Page 225 of Love at First Fright

Bat’s tongue swept into my mouth. His fingers tangled in my hair. The ring box pressed uncomfortably against my ribs where he’d dropped it between us, but I didn’t care. Couldn’t care. The entire world narrowed to this—his lips, his warmth, his impossible existence.

He pulled back just enough to murmur against my mouth: “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I whispered back. “You absolute nightmare.”

He laughed. Grabbed the ring from its box with slightly trembling fingers and slid it onto my hand. It somehow fit perfectly—though I could easily imagine him measuring my finger while I slept, the sneaky bastard.

The audience was still going wild. Mum was sobbing and Emily was definitely crying too—mascara running down her face whilst she recorded everything. Mike and Emma were on their feet, clapping so hard their hands were a blur.

Bat helped me stand. Kept one arm wrapped firmly around my waist like he thought I might bolt.

I wasn’t going anywhere.

“Right,” Bat said into the microphone, grinning so wide it had to hurt. “One more song. This one’s for my fiancé.”

Fiancé.

Holy shit.

He handed his electric guitar to a stagehand. A moment later, they passed him the acoustic—the one from Grimthorne, battered and loved, the one he’d begged me to take with me. The one we often played together in our flat, composing melodies at 2:00 a.m. when neither of us could sleep.

He adjusted the strap. His fingers found the strings, and the opening notes filled the venue—something slower this time. Tender.

I started to step away, to give him space to perform, but Bat’s hand shot out and caught my wrist.

“Stay,” he said quietly. Not into the microphone. Just to me.

So I stayed.

Stood there beside him whilst he sang about love that transcended death, about second chances, about building homes in each other’s hearts. His voice wrapped around me like a blanket. Safe. Warm.

The journalist was frantically scribbling.

The crowd swayed in time with the music.

And I stood on that stage with a ring on my finger and thought, this is real. This is actually happening.

I fell in love with a ghost.

And then I got to keep him.

The End