Page 101 of The Ghost of Ellwood

Stores advertised sales on various items, their signs blinking in the windows nearly as bright as the Christmas lights strung everywhere. Lights were on the street posts too, lighting our way. People passed in groups, laughing and sipping coffee, and others sped-walked from store-to-store, searching for that perfect last minute gift.

Thank God that’s not me.

After searching every store in Ivy Grove for a violin and coming home empty handed each time, I had admitted defeat and ordered it online. It had been delivered a few days ago, and keeping it hidden from the curious ghost in the manor had been almost as difficult as finding the damn thing.

“Anywhere else you wanna go?” Carter asked, rubbing his hands together and breathing into them. He’d forgotten his gloves.

“Not really. I’m just enjoying the atmosphere,” I answered, pulling off my gloves to hand to him. As he started to protest, I said, “Shut up and put them on.”

“Thanks.” Carter slid on the gloves and zipped his coat as high as it would go. “It’s nice out here. Cold, but alive with all that Christmassy warmth and shit. Too bad Theo can’t join us.”

“Yeah, I know.” An ache pierced my chest. “It’s something we have to work through. No relationship is easy. Ours just has a different set of complications.”

He slapped a hand on my arm and tugged me into the coffee shop.

The heater inside felt amazing. My numb nose and fingers stinging from the cold greatly appreciated it too. We ordered drinks, and he insisted on paying, not taking no for an answer. Once he had his hot chocolate and I had a hazelnut latté, we sat at a table as far from the door as possible, so we wouldn’t feel that sweep of cold every time someone opened it.

“So, you guys are really doing it then?”

“Doing what?” I asked, after taking a drink. The hot coffee felt great going down, making me warm and toasty.

“Having a relationship,” Carter said. His beanie had candy canes on it, and he was wearing red contacts. He looked like a festive demon. “You know I’ve become attached to ghost boy too, so this isn’t a jab at him. But have you thought it through? You won’t be able to be open about it, and since you’re in the public eye, people willalwaysask if you’re seeing anyone.”

“Easy. I’ll say I’m in a relationship and leave it at that.”

“He won’t be able to go to events with you.”

“So?Idon’t even like going to them.” The heat in the room became sweltering all of a sudden, and I unbuttoned my coat. “When I was with James, he didn’t go to all of them, either. It’s not as big of a deal as you’re making it out to be.”

“Okay,” Carter said, raising his brows in an innocent gesture. “Didn’t mean to get you riled up and stripping out of your clothes. I was just being a nosy little fucker, I guess.”

I finished removing my coat, shaking my head with a light laugh. “At least you’re honest. Really, I appreciate your concern. You’re a great friend. You just have to trust me. Theo makes me happy.”

Theo and I would face challenges being together, but I was more than willing to face them head on and overcome them.

“I know he does.” Carter held up his hot chocolate. “I always got your back, Ben.”

I believed him. I’d always have his too.

After I took Carter home, I returned to the manor. The Christmas tree glowed in the window, and as I approached the porch the front door swung open. Theo wore his usual clothes but had put on one of my jackets.

“Did you get cold?” I asked, kicking the door closed and hugging him.

“No.” He placed a soft kiss to my throat. “I just missed you. And it smells like you.”

“Oh yeah?” I pressed my face into his hair. “What do I smell like?”

“Like sugar, spice, and everything nice.”

I laughed and released him, but not without planting a kiss on his sweet mouth first.

“I’ve done some thinking, Ben.” Theo walked with me into the living room and sat on the couch as I stoked the fire. “I want to tell you my story. All of it.”

After setting down the poker, I turned to him. “All of it? As in…”

“As in everything.” He leaned on my chest once I sat beside him. “Starting from the moment I left Harvey’s house on the last day I saw him. Or should I say…the last day he sawme.”

“What about your fear?” A fear I also had. If Theo telling his story meant he’d leave me, I didn’t know if I was ready to hear it yet.