Page 54 of The Ghost of Ellwood

That’s what caused this.

He hadn’t become distant until Shane called me.

“I invited Carter as my friend. Nothing more.”

“That changes nothing. You’ll grow bored of me when you see how much you’re giving up.” His voice cracked. “You might as well choose Carter now to spare us both the misery.”

I took hold of Theo’s hand. I needed to tell him I didn’t want Carter and that everything he said was wrong. Before I could say a word, the doorbell rang.

“Your guests are here.”

And with my eyes full of tears, I watched as he faded away.

***

“Wow, Ben. This is one hell of a place,” Shane said, taking off his sunglasses as he stepped into the house. Back in the day, he’d been a linebacker on the football team, and he still had that broad-shouldered, stocky look to him. “Must’ve cost you a small fortune.”

“Nah, not really. I got a good deal. The previous owner wanted to sell it quickly, and I lucked out.”

I really did feel lucky. Meeting Theo had changed my life. He’d opened my eyes to a brand new world…even if he was being a stubborn asshole right now.

“The quiet must be nice for work,” he said, gazing up at the staircase. His blue eyes narrowed. “But unsettling. It’s way too quiet. I’d lose my damn mind.”

“I like it quiet.” I rubbed the side of my head where the headache from earlier had only worsened. “The city was too noisy.”

“Hey, Ben.” James stepped through the front door, shamefaced but hopeful. “I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

Oh, there were a million sarcastic things I could say. Fortunately, I chose to hold my tongue. There was no reason we couldn’t be civil toward one another. He’d done me a favor by dumping me. Because of our breakup, I’d moved to Ivy Grove. I’d met Carter and Theo, two people I couldn’t imagine not ever knowing.

“Thanks. I take it you and Shane are doing just as well?”

“Uh.” James lightly coughed. “Yeah. We’re, uh, doing good. Thinking of buying a house together.”

“Might as well come out and say it.” Shane scratched at the stubble on his cheek. “We got engaged.”

I couldn’t say it was exactly shocking. They’d been together for a year before I ever found out about the affair. Any normal guy would’ve kicked both their asses and tossed them out the door, but I wasn’t normal. Far from it.

“That’s awesome. Congrats,” I said, sincere in the sentiment. “Even though you’re both goddamn assholes, I’m happy for you.”

James and I exchanged a smile, and it felt…great. I didn’t like holding onto bitterness.

“Did you get the boxes?” Shane asked.

I’d received the shipment of books yesterday. The delivery guy had helped me carry them into the house, and before he’d left, he had taken one look around the foyer and practically ran out. He must’ve felt that uneasiness Caroline described.

“Yeah. I noticed my last two books weren’t among the copies.”

“Well, to be blunt, Cross, those books sucked and you know it.”

A loud bang came from upstairs.

James and Shane nearly broke their necks by how fast their heads snapped up to look at the balcony.

“What in God’s name was that?” James asked.

Good question. What the hell, Theo?

“Ah, probably just the house settling.” That was the reasoning everyone gave when they heard noises in an old home, right? “Or maybe one of the pictures I hung earlier fell off the wall. I’m a writer, not a handyman.”