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Before she knew it, they were standing toe to toe. She looked up into his face while he looked down at her, wonder and confusion and elation written in his eyes. Cassie couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her mouth, even though it made her sound like a love-struck teenager. She refused to be embarrassed. His presence washed away any hint of darkness closing in on her earlier.
“How?” Jason brushed a piece of hair away from her face and shook his head, as if to reset his focus. “What are you doing here?”
“Work trip.” She wasn’t sure she could speak in complete sentences. “Only a couple days.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Didn’t know.” She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. Come on, Quinn. Pull yourself together. “I didn’t know you would be here. A couple people at the museum invited me out. I almost didn’t come.”
Jason’s smile widened. His voice was low and measured, but she didn’t miss a single word. “I’m glad you did.”
Cassie forced herself to look at his table. They were all staring at them. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just wanted to say hi. I’ll let you get back to your family.”
“No, no.” Panic crossed his face. “Have a drink with me? Just one. If I buy them a round, they’ll leave us alone for at least fifteen minutes. Twenty if Kiki is feeling generous.”
“Okay.”
“Really? Are you sure?” Jason looked around. “Do you have to get back to your table?”
“I can stay for a drink.” She was giddy with the idea. “Jules won’t leave without me.”
“Awesome.” Jason was breathless. “Wait right there. I’ll be back. Don’t leave.”
She laughed. “I won’t.” When he still didn’t move, she placed her hand on his chest and pushed. “I won’t.”
Jason returned to his table, and everyone leaned in close to hear what he was saying. Simultaneously, six heads turned in her direction. Cassie could feel the blush on her face reaching her toes. She waved, and Kiki threw her head back and laughed. Ty whooped. One of the other cousins slapped Jason on the back. A moment later, he was by her side again.
“Kiki promised me she’d behave, but I don’t trust her. She’s had a lot of rum.” They found a spot next to the bar. “What are you drinking?”
“Tequila sunrise.”
Jason waited for the bartender to sp
ot them, then ordered her drink and a round of shots for the table. He got a glass of water.
“Designated driver?”
Jason nodded. “We drew straws. I think Ethan rigged it.”
She laughed. “I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged. “It’s okay. We’ll probably be doing a lot of drinking over the next few days. My family isn’t really into the whole mourning period thing. It’s more about throwing parties and getting together. But it helps, in its own way.”
“I’m Irish. I know how that goes.” Cassie’s smile faded. “Were you close?”
“Yeah. Most of us grew up together. A few of us have moved away, but most of the family still lives around here. We get together as much as we can.” Jason took a sip of water and turned to Cassie. His eyes were darker now than they’d been in the video. Sadness had clouded their light. “Jasmine had a heart defect, so she’d been sick her whole life. Doctors told her she wouldn’t live past forty, but she was doing well, all things considered. It’s not like this was her first surgery. She got through it, but I guess it took its toll.”
“Complications?”
Jason nodded. “That’s what they told us. We thought she’d been doing fine, but a couple days later, she just crashed. Everyone was surprised. Her sister—” Jason’s voice cracked. He cleared it before he moved on. “She’s taking it pretty hard.”
Cassie remembered the dream she had on the airplane. She didn’t know the woman in the bed—hadn’t been able to read her chart—but she hoped it wasn’t Jason’s cousin. If so, how would she tell him there was something more going on? How could she explain his cousin’s death wasn’t because of complications but a Ghost Doctor meddling in the affairs of the living?
She settled for the only other words she could think of in the moment. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.” He smiled, and though there was still pain behind it, it seemed genuine. “But what about you? How are you doing?”
Cassie fought the urge to say she was fine, that life was going great. He’d been honest with her about what was going on with him, so the least she could do was pay it back in kind. “I’m okay.”
