“Ria told me to pass along a message,” I whisper. “If you’re good and listen to me, she’s got a special joint waiting for you.” My lips twitch despite myself. “Free of charge. One-time offer. She calls itThe Magnificent Polterbitch Blend.”
I search his face, my breath caught, praying for a reaction. But I get nothing.
My shoulders sag, the fight draining out of me.
Guess today isn’t the day.
I reach into my bag and pull out the headphones, letting the music call him back to me, note by note, hoping it helps him find his way home.
Ghost
The Wish
A life that didn’t happen
“What the hell is this, adorable?” I blurt, staring like the thing is one of her pranks.
One eyebrow lifts on her, challenge written all over her face. She slaps a hand on her hip and her long, flowy summer dress flutters like it wants to come at me.
“It’s a car, Dominic,” she snaps. “Why do you look like you’ve never seen one?”
“That,” I say, jabbing a finger at the heap of metal, “is not a fucking car.Maybea toy car. And even that’d be generous. I told you to wait for me — why didn’t you wake me up before you went to rent one?” I cross my arms and, fuck me, I probably look like I’m five and sulking. “I wanted a bike. Not this… this tiny cage. Blow on it and it’ll tip over.”
She rolls her eyes so hard they almost fall out of her skull.
“Liz and I need space for shopping,” she says, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You can rent your bike later.”
I scan the parking lot. “Speaking of the devil — where’s Liz?”
She waves me off and tosses me the keys. “She went ahead. She’s waiting for us at the beach.” Then she points at the cage. “Let’s go, Dominic! I need lunch and at least three cocktails. And judging by that look on your face, maybe more than three.”
I sag and move around the cage, climbing in. The driver’s seat eats my legs. Of course it does. I slide it back, and it’s still cramped. Fuck. This thing is a coffin.
I’ll definitely punish her for this.
She settles in, and before she can blink I spin, grab the base of her neck, pull her forward and kiss her so hard she forgets how to breathe. When I let up, her lips are bright and cheeks flushed. A slow, stunned smile spreads across her face.
“Do that again,” she whispers, dazed.
I laugh and oblige. I even slide a hand and squeeze one of her tits, but stop when I feel myself going hard. Don’t want to pass the point of no return. Not yet. There’ll be time for the rest later. Some hidden, deserted corner of the beach where no one can seeme finish what I started. I peck her nose, then the corner of her mouth. She hums and clips her seatbelt on.
When I crank the engine, a ridiculously peppy song explodes from the speakers. It makes me lunge for the dial immediately, but she bats my hand away before I can turn it off.
“Leave it,” she yells over the chorus, grinning. “It’s Mamma Mia!”
She bursts into song about losing control and missing someone, delighted and shameless, swaying in her seat. I watch her, and for a second the world narrows to the way she throws herself into the moment. I swear she’s the embodiment of happiness right now. It’s the way I always want to see her. Carefree, singing and laughing.
We drive through the narrow Italian roads in a tiny Toyota with every window down, Adora singing every line, waving at people like she knows everyone on this island personally. And they wave back. They fucking wave back. The sunlight hits her hair like a halo, the wind dances through her curls — she’s all bright motion and ridiculous joy.
When we reach our destination, I cut the engine and the music dies. I push the door open, but she catches my hand before I can step out and smiles at me.
“You know, we could stay here forever,” she whispers — almost. Her voice is softer than the sea breeze.
I frown, a little confused. “Here? You don’t want to go back home?”
Her smile widens, so beautiful and bright it almost blinds me. “You’re so silly.A wish is not a promise, but a promise is a wish.Where is home, anyway?”
The way she says it gives me pause.
