1. Ghosted
Christy
I’d dreamed about a ghost being in my room again.
Every night for the last three months, I’d dreamed about him. Dark hair, a masked face, stormy eyes that watched me, hungry and yearning. And every morning, I woke up with a gasp, my body buzzing with lust.
It was getting out of hand. The only logical way I could think of to get my imaginary friend out of my head was by going on a date.
Honestly, I had no business dating. I was already busy enough.
As an opera singer, I often traveled more than half the year.
I had countless rehearsals every week, practicing songs in Italian, German, and French.
I also had yoga sessions three times a week to keep my limbs flexible and body warm, preparing for roles and constant auditions. My life was intense enough as it was.
Adding romance on top of that? It sounded like an absolute nightmare.
Which could be perfect to rid me of my dream ghost.
About two weeks ago, my wonderful friend Lisa pulled me aside at the opera house and asked if I wanted to get coffee with her after rehearsal. We’d ended up in a quaint little cafe outside the city I’d never heard of.
Lisa had gushed about how the owner of the cafe was really good at matching creatures.
I’d laughed when she clarified she meant people, but I still thought about that.
It was funny, given that the entire cafe had a monster theme to it.
They’d really gone all out. Even the menu had a lot of bizarre items like catnip lattes and werewolf moon cold brews.
But, then I met the owner. A tattooed guy with copper-red hair and a beard. He’d promised me he could match me with someone perfect.
So here I was.
Back at Creature Cafe.
Taking a chance on letting a giant tattooed cupid match me.
I opened the front door and startled as a large man stepped past me. What the hell? My head whipped around as he left.
I could have sworn he had wolf ears.
But no. That would be absurd. Well, maybe not so completely absurd. He could have been a furry. My gaze tracked him through the window, my temples throbbing. No, he . . . definitely had fuzzy ears and a tail and looked like a werewolf.
“Okay, then,” I whispered.
Hallucinating before a date. Great.
“Hey,” a friendly voice said. “Welcome in.”
I swallowed hard and glanced up at the counter. The cafe was quiet, but not completely empty. A couple sat at a table together but when I looked at them, my head only hurt worse.
Was this a migraine? Lisa got migraines about once a month and they were awful.
Whenever she came down with one, I always took care of her cat if I could and brought her care packages.
I was lucky to not have to deal with them, but maybe something was happening to me.
Maybe it was all the stress of not knowing if I’d been picked for my dream role with a company in New York.
I gravitated toward the counter, meeting the dark eyes of the man pulling a shot of espresso there.
Holy fuck. He was hot. Devilishly hot. Dark hair pulled back into a messy bun, dimples on either side of his soft smiling lips, and damn.
He worked out, that was for sure. He wore an apron with a small name tag that said Bell.
“Bell,” I said. “That’s such an interesting name.”
“Thanks,” he chuckled. “It’s for Bellamy, who happens to be a demon rather high up in the Hell chain of command. At least that’s what I’ve been told. I’ve never met the real guy.”
Oh . . . Okay. Okay, then.
“Right,” I said slowly. A nervous laugh bubbled up. Maybe I was finally losing it. “Uhh, I am not really sure what I’m doing here.”
“You’re here for a date.” His smile was dazzling. “Right? With the two phantoms.”
Phantoms.
Had I hit my head? Slipped and fallen somewhere? Was I dreaming?
“Yeah,” he said. “They’re already waiting at the table in the back.”
He pointed toward the back of the cafe and I craned my head, but I didn’t see anyone in the booths. In fact, there wasn’t anyone back there.
“I don’t see anyone,” I said. “Maybe they ghosted me.”
Bell snorted. “They don’t strike me as the ghosting type, ironically.
Um, let me walk you back there. My dad was supposed to be here for this but got hung up with something.
I’m certain my mom and other dad are responsible for it.
” He wrinkled his nose. “They’ve been mad at each other but it can only last for so long, so maybe they’re finally making up. ”
“Have you heard the term too much information?” I asked.
“Yep.”
“Have you considered it applies to you?” I mused.
“I’ve been told.” Bell grinned. “Before I take you back there, what kinda coffee do you want?”
“I’d rather have tea, if you have any,” I said. “Do you have breakfast tea?”
“Sure. I can make you a cup. Want any food?”
“No,” I sighed. I was far too nervous to eat. “Thanks though.”
“Got it,” he said. “Well, let’s go get you settled with your fated mates.”
Fated mates? What the hell did that even mean?
I stole a moment to steady myself, smoothing my hands down my dress. It was my go-to outfit in the late summer and early fall, the sleeves puffy and fabric soft. I’d put my long dark hair up into a braided bun, another signature look.
Bell came around the counter and I craned my head to look up at him. He was tall. The jeans he wore hugged his hips, and did my best to pry my eyes away from the hint of taut skin I spotted when his shirt lifted ever so slightly.
He was sex in the form of a man, and absolutely someone I would have dreamed about when I was a teen. Too bad he talked too much.
“What’s your name again? I don’t think you told me,” he said.
“Christy,” I said.
“Christy. All right, come on.” He led me through the cafe, and it felt silly having him escort me.
Especially to an empty booth.
Bell planted his hands on his hips expectantly. “Christy, this is Ray and Erik.”
I stared at him for a moment, then looked at the booth. The empty booth.
“There is no one here.” My cheeks flushed. “Are you just trying to fuck with me?”
“What?” Bell frowned, taking a step back from me. His eyes darted between me and the booth nervously. “Uh. Can you . . . not see the two phantoms here?”
It wasn’t that I had a temper exactly, but I did when my time was wasted and I was being made into a fool. I glowered at the handsome barista. “You’re fucking with me, right? There’s no one here. Just like I said only moments ago, but you insisted there was.”
A chill worked up my spine and I took a step back from the booth, even as I felt something trail across my arm.
Bell stepped closer as if he were going to protect me. “Don’t even think about it,” he growled, his expression tightening.
Who the fuck was he talking to?
I felt attention on us and glanced over my shoulder. Other patrons in the cafe were staring, and one got up from their table.
“Bell, do you need help?” the man asked.
The longer I stared at the stranger across the cafe, the less real he seemed. I could have sworn he had horns and that his skin was dark red.
“No, Dante,” Bell gritted out. “We’re good. Everything is fine.”
Something touched my arm again and I jerked back, startled. “You do need help,” I spat. “I don’t know what this is, but—”
“Monsters are real,” Bell said, wincing as the words came out of his mouth.
“I’m sorry, Christy. I’ll have words with my father later.
I’m assuming he intended to talk to you before the date.
Some humans have a block on their sight.
I guess you’re one of them. But monsters are real, and you’re here to be on a date with two of them. ”
I’d had enough. This was so humiliating. Why did I come here? To find love at a culty cafe? I spun on my heels. Bell called out my name, but my vision blurred with tears as I darted for the door.
And when I glanced back, I saw them. For just a split moment, creatures, all watching me.
And the man.
The masked man from my dreams.
At the very back of the cafe.
The ghost.
I ran.