Page 31 of A Love Like Candle Light

“Well, you damn sure got yourself your own ghost,” Gabriella declares. “No other explanation for it.”

“Figures.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, then rub my eyes. “Of course, I would.”

“Look at the bright side. It could have been an intruder.” She tilts her head. “Then again, at least then the sexy officer could have come to save you. However,” she lowers her voice and wriggles her eyebrows, “the sexy officer can also come rescue you from ghosts. Just saying.”

“I’m not calling what’s probably the hottest guy in the city because I have a ghost problem. He’s no Ghost Buster,” I mumble with an eye roll and return my focus to my laptop.

Time to pull up my email inbox. It’s about as full as I suspected. However, I don’t notice any burning emergencies there.

“At least your ghost is putting pictures level instead of throwing books at you. Imagine all the cleaning up you’d have to do with a Poltergeist, so really, you should consider your ghost a silver lining. It could be worse.” She shrugs. “But listen, I didn’t only call you to catch up. I have an issue with my anti-aging campaign I’d love your thoughts on. Do you have a minute?”

“Sure,” I whisper, shooting another anxious glance over my shoulder.

Before I know it, my work day is over. The sun is setting behind the mountains on the other side of the lake. Sometime around early evening, the sky cleared up, making for the cutest orange cotton candy sunset.

Its beauty is a stark contrast to the crater reminders in my garden. Are there any flowers or plants I can get settled before winter? Now, with the earth nice and dug up, would be a good opportunity to plant some.

Silver linings and all that.

The house is dark and eerily quiet as Abby and I return from a short nightly walk along the shore. I chalk it up to still being creeped out by the random sound earlier, but Abby freezes up in the doorway and peers into the darkness, ears turned forward.

“Don’t do this to me, Abby,” I whisper and flick on the light.

The difference is like night and day. One second ago, she was stiff as a board and stared into the darkness. As soon as the light went on, she relaxes and shakes out her rigid muscles, then glances up at me with wide eyes, tongue hanging out of her mouth.

“Okay. Note to self, keep all of the lights on,” I mumble to myself and walk inside, but the eerie feeling won’t go away. It’s as if an angry stare drills into the back of my head.

Somebody has to be here. And even though a part of me doesn’t want to believe it’s anything paranormal, at this point I can’t come to a different conclusion.

I reach for my phone. Fuck, who can I even call?

Nic and Lauren don’t strike me as calm and collected in the face of a ghost. On the other hand, at least they’re already convinced my house is haunted and I won’t feel as ridiculous.

Kieran? No offense, but he might be more easily jump scared than I am.

Which leaves me with one person I can call.

Before I change my mind, I pull up his contact, press ‘call’ and hold the cold smartphone screen against my cheek. Please answer.

“Hey, this is Erik.” Oh, thank God.

“Hi, Kylie here,” I whisper. “Sorry for calling you so late, and at all, but I’m kind of freaking out a little. Okay, maybe a lot.”

“What is going on?” There’s rustling on his end of the line, his voice tight.

“My doors keep slamming shut and I feel as if someone’s watching me. Full disclosure, it might be a ghost.” I bury my face in my palm, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I sound ridiculous. “I’m sorry, this is dumb, but I’m seriously about to reconsider camping.”

I’m not even sure what I’m trying to get out of this call. Some assurance, or for him to talk me out of the impeding panic attack. However, his next words send goosebumps all over my skin and make emotions clog my throat.

“I’ll be right there.” The call ends, and I stare at my phone’s dark screen.

I’ll be right there.

That easy.

I pull my lip between my teeth and suck in a shaky breath, eyes burning with tears. After years of having my needs ignored, a goddamn stranger gives me more attention, more reassurance, than my ex-husband who I was with for almost a decade.

I’ll be right there.