Jerome smirked. “How else did you think he planned to retire as a writer?”
She stared. Then, her eyes narrowed. “What if they think you’re dead?”
He shrugged. “They won’t. And even if they do, they won’t when they see me.” He finally let her go, then held out his hand. “Can I borrow your phone?”
She grunted. “What, you think they still have the same phone number after thirty-eight years?”
He rolled his eyes. “No. I was gonna Google them. Like I said. They’re rich.” He smirked to match Jerome’s best. “Trust me. Google will know them.”
Finally, oh finally, she began to smile hesitantly as she dutifully handed over her phone. Maybe it would be okay. Maybe these really were the guys she’d been in the Between with.
Maybe things would actually, for once in her life, really be okay.
Besides, she told herself as she watched him type his family name into the search bar. He was kind of hot with a head.
Actually, now that she actually looked at them, they all were.
Huh. Who knew? The Headless Horsemen were hot.
Blushing, Esmie looked away.
12
Esmie had never been on a private plane before. It was a novel experience, to be sure. She wasn’t sure she’d get used to it, but she likely wouldn’t have the chance, so it was probably for the best.
As she sipped champagne, Jerome sitting across from her and looking out the window with every evidence of delight with Aaron sitting next to him, a brand new iPhone in hand, a frown of concentration on his face as he scrolled the financial pages to familiarize himself with today’s markets, she wondered what even was her life at this point. They’d arrived at the airport to find three new iPhones waiting, three suitcases of new, modern clothes, and three wallets full of credit cards and cash. Plus a shiny new credit card in Esmie’s name—Esmeralda Laurent, as bold as brass—which had done more than raise her eyebrows. Apparently, it had no limit. She had no idea what to do with it, so she’d tucked it into her ankle wallet and tried to forget about it.
Chad returned from the plane’s bathroom with a sheepish grin and sat back down beside her, buckling back in.
“Not something I missed,” he confided.
“I imagine not.” She looked at him through narrowed eyes. “Okay, so run this by me again? I want to make sure I get the story straight.”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s not a story. At least, not oneyouhave to tell.”
“Tell me.”
“Mom and Dad will put it out that we all died overseas in a tragic accident thirty-eight years ago. I’m Charles, the surprise grandson they never knew about. Jerome and Aaron are Jeremy and Aiden, my friends who also happen to be the surprise lovechildren of Jerome and Aaron.”
“Doesn’t that strain credulity? You guys don’t look thirty-eight.”
“Maybe. But is it any weirder than anything else going on in the world?”
“Probably not.”
They were quiet for a moment, then Chad chuckled softly.
“They’re looking for horses to buy. Big horses. Black ones.”
“Really?” She grinned. “That’s nice of them.”
“I told you. Only child.” He looked at her, his eyes serious. “I told them to look for four.”
Her eyebrows rose. “One for me? Oh, Chad, you don’t have to?—”
“Of course I do. You’re one of us now.”
She swallowed hard and looked out the window for a moment, then shook her head and changed the subject. “Are you sure you should go back to MSU? You know you’ll have to retake all your classes. And aren’t you worried? I mean, what if someone recognizes you from back in the day?”
