Page 22 of The Ghost of Ellwood

Snorting, I shook my head. “Nah, I’m good. No need to bring my ex into this and ruin a good evening.”

“What did she do?”

“He,” I corrected. “And he cheated on me with my agent.”

“Damn.” Carter’s mouth popped open. “My ex told me he hated pizza. Had to get rid of him for that crime against humanity.”

He kept a straight face, so I couldn’t tell if he was serious or not. It made me laugh anyway. I also noted thehimin that statement.

“So, you like beer and pizza, huh? Typical all-American boy.”

“There’s nothingtypicalabout me, Ben. I can assure you.” Carter’s eyes darkened a little with an expression I knew all too well.

It’d be easy to return the flirtation. Carter was hot and interested in me. But the shit with James had messed me up a little more than I’d let on. I wasn’t ready to put myself back out there yet.

“It’s getting late,” I said, checking my phone. “I hoped to get some writing in before calling it a night.”

“Thanks for hanging out with me.”

“Thankyoufor the amazing meal.”

“Anytime.” He walked with me to the front door and leaned against it as I stood on the porch. “If anything too spooky happens tonight, you can always crash here.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I smiled the entire walk home.

***

The day Theo appeared to me was one I’d never forget.

It was the morning after my dinner with Carter, and I was in my office working on the new book. That familiar creak in the floorboard in the hall reached my ears, and I kept working, having learned to ignore it.

Then a figure moved from the corner of my eye.

When I looked up, Theo stood inside the room, one hand in his pocket and the other hanging at his side. His head was cocked toward me, and his brow furrowed. He wore dark slacks tapered at the bottom, a light gray vest, and a white button-up shirt with the sleeves pushed to his elbows.

I couldn’t speak. Could barely even breathe.

Am I going crazy? This can’t be real.

Yet, it was.

“Who are you?” he asked, his voice smooth and crystal clear. It wasn’t whispery or eerie like movies portrayed ghosts.

Another moment passed where it felt like my tongue was glued to the roof of my mouth. But then I answered, “Ben Cross.”

Theo’s form flickered, albeit briefly, and he moved closer. I found myself peeking over the desk to see if he glided or actually used his legs. I discovered it was the latter. If I hadn’t known any better, I’d think he was human.

Well, apart from the paleness of his skin and the way the air grew colder when he neared the desk.

“Ben Cross,” he repeated, now in front of me. “And why are you here?”

I’m talking to a ghost. What the actual hell is going on?

“I-I live here.” I licked my lips and tried to calm my racing heartbeat. “You’re Theo Blackwell…aren’t you?”

“Yes.” He stood a bit straighter, touching a hand to his chest. “This is my manor.”