Chapter Seven
Dylan
Mike was a mess when he returned from his first work day. Rino had to drive him home and when Rino handed him over to me in the doorway, he was swaying on his feet. Rino helped me bring him inside and onto the couch, then started telling me what I could do to help Mike during this process.
“It’s rare that new mediums are this affected,” Rino continued, eyeing Mike with guilt and worry where he was now asleep on the couch. “I think it might be because of Erik’s presence. But both Erik and Mike want to work together, so there’s not much I can do to ease the drain on his energy.”
“I’ll do my best to help him,” I promised, watching the guy I was madly in love with make small snoring sounds.
“I know you will,” Rino smiled softly. “Can I have your number in case of an emergency?”
I grabbed my phone and handed it over without protest. I hated seeing Mike like this, so drained and utterly defenseless.
“I don’t have any ghosts here other than Erik, do I?” Pete had cleared my apartment once I’d gotten it, mostly so he could fully relax while visiting, but I could very well have acquired new ones without my knowledge.
“Only Erik,” Rino replied, still smiling kindly at me.
“It’s the best place for Mike to rest up.
The least amount of ghosts the better for his energy.
Erik will keep his distance to help, too, but since he’s attached to Mike he’ll need to stay in the apartment. He can’t move farther away than that.”
“If Erik is the only one here, could he write stuff down on a notepad if I left it out with a pen?” I knew ghosts could touch items if there weren’t other ghosts around that they had to share energy with, but maybe this would be too complicated for Erik to do.
“He can,” Rino answered. “And he seems elated that he’ll be able to speak with you, too.”
“Great.” I breathed out a relieved sigh, then went in search of some paper and a pen, eager to converse with a ghost for the first time.
“I’ll leave you to it, text me if you need help with anything.”
I gave Rino a grateful nod and locked the door behind him.
“Since you can hear me, I was thinking that I would talk and you could write your answer,” I said, not knowing where Erik was but figured he would hear me just fine as long as he was in the apartment.
“I’ve put the journal and pen in the kitchen so it’s farther away from Mike.
If you leave me a note and I’m not seeing it, you have my permission to slam the cupboards or turn on the kitchen faucet to get my attention. ”
I stood next to said journal and saw as the pen moved effortlessly over the page.
Thank you! I wish to be as much help as possible for Mike, but I need to keep my distance until he feels better.
“Did Rino say anything about when he should return to work? I doubt from the look of him, that Mike will be well enough to function tomorrow.” I was actually betting on him being a zombie for more than a day.
The way he’d swayed into the apartment, his eyes vacant and lifeless.
I’d never seen anyone look so depleted before. My poor Mike.
He’s off for tomorrow, but I didn’t catch more than that. I tried to stay as far away as possible when Mike started to stumble.
“Okay,” I nodded, feeling relieved by that. “I’ll make him more comfortable and cook some soup.”
I’ll stay in his room while he sleeps on the couch. Is it ok if I watch some TV in there?
I smiled. “Of course.” What a well-mannered ghost. It was obvious why Mike was so fond of him already.
Mike woke slowly around seven hours later.
I’d been a nervous wreck, simply because Mike normally snored like he was warding off attackers in his sleep, but he’d only uttered soft snores every once in a while.
I’d actually been so worried that I’d camped out on an air mattress on the floor next to him, so I could get some sleep too.
Now, Mike was blinking his gorgeous brown eyes open and staring around the darkened living room in confusion.
“Hey,” I said gently, my voice low.
His attention turned to me, and he smiled. “Hi.”
“Do you remember what happened?” I asked, getting up from the uncomfortable excuse for a bed.
“Yeah. I got drained way too fast at work. Rino started panicking and then he led me out of there. I don’t remember anything after we got into the car.”
I nodded and sat next to him on the couch, enjoying our closeness.
I felt so protective over him and considering I couldn’t do anything other than offer my presence at the moment, I felt like I’d failed him somehow.
If I could do what I really wanted to at this moment, I’d place him on my lap and cuddle him close, offering all my affection and love. But I couldn’t do that.
“Rino has given you off today so you can relax and gather your strength,” I informed him.
“Today? Just how long was I out of it?”
