Chapter 44
CHAPTER 44
“ W ould you be quiet?” Merritt shouts over my screams. “You’re going to wake the dead.”
“Very funny,” I grouse.
Merritt Garrett stands before me in all of her otherworldly glory, her blue countenance glowing like a neon Vacancy sign at a no-tell motel—the Bates Motel to be exact.
“What are you doing here?” My heart skips, speeds up, and generally acts like it’s about to vacate my body. Not a good sign when you’re about to get married to the man of your dreams.
“I came to say goodbye,” Merritt says with a shrug, as if popping in unannounced is the most natural thing for an ex-nemesis-turned-ghost to do. “And I brought someone along who wanted to say hello.”
She nods to her left, and the temperature in the cabin drops as a new form materializes beside her in a giant flash of lightning. And I gasp as I spot his face.
My very first bad decision just showed up in a leather jacket, looking just as broody and beautiful as he did in high school. There he is, glowing like a star and looking every bit as youthful as he did way back when.
Dark hair, dark eyes, and that brooding expression that had bad boy written all over him. And have I mentioned the I-don’t-care slouch that sent all the teachers and the girls into a tizzy? It’s him, all right. Except now he’s glowing like some kind of divine rockstar. And he was one to me back in the day.
“John Mackenzie?” I gasp as my voice trembles somewhere between laughter and tears. “Johnny!” Without even thinking, I throw my arms around him, and to my utter shock, he feels just as solid and real as I do.
I pull back, blinking up at him. “Wow, I can’t believe this. You look great! I mean, I know you’re dead and all, but hey, they don’t call it the afterlife for nothing. You’re still very much alive, in a way. You look happy and well. I’ve always wanted that for you.”
His eyes soften as he takes my hands in his. “I know. And I’m sorry, Trixie. I’m sorry I ruined things between us.”
“You didn’t ruin anything,” I say, shaking my head. “Okay, so you might have ruined things a little. But hey, life is messy. It’s not meant to be perfect.”
He chuckles, and it’s a sound that instantly pulls me back to those sun-soaked afternoons behind the bleachers.
“Well, mine is perfect now,” he says. “And one day, yours will be, too.”
“Mine is about to be perfect today,” I tell him, trying to blink back the tears stinging my eyes. “I’m getting married again. And I swear, this time, it’s sticking.”
“I heard.” He flashes that old cocky grin, dimples and all. “You make a beautiful bride, Trixie Troublefield. Don’t think I won’t be waiting for you in Paradise, though. I’m still planning to win you back.”
We share a good-natured laugh—sans Merritt.
Merritt stalks over and picks up his hand. “All right. Enough of this fluffy talk.” She yanks him her way. “Johnny is going to show me every inch of my new home—Paradise. And with Johnny by my side, it really will be.” She looks my way. “And just for the record, I might still win him over yet.”
Just like that, they fade into a dazzling display of miniature stars.
“ Goodbye, Johnny ,” I call out. “Goodbye, Merritt!”
Before I can fully catch my breath, there’s a knock at the door.
“Mom? Are you ready?” It’s Abbey, my precious baby girl. “It’s time to get married!”