can add however many weeks this ends up being onto your deadline.”

She gave a weak smile. Great. Like an extra four to six weeks was going to help when she practically had nothing written. But she knew there was no getting out of this. “I need to go home and get my stuff.”

“Of course.” Gia glanced down at her phone. “Looks like Bri is sending one cameraman and Jasper will manage him. I’ll be there too. I figured we’d all meet on Monday. That gives you the rest of this week and the weekend to yourself.”

“Thanks,” she said sarcastically. But it wasn’t Gia’s fault. None of this. Right now it was a toss-up between herself and Jasper who she was really angry at.

She’d been trying to manifest getting on this show since her first book came out, so really Kirsty knew that it was her own fault. She wanted people to talk about her work. She wanted to be famous. But she hadn’t ever really considered what it would be like.

Definitely not like this.

“How am I going to do this? I can’t talk to Paul.”

Gia dropped her arm around Kirsty’s shoulder. “Treat it like one of your books. You may not be able to talk to ghosts but you know how to put evidence together and tell a story. If Jasper resolves his feelings, maybe that’ll be enough. You’re very good at getting closure in your books.”

“Thanks,” she said, meaning it this time. She turned and hugged Gia. “Sorry I was being bitchy before.”

“It’s okay. I get it. It’s a lot more than a book tour now. But this…this is going to be really good for your career,” Gia said.

“Yeah?”

“After this your books are going to fly off the shelf.”

“They are,” Kirsty said without any real confidence. “That would be nice.” Then maybe she’d stop feeling like a fraud.

“It will be.” Gia gave her a reassuring smile. “Ready to go? You have two hours before you have to be at Dark and Stormy.”

“Yes. I’m starving. Good news is that my headache is gone. Maybe that ghost scared it out of me,” Kirsty said.

“Or the ibuprofen started working,” Gia replied with a wink.

“I thought you believed in my powers.”

“ Yours . Not some unknown textbook ghost’s.”

* * *

Her flight home was smooth. Her mom met her at the airport with a small sign that said Favorite Girl in one hand, carrying a to-go cup in the other. A big smile lit up her face. Kirsty hugged her mom and took the mug of pumpkin chai latte, her favorite drink from their local cafe.

“How’d it go?”

“Mom, it was nuts. Some guy has a ghost trapped in a book,” she said, then told her mom the entire story.

“I guess you’re going to need all of Dot’s books,” her mom said. Kirsty’s great-aunt had been a clairvoyant and had sent Kirsty a box of books when she was thirteen with a card… To my favorite little weirdo . Reading those books had laid the groundwork for the Eva Clare mysteries.

She pulled into the driveway of the duplex that she and her mom owned. Kirsty’s apartment was on one side and her mother’s was on the other. Being a writer didn’t pay that well, and living close meant she had a house sitter whenever she went on tour.

“I can’t bring too many esoteric books,” she said. “That’ll completely give away that I’m a fraud.”

“Okay. You can text me then, and I’ll look things up for you. Do you think there’s a real ghost?”

“Maybe. At first I thought Jasper had set everything up, but Bri—”

“Oh my God, my baby’s on a first-name basis with Bri O’Brien.”

Her mom got so excited by her success.

“Mom…but sure. She’s really nice. You’d like her.”

“I would. Maybe I should come with you when you go back,” her mom said, taking Kirsty’s suitcase to her front door. “I just restocked the fridge. Dinner tonight?”

“Thanks, Mom,” she said.

“You okay?”

“No I’m not. I’m feeling cranky and scared. Like everyone’s going to find out I’m a fraud.”

“One—you’re not a fraud. You’re a fiction author. Your job is to make stuff up and get people to buy into your world. I know you’re going to be awesome and get this Jasper some closure.”

A warmth engulfed her and she spontaneously hugged her mom which took her mom aback. Kirsty wasn’t touchy-feely. But her mom had soothed her fears.

“One thing, kiddo, to keep in mind is playing at being a medium and talking to ghosts needs to be light. Summoning might awaken something inside of you.”

“Moooom… I’m not a real clairvoyant.”

“Maybe, but you have an affinity for the occult. Just be careful.”

It took all her willpower not to roll her eyes. Mom cared which was why she was giving her advice. But the last thing that Kirsty was worried about was awakening anything.

“Thanks.”

“Better?”

“I am. Thanks.”

Kirsty went into her own home as her mom disappeared next door.

She wasn’t feeling as panicked as she’d been when Gia had first agreed to the entire ghost hunt.

Talking to her mom put everything in perspective.

And she’d be back on a college campus at the start of the fall term—something that always inspired her.

She could get her dark academia on. All those dark plaid miniskirts, romantic blouses and chunky cardis she kept in her closet but never wore because she rarely left her house.

Maybe solving Jasper’s mystery would help her with her own story.

Even if he had known who she was the night they met, the connection felt real.

The way her pulse raced when his warm hands had touched her in the rain.

The sparks when their eyes met as their favorite band began to play…

her mind was full of possibilities and the question of what it would be like to kiss him when she was sober.

He couldn’t be as good of a kisser as she remembered, right?