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“With the way you were staring at the living girl, you’re not far off.” Viper nodded his mohawked-topped head to the bar at Anastacia. “She your girl or something? Your unfinished business?”
Mel caught Anastacia’s laughter again, his chest constricting and inflating at the same time. He sighed with a shrug, “Nah, I promised to protect her.”
“I can respect that.” Ralphy gestured to the daiquiri. “How about we drink to her then?”
Mel stared at the drink, so tempted to lose himself in it, but he couldn’t when there was a chance of Anastacia needing him. “I got to decline, but it’s something to look forward to.”
“Not gonna impress her if you can’t wine and dine her.” Viper pointed at Mel’s face.
“I’ll leave that up to the living. He seems to be doing a great job of it.” Mel watched Knight as he scooted closer to Anastacia, his arm draping over the back of her chair. Something flared too close to jealousy for Mel’s liking, pivoting on his own words. “You know, I will try a drink.”
“That’s a boy,” Viper crowed. “Now, the secret is to focus on a single emotion. Longing is usually a great one to hang on to for wanting to eat. Think you can pull from it?”
“From longing?” Mel’s eyes trailed back to Anastacia’s gleeful profile. “I think I can manage.”
“The trick is to leave the drink where it is and hope it has a straw so you don’t weird out the living.” Viper nodded at the straw hanging out of the daiquiri. “Focus on the longing and pull the drink to you with it. Try it.”
Mel felt the pang of longing in his chest, but it called out for a person, not a drink. With stubborn tenacity, he refocused the pull toward the drink and sipped through the straw. The flavored rum mix drink covered his tongue. The taste was dulled, but it was there.
“Doesn’t have the same kick,” Mel commented after a quick swallow, swiping his tongue along the sides of his mouth.
“Nothing really does when you’re no longer there to live it.” Viper shrugged and gulped down a few long sips from his drink.
Mel tried to touch the martini glass stem, but his hand still phased through the glass. “Still not solid enough.”
“It’ll come with time. So will the sting of loss,” Ralphy assured Mel.
“Yeah, my life wasn’t all that to miss.”
“You lose things even after death.” Viper swung his arm and pinched Mel’s chin back to Anastacia.
She was more casual, more relaxed, and more confident at the moment. He was watching her be herself without having to worry about the spirits and what they wanted from her. She flourished when she had control, no longer focused on how to keep spirits and her gift at bay. Other spirits didn’t distract her as they stayed away with him nearby. He wished he could give her more time before crossing over so she could have more opportunities to let go. She was radiant, shining brighter than the gold in her eyes ever could. And, he reminded himself, it was largely because of him. She couldn't have this without him, which made the tension at seeing her so unburdened with Knight even more ridiculous.
“Even opportunities you never had a chance to explore.” Viper finished and tapped Mel on his cheek.
Mel ducked from under his arm to make his way back to Anastacia. “Thanks for the tip, gentleman. I have to get going.”
“Enjoy your evening!” Viper and Ralphy echoed one another.
Mel followed the flow of the crowd back to Anastacia’s side.
As he drew closer, he could see the water dripping from Anastacia’s eyes. Anger flashed as his mind whirled through the possible ways he could hurt whoever hurt her.
She wiped a tear with the back of her hand and stuffed down another spoonful of gumbo, immediately chasing it with a long gulp of water.
“You okay there, dawlin’?” Knight rubbed her back with a laugh. “The burn finally kicked in, huh?”
Anastacia briefly paused her eating to answer, “It’s just so good.”
“You’re welcome.” Knight’s voice turned warm and gentle, hand still rubbing circles along her back.
Mel noticed there was no sarcasm or arrogance in Knight’s words. He was taking joy in introducing Anastacia to something she obviously enjoyed. Even as a twinge of jealousy pinged inside whatever space Mel inhabited, he couldn’t blame Knight. Anastacia was glowing, and he wanted to bask in it.
Anastaciarolledoutofbed and dragged herself to the bathroom for her morning ritual, hazarding a glance toward where Mel still stood, watching out the window. She shrugged it off, happy he was staring at something during the night other than her. She kept the shower water cooler than usual to wake herself up. Once dried off, she dressed in something a bit more casual but still professional. She pulled her hair into a high ponytail, dropping the lanyard holding her consultant badge around her neck. With a deep breath, she opened the door to leave the bathroom but caught herself in the mirror. She tilted her head at her reflection and hummed. Still just the average Anastacia, but the spark behind her eyes was unrelated to her gift.
“Not bad. Trying to impress someone?”
She twisted to the side where Mel leaned on the door jamb.
