Page 68 of Within These County Lines

“It doesn’t hurt,” Xander says, looking down with a grimace. “But it definitely doesn’t feel good.”

“Whitley, stop!” I lunge forward and yank her back by the shoulders.

She gasps, cradling her arm against her chest. “I felt nothing.”

“You wouldn’t,” I say.

“Is he mad?”

Xander laughs and shakes his head. The loose dust particles from his shirt zoom back into their original place. “No,” I say.

She lets out a long exhale. “Okay, so, if he’s going to the party, how do we talk to him?”

“Through Stetson,” Xander says. “Our designated medium.”

“I’ll tell you when you need to know something,” I add.

“Okay,” Whitley says slowly, narrowing her eyes. “Don’t talk shit about me behind my back.”

“I think Xander has more important things to worry about.”

“I don’t know about that.” Xander taps his chin. “I’ve been alone for so long, a gossip session sounds fun. What’s Whitley’s dirtiest secret?”

I laugh.

“Don’t laugh at me,” Whitley says. “I was setting ground rules. You didn’t say if he was a friendly ghost.”

I smack my forehead. “That wasn’t at you. That was for Xander.”

Whitley gasps. “Did he say something nasty?”

“Oh my god.” I throw my arms up. “This is stressing me out. Let’s just get to the party.”

“We’re waiting on you.” She opens a beer bottle. “Does he drink?”

Xander nods.

“Yes,” I say as I pull on a shirt.

Whitley hands me the bottle. “Then here, pass this to him.”

I do. He takes a swig.

Whitley screams.

I jump. “What’s wrong?”

“The bottle,” she says. Her voice trembles. “It just . . . It vanished in the air.”

Xander wipes his upper lip with the back of his hand. “The bottle’s a part of me now.”

“Um,” I begin, scratching my head. “Yeah, that can happen. I told you I wasn’t making this up.”

Whitley runs a hand through her hair. “I can’t believe this.”

“Well, at least you have two more bottles.”

“Thankfully.” She picks up one of the remaining beers and chugs half of it. “I’m going to need them.”