Chapter 11
Pete
Mom’s face when Berlina had yelled at her to get her ass out of here had been priceless.
She’d been fuming in front of the TV, daring Mom to ever set foot in Jackson’s apartment again without an invite.
It was hilarious. Even Sven had stood with his arms crossed and shook his head in disappointment.
They were not okay with Jackson and me being interrupted on our first day together, and I had to agree with them.
“Did you remember to turn off the stove?” Jackson asked.
“I did,” I assured him before walking into the kitchen and grabbing our dinner. “Want to eat in here or in front of the TV?”
He grabbed both our plates and without answering, just walked back into the living room. I smiled, shaking my head as I followed behind.
“He’s so adorable,” Berlina gushed as I passed her. I shot her a grin, unable to answer that, yes, he definitely was. Sexy too.
Jackson placed our plates on the coffee table and patted the couch cushion next to him. I sat, still smiling like a loon. And just then the light began flickering.
“Oh fuck,” Berlina muttered and then Sven disappeared, likely to find the reason.
“That’s weird,” Jackson said, getting up from the couch. He seemed wary, like he was afraid, or worried it would be something bad.
“I think it’s just the power that had a slight malfunction or something,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t worry too much.
He’d told us back when we first met that he was afraid of ghosts and flickering lights were often something people associated with ghost activity.
And I had a strong suspicion that it actually was what had caused it this time.
Sven returned and shook his head. So not a ghost then. Thank fuck. I really didn’t want to deal with a newly passed right now. I was truly thankful I had Berlina and Sven’s help. They would’ve easily helped the newly deceased so I could focus on Jackson.
“Do you think I need to check it out?” Jackson asked from the hallway.
“Nah, it was just a flicker.” That seemed to reassure him and he returned to the living room.
“I’m sorry I’m being all weird about it.”
I cocked my head. “You’ve already told me about your fear of ghosts, and flickering lights could be triggering. I get it.”
He sat down next to me and looked vulnerable, almost defeated. “You don’t find it weird that a grown man is afraid of ghosts?”
I shook my head. “I know people have their fears and phobias and no one likes feeling afraid, so why would I find it weird? You’re only human.”
“I guess my father’s words still make me believe I’m different, weak, for fearing something you can’t see.”
I decided I needed a bit more information, and I finally had the perfect opening for it. “If you don’t mind telling me, what happened back when you were a child?”
He sighed. “My grandma lived in this huge old house in the countryside and… so many things happened, Pete. Like sounds and things moving on their own. And I even caught her talking to herself as if she had a full conversation with someone who wasn’t there.
The scariest part was that once I overheard her speaking about me, so I snuck in closer to hear what she said, and then it was as if she had eyes on her back, because she twirled and found me spying on her.
I’d made no sound, but she knew right where I was. ”
Okay. I had to admit that sounded scary as hell. I also suspected that his grandma was a medium. We tended to have a lot of ghosts around us, some we collected from other people they were bound to, or they’d attached themselves to us and followed us home, something they could only do with mediums.
“I wouldn’t have liked that experience either,” I said.
My upbringing had been different, since I couldn’t remember not ever seeing or hearing ghosts.
But what Jackson had described would traumatize anyone.
And the fact his grandma hadn’t helped him deal with it made me angry.
Yes, he'd been a child and she could hope he would one day forget, but in our line of work we knew better than to brush off the fear of ghosts just because we were used to them ourselves.
“You wouldn’t?”
“Hell no. It sounds creepy as fuck. But you said you’d been in therapy?” He nodded. “Something you think would be good to do again?”
He shook his head. “I still believe I got what I could out of it. But this one experience at my grandma’s wasn’t my only experience. I… I’ve repressed a lot of them, and I don’t want to bring them forth again.”
“I respect that. Thank you for telling me.” It couldn’t have been easy on him, and I found I fell for him even more because of it.
“First day of dating and we’ve already faced mothers and phobias. We aren’t wasting our time,” he said, grinning. I joined in and then we began eating the now cold pasta.
