Page 48 of Flirty Fall Fling

“Sorry, totally not awake yet. Please repeat it.”

“I was just saying how worked up I was getting over it. I’ve never been that close to anything supernatural.”

“Ah.”

Sir Charles hops onto the chair beside me, stealing my attention away. I reach for him, and he actually lets me pet his head before he lifts his paw to bat at me. I laugh it off. Little turd.

“I honestly didn’t hear anything,” Winter admits. “But that doesn’t mean anything. I sleep like the dead. One time, an ambulance backed down my parents’ street, beeping its head off. I was the only one who was surprised in the morning. It woke up every house.”

“Damn,” I say, but I’m also happy about that.

Josie shivers with her whole body, excited and terrified, all at once. “What if he was watching me shower?”

It takes all the willpower I have not to spew my coffee everywhere.

Winter stares at her. “What if he’s a hot ghost? I shouldn’t, but for some reason, I’m imagining Patrick Swayze’s ghost being in the house. Someone, get me a clay wheel.”

Josie tilts her head. “Who is that?”

Winter is offended.

I speak up. “Maybe you were just drifting off and imagined it?”

“I thought that, but then I heard it again,” she says.

I want to talk about something else before I get back in my head and start replaying every moment. It was one of the hottest nights of my life.

She must’ve heard Jamie. Maybe she heard it all, and she’s seeing if I’ll admit it or not.

“What else?” Winter asked, now looking more concerned than before as she makes a breakfast taco.

Josie finishes chewing the huge bite she took. I’ve already polished off one, and I’m considering having another. My homemade tortilla recipe is amazing.

“Well, it was just after three when the stairs creaked, and then I heard Charlie meow. I’m pretty sure he can see dead people.”

I glance over at Charlie, who gives me the stink eye. Right now, only he and I know the truth, and it needs to stay that way.

“You know, my aunt always said he was her little familiar.” I think back to all the times weird things happened while I was here and the stories my aunt would tell me. “And she mentioned a male presence in the house too.”

That’s not a lie.

“Do you know any information about him?” Josie’s voice drops low. “Was the guy murdered here?”

She rubs goose bumps from her arms as Winter glances between us.

“I don’t think so, but I don’t know the full history of the house. I’m sure you could dig in the town archives and find more things about it. Oh, or contact the Pine Haven Historical Society. They keep extremely detailed records of the town, especially the house.”

“I think I might.” Josie abandons the last bite. “Can we do a séance and talk to him? I want to find out more info.”

“Hell no!” Winter interrupts. “Have you ever watched Beetlejuice?”

“No,” Josie says. “I don’t watch much TV.”

“That’s a crime against pop culture. Please don’t make me un-cousin you.” I finish off the rest of my coffee and stand to stretch before filling it to the top again.

She shrugs. “What can I say? I lived on a beautiful beach and wanted to be outside in the sun and sand all day.”

“Consider it added to your fall to-do list. Actually, I think I might give you a list,” I say.