Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Mike
I vaguely recalled eating a burger in bed.
That couldn’t be right? I shook my head and washed my hands in the bathroom sink.
It was light outside, but I had no idea what time it actually was or what had happened after I’d gone to work.
My head had a dull ache that kept jabbing at my skull as I walked back into my room.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to remember what had happened and if I tried any harder my headache might’ve turned into another migraine so I refrained, focusing on getting dressed instead. Dylan would have answers to all my questions, as always.
Erik greeted me as soon I as stepped out into the hall. “How are you feeling? Need me to stay away for longer?”
I smiled, hoping to ease his guilty conscience. He hadn’t known this would happen when I touched the ring, and honestly, it would’ve happened no matter what according to Rino. I was actually happy that Erik was my first ghost and not someone with ill intent.
“I feel okay,” I said, continuing toward the kitchen. “Did Rino say anything about when I should be back for work?”
Erik followed silently behind me. “He gave you three days off.”
“Three days?!” I exclaimed, stopping my pursuit of whatever delicious smelling food Dylan was currently cooking. “Was it that bad?”
Erik nodded. “He thinks the extra days of rest will help.”
“Okay, then,” I mumbled, feeling so damn confused and unsettled. It was like my body was on edge, I just had no idea why.
Dylan’s humming made me smile as I stepped inside the kitchen, watching him sway to music only he could hear.
I froze momentarily as my gaze got stuck on his butt.
Was he wearing leather pants? Also, where was his shirt?
And why did his ass look so damn bitable?
Had he always had an ass like that? There was no question Dylan was hotter than hot, and now that I could see his toned back and that, ahem, delicious butt, I could admit that all I wanted to do was touch said butt and maybe bite it a little. Just a nibble. Pretty please?
I approached him slowly, needing to get closer to the temptation.
My body relaxed as I got closer, the relief was all consuming.
I didn’t even stop to register what I was about to do.
My arms came around Dylan’s middle as I hugged him from behind, feeling the pain leave my body, the aching headache slowly disappearing.
I sighed contentedly as I all but melted into his back, enjoying the fact I was no longer in any pain. It was like Dylan was a soothing balm on my soul. I was simply too blissed out to think about why, though.
A soft chuckled came from Dylan as his hands held onto mine, accepting my touch. “Did you sleep well?”
I nodded against his neck, and if I sniffed his delicious scent while doing so, no one would know.
“Want some waffles?”
I perked up at that. “You can make waffles too?”
Dylan laughed. “It’s basically the same as pancakes, just with a waffle maker involved.”
“I still find it impressive. And yes, I would love your waffles.” Why had that sounded dirty?
“Perfect, you can have my waffles every day.”
Okay, that was definitely meant to be dirty.
“Okay,” I breathed, suddenly glad he couldn’t see my blushing cheeks. I carefully moved away from Dylan’s comforting body, already feeling cold without his body heat warming me up.
He handed me two empty plates. “Let’s eat in front of the TV. I’ll bring the waffles if you set the table.”
I did as I was told, moving around the kitchen to find the cutlery, too busy basking in how lovely it was living with Dylan. I’d never lived with anyone other than my family and Jackson. I’d talked to Vera about moving in with her, but I doubted that would’ve been this perfect.
“You feeling okay?” Dylan asked from my right. I’d been staring at the cutlery without moving it seemed.
I cleared my throat. “Yeah, just a little out of it still.”
Dylan nodded and helped me with the rest, both of us carrying everything into the living room. “I didn’t know if Erik told you, but you have the next few days off to rest.”
“He did.”
He nodded again. “And I’ll be here to help you.”
Frowning, I asked, “Won’t that interfere with your work?” Dylan wasn’t in love with his job, but he still needed it to pay his bills.
“I got fired yesterday.”
The way he’d said that, like it was just something minor, had me worrying. Was I the reason he got fired? Not remembering was a pain because that meant I would have to ask Dylan and have him tell me point blank that I caused him to lose his job.
It seemed I’d failed at being a good friend, too, messing up the life of the one person who was there for me when it truly mattered, not that I’d tried to reach out to Jackson with my problems. I’d rather leave him and Pete happy without my drama interrupting their lives.
It was bad enough that Pete showed up yesterday because he was worried.
Oh my God Pete! Now I had to ask the dreaded question.
“What happened yesterday?”
Dylan slowly ate one waffle, taking his sweet time as he likely tried to figure out the best way to let me know that I’d ruined his life.
“You fainted at work,” he eventually said.
I suppressed a groan. “I’d gathered that much, but what happened after I fainted?”
“Rino called me. You need to eat your waffle while it’s still hot.” He handed me some chocolate sauce with a fond smile.
I decided to stop my questioning until after we’d eaten. Smiling back, I said teasingly, “This is much better than the soup.”
Dylan’s laugh lit up the whole room. He looked otherworldly when he laughed like that.
And I just sat there, gawking at him. Why did the sound of his laughter suddenly make me happier than ever before?
Dylan was a happy person generally. He laughed often, but never before had I felt like I was granted the best gift in the world just from hearing the sound and seeing his joyful expression.
I was fucked, because I couldn’t deny it any longer.
I was falling in love with Dylan. A man.