“Around seven hours,” I said, shrugging one shoulder. “It’s about two a.m.”
“Fuck,” he exclaimed, slumping back on the couch.
“How am I going to finish my training if just two hours of work drains me this much?” He sounded so dejected, I couldn’t help myself.
I reached one arm around his shoulders and pulled him in for a side hug, offering him the comfort he so desperately needed.
Mike was stiff at first, then all but melted against me, breathing out a long exhale. “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” I whispered, afraid to ruin the moment.
I wasn’t the one to break whatever peace had fallen over us. No, Mike’s growling stomach was the one to ruin it. We both laughed and eased out of the hug.
“I’ll heat up some soup,” I declared, leaving the living room.
“Soup?”
“I made you some,” I called from the kitchen, pleased to see no further messages on the journal from Erik.
I turned it to a blank page so it was ready for when he needed to talk to me, then ladled some soup into a bowl and placed it in the microwave.
Once it was boiling hot, I crushed some dried noodles into it, knowing Mike needed something to fill his stomach.
Rino had suggested sweet potato soup because it would help Mike gain some energy before he was fed a regular meal.
I wasn’t about to question Mike’s boss on his soup preferences.
I just did as I was told. I even added the spinach he so helpfully mentioned would be a good addition.
I had to admit it tasted okay, but I wouldn’t want to live on the stuff.
I returned to the living room, handing the bowl of soup to Mike, with an oven mitt under it so he wouldn’t get burned. His smile was beaming as he accepted the offering.
“Thank you. I can’t believe you made me soup.”
I would make anything for him.
“Of course. Rino told me what would be best to help energize you and this is it.”
“I appreciate it, even if I’m slightly horrified by how weak I was in front of my new boss.” It looked like it pained him to admit it, and he glanced at his soup with a sad look passing over his eyes. I hated seeing him like that.
“You got your powers late in life, and from what I gathered, Rino understands that. He also seemed determined to make accommodations for you, so you’re not draining so fast.”
Mike nodded, slowly scooping up some of the warm soup and tasting it. He grimaced and I laughed.
“It’s not a burger, Mike. It’s supposed to be good for you.”
He seemed sheepish when he replied, “Sorry. I truly am grateful that you went through the trouble of making this for me.”
“Trust me, if it were up to me, I would’ve made you a potato and leek soup, topped with crispy bacon and with some bread on the side.”
Mike’s stomach made another growling sound, clearly agreeing with me that my soup choice was superior.
We both laughed and soon Mike was eating through the whole bowl while we watched another episode of my current series. It wasn’t until he was done that he seemed to startle and look around frantically.
“Erik?”
“In your room,” I hurried to answer. “Rino told him to give you some space until you’d gained your energy back.”
“I hope he’s okay in there.” Mike stared at the hallway almost like he missed the ghost.
“He is.”
“How do you know? Also how do you even know where he is?”
“I talk to him via writing,” I explained. “I have a journal in the kitchen where he can leave me messages.”
“Oh, I didn’t even think about that. I bet Erik loves that he can talk to you now.” Mike seemed happy about it, maybe less burdened now that he knew I could help keep Erik entertained.
“He does,” I nodded. “I am a delight, after all,” I teased.
“That you are,” he replied with a soft smile as his kind eyes met mine.
It was almost my undoing. Mike was just so damn precious.
He couldn’t look at me like that and not expect me to be affected.
I was ready to kneel in front of him and let him do whatever he damned pleased with me. I would love it, too.
The faucet in the kitchen turned on and I sighed. “Erik needs me.” Mike didn’t even question it when I left the room.
The new note from Erik had me groaning loudly.
For a straight guy, Mike seems really into making you blush.
I whispered harshly, “So, you’re not only spying on us, you decided to ruin the moment too?”
I apologize. You’re not the only one who wants the two of you to get together, you know?
I groaned again, “Am I really that obvious?”
To me, yes. Mike seems oblivious to it, but that just makes him cuter.
“True,” I agreed, because Mike was just adorable always, but even more so when he let his guard down.
I’ll do my best to help you win his heart.
I smiled at that. I couldn’t really reject his help, besides, having a ghost help me out could be fun.
“Thank you, Erik.”