Chapter 9 Aliens and Tentacles
Chapter nine
Aliens and Tentacles
Trissa
Okay, so maybe my sanity took a little vacation and I’m currently living it up getting frisky with a ghost and borderline sexting a possible axe murderer.
That’s really not so bad, right? I sit up and stretch my cramped muscles.
As much as I love this couch, I’ve really gotta try to make it to a bed.
I frown and glance toward the hallway where the stairs are.
Casper didn’t visit me last night. I hope he wasn’t waiting upstairs all night.
I bite my lip as I stand up and trudge into the kitchen for a cup of coffee.
I unpacked the essentials in the kitchen last night—essentials being my mugs and coffee maker.
I had a grocery delivery yesterday as well, so really all that’s on my agenda today is trying to unpack some of the mountain of stuff that’s currently residing in the dining room.
I groan at the thought of all those boxes and wait impatiently as my coffee starts to sputter and drip into my cup.
At least one box of it I know I can put out on the porch.
Technically, the ‘Kyle’ box is my stuff, as it’s things I’ve bought for him over the years that he’s left at my place, but I don’t want to hang on to any of it.
I’m still a little hurt about everything that happened between us yesterday, but enough is enough.
I definitely don’t want anything romantic with him anymore…
and after last night I’m not sure we’d be able to stay friends, even if he had been open to the idea.
Besides, I have two new romantic possibilities in my life now, courtesy of my haunted house and a wrong number.
My stomach does a little flip as I stir some sugar and cream into my coffee.
Casper and Cian. Warmth spreads across my cheeks and I sigh as I pull my cup to my lips and take a sip.
Of course, I don’t actually know Casper’s name…
but until he decides to share that little tidbit with me, I’m gonna keep putting positive vibes out and refer to him as a friendly ghost.
I walk over to the couch and grab my phone before heading into the dining room.
Holy cheeseballs. The table is covered with boxes on one side, and the walls are lined with them.
I huff and set my cup down on a bit of the table that’s clear of stuff, trying to pick out which boxes might be most important.
This is gonna be a long day. I spot a box labeled ‘bathroom’ and decide to start there.
As I busy myself walking the box back to the table and opening it, I try to picture Cian.
I learned that he’s my age, that he works from home as a ghost-writer, and most importantly—he’s single and he’d be willing to come to me if we decide we want to meet in person eventually.
I know it’s insane. I know. Which is exactly why I’m not going to tell Gabbi about it.
I wrinkle my nose and carry an armful of linens upstairs to the bedroom Casper led me to yesterday.
I don’t want to keep my best friend in the dark, but she already thinks I’m crazy for having the hots for a ghost. I don’t want her to try to dissuade me from talking to Cian…
I think… deep down I think I need this. This connection to someone new.
Someone who seems to really listen and care.
I mean, he totally could have ghosted me after I dropped all that heavy stuff on him yesterday, but he did the opposite.
I can’t explain it, but I felt so calm talking to him—but so giddy at the same time!
I smile again as I put the linens away in the small closet in my bathroom.
When I come back out into the bedroom a tingle travels down my spine and I feel a brush of air against my side.
I stop in my tracks and grin, “Oh, hello Casper. I missed you last night. Did you miss me?” A feather-light wind travels down behind my ear, and I shiver at the sensation.
I debate staying and egging him on, but my coffee is getting cold and those damn boxes aren’t going to unpack themselves.
Still, I pause… “Any chance you have tentacles?” No response.
Damn. “In that case, this will have to wait ‘til later.” I plunk back down the stairs just as my phone signals a text.
I run over and snatch it up, opening my messages in a rush.
Cian: Good morning, gorgeous. I hope you slept well. What’s on the agenda today?
My face hurts from the giant smile plastered on it.
As pathetic as it sounds, this is my first ever ‘good morning, beautiful’ type of text.
Of course, Cian doesn’t actually know what I look like yet.
My face falls and I bite my cheek. Oh crap.
What if I’m low-key lusting over a grandpa?
Or like, an alien? I mean… why not, right—if ghosts are real, why not aliens?
I bounce on my heels to try to calm myself down.
I’m being ridiculous. I tilt my head to the side and squint as images of giant blue aliens from a romance series I read flash through my memory.
Okay. Actually—I think I’m good with aliens.
Trissa: Any chance you’re an alien? It’s just, you seem too good to be real. Haha…not much today, just unpacking. How about you?
Cian: Unfortunately, no. I’m actually a tentacle monster. Sorry to disappoint. Nothing much for me today, just some writing.
I blink. How odd. A prickling sensation makes my arm hair stand up, and I glance around the room before smiling and typing out a response.
Trissa: Who’s disappointed?
I chew my lip, hoping that’s not too much…
who am I kidding, I know it’s too much… but after Kyle I just can’t find it in me to pretend.
Either he likes me and my weird sense of humor and sexual fantasies, or he doesn’t.
I’d rather not get attached if it’s the latter option.
My phone dings and I look down at a Cthulu GIF and bust out laughing again.
Before I can respond to Cian music explodes in the room and I jump. I swing around trying to find where it’s coming from and spy an old radio on a table at the back end of the dining room, behind a wall of boxes. I arch a brow and look around.
“Can you turn it down just a bit?” The music instantly lowers to a volume that’s not likely to shake the decor off the walls and I take a deep breath to slow my speeding heart rate.
“Thank you.” A rush of air flows around my hips like a caress and I laugh.
It seems like both of my new friends want to play today.
“Can you pick a song for me? Maybe… maybe something to tell me how you’re feeling, you know, sharing your house with me.
” I hold my breath and try not to get my hopes up.
I’ve never had anyone dedicate a song to me, and the more these revelations start piling up, the easier the hurt over Kyle is to let go of.
I don’t need to hold onto people who are bad for me.
The jazz music that was playing stops abruptly and my mouth falls open when a familiar song comes through the speakers.
I was not expecting a cute little indie love song about crushing hard on someone.
Maybe like… Frank Sinatra or something? I laugh and start to dance around, warmth blossoming on my cheeks and inside my chest. The air around me starts to swirl and curl my hair, and I giggle like an idiot.
I’m dancing with a ghost. A ghost who has a crush on me.
The wind blows more persistently against my hips, and I feel the outline of a hand against the small of my back.
My nipples harden and I lean into the touch…
and suddenly I can see him. I can feel him!
Holy shit! He’s gorgeous… his eyes are closed and mine quickly trace the dimples on his face, before ping-ponging around to soak in all his features.
He’s literally my dream guy… and he’s here…
and dead. I frown at that intrusive thought at the same time that my eyes catch on the bulge in his pants.
I feel the flush spreading from my cheeks down my neck and over my ears, the pounding of my heart drowning out the music.
And before I can do anything more, he’s gone. The wind has stopped and I’m standing in my dining room surrounded by boxes, alone, trying to get my bearings and slow my racing heart. What the hell, Casper.