Page 67 of Ghosts Don't Cry

“The house.” Amy practically purrs the words. “Everyone is talking about what you might be doing up there.”

“Just work.”

“Such demanding work.” Kate leans in. “It must take a lot out of you.”

“It has its moments.”

Our drinks arrive, and I take a slow sip of whiskey, then force myself to look at Lily. She’s got her eyes lowered to her drink,but she knows I’m watching her. I can tell by the way her fingers tighten on the stem of her glass.

“Don’t you get bored and want to jump to doing something else?”

I shake my head. “I always finish what I start.”

Amy hums, tapping a nail against her glass. “I just bet you do.”

Lily makes a low sound, barely audible above the noise of the bar, but I hear it. The same way I see how her jaw tenses, and how her knuckles whiten as she lifts her glass.

Kate’s fingers trace over the tattoos on the inside of my wrist. “It must get lonely. All that work and no one to admire it or keep you company.”

“That would depend on the company.” I will Lily to look at me. “Some distractions aren’t worth the time.”

Lily’s eyes flick up, meeting mine for a split second before she looks away. But not before I see the flash of anger.

Amy leans close, her lips curving. “Oh …” Her lips brush my jaw. “I think we could be worth your time.”

“You think so?” I stretch out an arm across the back of the booth, and let my fingers skim over the curve of her shoulder.

Kate leans into my other side. “You must need … relief sometimes.”

“There are better ways to relieve tension than demolition.” Amy’s hand finds my thigh, sliding upward. “More interesting ways to work up a sweat.”

The muscle in Lily’s jaw ticks. A slight movement but I catch it. The same way I can see how she won’t quite meet my eyes.

I take another sip of whiskey, allowing Amy to press closer, while her hand moves further up my thigh. I school my expression into one that might pass for interest, and keep the fact that her touch makes my skin crawl to myself.

Let them all think I want this.

“Beverly’s beside herself,” Kate says. “She’s trying to figure out where you came from and what brought you back.”

“People always want stories. Doesn’t mean they deserve them.”

“Good thing we’re not looking for old stories.” Amy’s fingers trace patterns on my thigh. “We’re more interested in making new ones.”

Lily’s glass hits the table, and liquid spills over the rim.

“How’s the house coming along?” She breaks her silence, her tone cool.

“Getting there.”

“Must be so satisfying.” Kate leans closer. “Taking something broken and making it yours.”

Amy’s nails dig into my thigh. “Especially with those hands. They look so strong.”

“The wiring is finished.” I meet Lily’s gaze. “Moving onto other things that need fixing now.”

“There’s always something that needs work, isn’t there?”

“Some things can’t be fixed.” My lip curls. “Sometimes it’s just better to throw things out and start afresh with something new.”