Corinne’s mom launches into breathing exercises. The entire time, she makes little mewling noises and whispers to thin air. If Ithought my session with Corinne was bizarre, her mother might prove more so.
“Are you seeing itthistime?” I whisper to Nina. She bobs her head.
“She came to you for a reading, did she not? She must’ve been somewhat familiar with thisworld.” Her haughty behavior is raising my hackles, but I tamp them down, hoping to get something out of this disaster of a meet and greet.
She takes another deep breath, closes her eyes, and folds her hands on top of the table. When she’s done meditating or whatever it is she’s doing, she looks back at me with a softer disposition.
“My spirit guides have strongly encouraged me to help you.”
“Thank you?”
I’m not sure who I’m thanking—her or these guides she speaks of. Either way, my chest fills with air, and I can breathe easier.
“There’s another spirit here who wants your permission to manifest.”
I chew the inside of my cheek, waiting for someone—anyone—to clarify. They don’t.
“Anotherspirit?” Nina pipes up, coming to the rescue when I’m at a loss for words.
The older woman nods. “When you arrived, a young, rather handsome man accompanied you.”
My eyes narrow, knowing full well who she’s referencing, but hoping maybe another—actually attractive and less assholish—ghost is now following me. “What does this young man look like?”
She purses her lips.
“Beyond the handsome part, I mean.”
She sighs. “He’s wearing a hooded sweatshirt.”
Billy.
“Ugh. Please don’t stroke his ego. The man is intolerable.”
“I’m also right here,” he says from behind me, and my butt lifts about two inches off the chair. A rather pathetic-sounding squeal bounces off the dark walls. I’ve grown accustomed to him popping up out of the blue, but in this place, with my nerves on edge, he manages to catch me off guard.
“Who is it?” Nina squeaks, head between her shoulders, hands cupping her eyes.
“See what I mean, Natalia?” he says, motioning toward me. “She’s a stick in the mud, and her friends aren’t much better.”
Natalia, is it? Go figure—the ghost got her name before I did.
She chuckles. “They’re human. Mundane. Give them a break.”
“Thank you.” I bob my head. “Wait...”
I’m not sure that was a compliment, but at this point, I’ll take any help with shutting Billy the hell up.
“Who is she talking to?” Nina asks, voice pitching. “Is there someone here I can’t see?”
I turn my head to Nina. “Yeah. An asshat named Billy Garet.”
Her eyes widen, head swinging back and forth, trying to find him. She won’t.
“Billy Garet? As in Neda and Jase Garet’s son?”
I pull a face. “No idea.”
“How does she know my parents?” Billy asks, pointing at Nina.