The realization didn’t stun me as I’d expected it to.
It did the opposite. I felt my nerves settle as I accepted this.
I was falling hard, and fast, but I wouldn’t push Dylan away.
I would only hold him closer. Make him care for me enough to never leave.
I would fix whatever I had ruined for Dylan.
“I’ll help you find a new job,” I blurted, already on fixing mode.
Dylan’s laughter died off but he still smiled warmly at me. “You don’t have to. Rino hired me.”
“As what?”
Dread started to build. Had I somehow fucked things up and now Dylan could see ghosts too?
He seemed to think it over. “As your partner.”
I blinked, not expecting that. “My partner?”
He nodded. “Yep. I’ll be there to help you out with training and your cases.”
I wouldn’t even try to act saddened by the fact I would be with Dylan 24/7, but I still felt bad for forcing him into it. I knew losing his job was the reason he’d accepted. No one would just accept a job as a medium without having been forced to.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, feeling my brightening mood dampen as I stopped being selfish for once. How could I sit here and enjoy the fact he was doomed to be with me, when he deserved so much more?
Dylan seemed surprised by my words, his head tilted in my direction with a cute frown. “Why are you sorry?”
“For doing whatever I did to force you into my work,” I replied, not meeting his gaze.
“Hey now,” Dylan chided, holding my chin up so I couldn’t avoid his gaze any longer. “I chose to leave my work, knowing I would get fired. I chose you over my job and I would do that always. I chose to accept Rino’s job offer. I made those choices; not you, Mike. And I won’t ever regret it.”
“You mean that?” I whispered, searching his eyes.
“I mean every word, Mike.”
Time stood still as we slowly eased closer, my eyes flicking to his tempting lips. There was a small drop of chocolate sauce just at the bottom of his lip. I wanted to lick it away. To taste how sweet his lips would be mixed with the chocolate. I wanted—
Three loud knocks from the front door startled the shit out of both of us. We literally jumped in place.
“Are we expecting company?” I rasped, feeling bereft and slightly breathless.
“No,” Dylan snarled, his gaze toward the hallway. “But they’re on my shit list now.”
I laughed, loving that he didn’t even hide his disappointment of us being interrupted.
We both stood and went for the door; our anger now turned into curiosity. Could it be Mom? Or Pete, perhaps?
Dylan opened the door and my shock was real. “Vera?!”
“Hi, Mike,” my ex-girlfriend said, looking shy as she stared between Dylan and me. “Can I come in?”
I was still in shock so I just nodded and moved away from the door. Dylan walked ahead, guiding her to the living room where our waffles were still out, a clear sign we’d been eating before she rudely interrupted our lovely moment.
Why was she even here? I hadn’t seen her in over two years and last I’d heard; she was in a happy relationship with someone else.
She’d tried contacting me after her latest break up but I’d ignored it.
Then she’d found another guy and seemed happy to share him all over her socials, just like she’d done with the first guy.
“I apologize for just showing up,” she began once she was sitting on the couch, Dylan and I standing next to each other, seemingly in agreement that this wouldn’t take long, so why sit?
“Has something happened?” I asked, thinking maybe she needed my help with something, or one of our friends had died, maybe. My mind went all over the place with ideas.
She shook her head, then looked pointedly at Dylan. “I actually came to speak with you privately.” She then turned her attention back on me and smiled softly.
Instinctively, I moved closer to Dylan, not wanting to be parted from him.
My entire being rebelled at the mere thought.
“Whatever you wish to speak about, can be said in front of Dylan,” I stated calmly, noticing how Dylan’s body seemed to relax at those words. “How did you even know where I live?”
“I visited your mom,” Vera said, sounding a little miffed that I didn’t want to banish Dylan from the conversation.
Wait, she went to my mom’s place?
“Why are you here?” I asked, more annoyed now that I understood something hadn’t actually happened and she was being secretive on purpose, but seeing my mom? That was just weird and now I wanted answers.
“I miss you, okay?!” she snapped.
I took a single step back, having clearly misheard her. “What?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t what me, I just told you I miss you, aren’t you happy to hear that?”
“I thought you were seeing someone?” I said, still reeling.
She’d left me and hadn’t once returned my texts or calls after our breakup.
I knew she’d pestered me with texts and calls as my work trip was nearing its end, but I’d ignored them.
Dylan had told me to block her, and I had.
We weren’t friends, Vera and I, and now all of a sudden, she wanted me to believe she’d missed me, and enough to visit my mom and just show up at my apartment?
Make that make sense, please and thank you.
“I broke up with him six months ago. I waited for your work trip to end before speaking with you. If I’d known you returned home ahead of time, I would’ve visited sooner.” So, she’d tried contacting me while she was still in a relationship? I’d truly dodged a bullet when she broke up with me.
“Because you missed me?” I questioned, needing this to make sense. She was over me, and was very vocal about it, too.
“Yes,” she beamed. “I came to see if you wanted to date again. I promise to respect your work this time and will do my best to support you.” Those words would’ve once made my heart beat with happiness. But now?
I opened my mouth to let her down, but Dylan beat me to it. “Actually,” he drawled, moving closer to where I stood, holding one hand protectively around my waist. “Mike is mine, and I’m not sharing him with anyone.”