I woke up on the couch. Frowning, I scanned the darkened room.
Jackson wasn’t with me and the TV was off.
Had he seriously left me here and gone to bed without me?
Second day of dating and already heading to our first argument.
I stood and got ready to get all mad, but then I almost fell over Jackson.
“Ow!” he yelped.
“Why are you on the floor?!” I snapped, both angry and startled now.
“There wasn’t room on the couch,” he explained, like that was perfectly normal.
“You have a bed, actually two if you count Mike’s.”
“I didn’t want to wake you, and it felt wrong leaving you sleeping in here alone.”
Damn. Was there truly a more perfect man out there? No way. I’d hit the jackpot.
“Sorry if I hurt you,” I said, immediately deflating. I had been ready to fight and had gotten myself all angry, only for him to surprise me with just how perfect he was.
He rubbed at where I’d hit him. “It’s nothing, you just startled me.”
“Sorry,” I winced, glad I wasn’t able to see him clearly.
“Don’t be. Do you need to use the bathroom?”
“The bathroom?” I asked, cocking my head.
“Yeah. Wasn’t that why you woke up?”
Oh. “Yes! Pee. I need to pee.” I gingerly moved around him and hurried into the bathroom.
I couldn’t admit to him that I was gearing up to demand cuddles.
I shook my head, angry at myself for thinking so poorly of Jackson.
So, what if he’d gone to bed to get some sleep.
We hadn’t established what we were both comfortable with yet.
It made sense Jackson hadn’t carried me into his bed. It was rather… noble of him.
“Pete?” Sven’s voice had me jumping on the spot.
Holding my heart and trying to stifle the scream that wanted to escape, I steeled myself and took some calming breaths as I waited for him to continue.
“Sorry for startling you. Someone just died and isn’t taking it well.
He’s messing with the light in the apartment two floors up.
I just wanted to give you a heads up if he comes down here.
Berlina is with him and trying to calm him down.
” I was glad I had their help; they knew about Jackson’s fears and were trying to protect him.
“Thank you,” I whispered, not wanting Jackson to think I was going crazy, and I also didn’t want to trigger his bad memories of his grandmother.
“It’s no problem. That’s the bad part about living in a building with more people.
It means more ghosts too.” I nodded. That was the reason my family always moved into houses.
Granted not everyone could afford it, but it was hard keeping ghosts out as it was.
If I lived here full time, I would spend every day banishing ghosts and helping them move on.
With our house it was easier because no one died there, making the ghost count smaller.
Maybe I should consider finding a tiny home for me and Jackson?
I knew it would be too soon for him, so I wouldn’t bring it up yet.
But I was in this for life. Jackson was mine, so I better start planning for our future now that I knew it was realistic and not just a dream anymore.
I got paid a lot doing what I did, which was also why the mediums in my family had the means to buy houses.
I just needed to do a check before buying that the ghost situation wouldn’t be out of my control.
Five or less ghosts would be preferable, but I also had to be realistic.
A sudden knock on the door had me jumping again. “You okay in there?”
I smiled. He was worried about me. “Yes, sorry! Just tired.” Sven had disappeared, so I quickly left the bathroom and found Jackson waiting for me in the hallway.
“Let’s get some sleep.” He took my hand in his and led me to his bedroom. This was so much better than the couch, and in his case, the floor. “If you prefer sleeping in Mike’s room I won’t be offended.”
Like hell I would.
Instead of answering, I pulled off my jeans, leaving me in my panties, socks, and his T-shirt.
Pulling the comforter from his bed, I snuggled under Jackson’s covers and waited for him to join me.
He chuckled and removed his own clothes and I cursed the darkness for hiding my view of his body.
He was down to his boxers but I couldn’t see all the details I wanted.
He got into bed and moved closer, not close enough, though, so I closed the space between us, sighing with contentment as my head rested on his firm chest. His arm came around my waist and I felt protected and cared for.
This was my dream come true, and I was going to enjoy every second, not taking anything for granted.