Page 87 of Ghostly

Perry leaned on the counter. “Family ain’t all about blood. I barely remember my real mom and dad. But Rob and Shanna—I’d do anything for them. They are my family, genetics or not.”

“You and Ida made a connection.”

“Yeah, but—don’t get me wrong, Ida’s cool and all, but more like a quirky friend. If there were two fires, and Rob and Shanna were caught in one, and Ida in the other, I’d go for my foster parents. Also because Ida is a ghost and fire can’t hurt her, but you get my drift.” Perry poked Gabriel’s chest. “I can like her, but I’ll never build the same connection with her you have.”

Gabriel crossed his hands over his chest.

“Jesus, you’re stubborn,” Perry said. He made a move past him, but Gabriel reached out and held him by the sleeve.

“Ida has one chance,” he said. “Once the ritual starts, if it fails, it can’t ever be repeated. She’ll stay a ghost forever.” He was already at fault for not being able to fulfill the first contract. He’d not doom her again. “You are family. And you do care about her. So tomorrow night, you better be here.”

Perry gave a curt nod. “I’ll do my best.”

Gabriel released him, but Perry stayed in the same spot. “She’s already dead,” he said. “How much longer are you gonna wait to tell her how you feel?”

He left.

Gabriel stayed in the kitchen, leaning on the counter and ignoring the noise from outside. He’d love to believe in what Perry said. But that exact word,love. It couldn’t be defined by a contract, specified by terms and conditions. It couldn’t be compared in numbers—if anything, it was scrambling all of his percentages. It wasn’t easy, clear, rational. And when it was so elusive, so damn messy, how could he be sure what he felt was good enough for a victory?

He couldn’t. And that’s why Perry, who already had the blood advantage, was the better option.

Because Gabriel would never let Ida lose.

Chapter 21

“And about Roland’s car,” Millie said as she pushed Gabriel’s packet across the postal office’s counter, “The colors really did mix! I don’t know where he got those sprays, but it looks hilarious.”

Gabriel laughed. “I’ll need to check it out.”

“Oh, you won’t have to go far. He’s been parading it around town since yesterday. Wait for another fifteen minutes, and he should drive by.” She tapped her pen on the registration book. “Alright, signature, payment upon delivery— you’re good to go.”

“Thanks, Millie.”

“No problem, Gabe.” She smiled and waved, and Gabriel waved back before he joined Perry outside the post office.

“This is the last thing we needed?” Perry asked.

“Yup. Come on, car’s this way.”

The last ingredient for the ritual, arriving just in time, was a lily, endemic to Siberia. Gabriel clutched the package to his chest like a national treasure as he and Perry headed down the main street. They were walking past the diner when a familiar bob cut caught Gabriel’s eye.

Natalie Waller sat in the window booth, a half-finished weekly special of waffle burger in front of her. She dabbed her mouth with a napkin and signaled to the server.

Gabriel stopped, for the moment ignoring the fact Natalie shouldn’t even be here anymore.

This should be fun.

April, the waitress, was known for her sarcastic remarks. She grew on you—but to Natalie, she’d show no mercy. April put down the check, leaned her hand on the seat, and… smiled? Natalie said something, and April responded, waving her other hand and nodding. She didn’t look sarcastic, or mean. She looked downright conversational.

Something was wrong.

April left for the counter, and Natalie rapidly typed something into her phone, then flung the purse over her shoulder and walked toward the exit. She was going to see him. He should run, hide—

Despite his instinct sending a jolt into his legs, Gabriel didn’t move.

No.

He had every right to walk in this town, head held high. He wasn’t going to play a fugitive.Shewas the outsider here.