Chapter 5 #2
He turns and looks at me. “Josh. You made it back.”
Did he think I was going to disappear and leave Kieran in the lurch? Wow, what a great impression of me he has. So glad I let him fuck me.
“Yeah. I did. I was just wondering if you could let me in? I didn’t want to drag this stuff through the front, but I need somewhere to stash it until I find Skye or Kieran and get some keys.
” I try not to sound as bitchy as I feel right now.
If he wants to pretend it’s no big deal to fuck around on his boyfriend, I can too.
And, I mean, maybe it’s not? For all I know, they have an open relationship.
Maybe Daniel is cool with Ewan going to town once a week or whenever and boning a stranger.
But I personally don’t like getting involved in situations like that, so a heads-up would’ve been nice.
The worst part is that I don’t know what their normal is.
Like… even if they do have an open relationship, has Ewan told Daniel it was me he fucked?
Do they talk about what they do with their…
I don’t know what to call it. Side pieces?
Am I a side piece if it was a one-off? And does the situation change if Daniel has to work with the side piece, i.e.
me? This is so complicated. I lift my hand to rub awkwardly at the side of my neck.
“No problem,” he assures me, either not picking up on my antagonism or not giving a shit about it.
His eyes are caught on my hand, and I drop it back to my side.
“Cool nail polish. Kier said you were coming today and to keep an eye out for you. He’s got your keys in the office.
Let’s go in, and I’ll get them for you.”
“I don’t want to interrupt you,” I blurt, closing my hand in a fist, nails tucked inside. Did he mean it, or was he goading me? “If you can just let me in, I’ll figure out the rest. You can go on your merry way.”
For a second, he just looks at me. “Do you have a problem with me, Josh?”
“Why would I have a problem?” I challenge, then force a smile. Professional distance.
“I really don’t know. Yeah, it’s awkward finding out you now work with a guy you fucked, but it’s not like we’re exes. I thought we both had our expectations met and left on a good note.”
My jaw drops.
“Are you not out, is that it?” he continues. “Are you worried I’m going to out you? Because I won’t. But if you want to be out at work, this is a safe place to do it. I’m gay, so’s Skye, Kieran’s bi, and Arissa’s ace. And that’s only the senior staff. Intolerance isn’t accepted here.”
“I’m not closeted,” I manage. Does he seriously not get why I might be a bit mad at him? That I don’t appreciate being the “other guy” without prior knowledge? That it’s damn awkward having to work with him and his boyfriend after we fucked?
“So what’s the problem, then?” He stares me down. Like an asshole.
“You want to know my problem?” I begin, truly angry now. “Fine, I’ll—”
“What’s this? What’s this? Surely both of you know better than to be shouting like children when there are guests around,” hisses Freddie, appearing beside us suddenly enough to make me gasp.
“Where did you come from?” I ask. Sure, ghosts can zoom all over the place, including through walls, but he had to be pretty close to be able to hear us, and surely I would have noticed that.
He points up at the window one story above. “I was inspecting the housekeeper’s work and overheard your very unprofessional behavior,” he scolds.
Ewan sighs. “Leave the housekeepers alone, Freddie. They don’t need you checking their work.”
Freddie draws himself up to his full height—which is well short of Ewan’s—and somehow manages to look down his nose at him. “Leave the affairs of the house to me, young man, and you worry about the smithy.”
Shaking his head, Ewan rolls his eyes. “Show Josh where Kieran left his keys, would you?” He switches his coffee to the hand holding his phone, managing to hang on to them both without disaster, and digs into his pocket.
A second later, the electronic lock on the door has released and he’s holding it open for me.
I scramble to get my bags inside, mumbling, “Thanks.”
“Whatever. See you round.”
As he walks away and the door swings closed, Freddie shoots inside to join me in the combination mudroom/storage room. “Well,” he says, sounding very self-satisfied, “allow me to convey you to the office.”
Shaking off my anger at Ewan, I make myself smile. “That’s very kind of you. Can I leave my bags here, do you think?”
Freddie eyes them. “I suppose so. They’re not very attractive. Why don’t you have a nice set of matched luggage?”
“For the same reason I need to work for a living. I have no money.” I shove my stuff into a corner. “Come on. It’s this way, right?”
Keeping pace with me as I stride through the staff-only area and into the main hall, Freddie says, “When do you officially begin working? Kieran said we’re not to bring our problems to you until then, but I have an issue of some urgency that needs attention at once.”
Uh-huh, I bet he does. “Will a delay of two days result in death or bodily harm to anyone or damage to the estate?” I ask.
He tilts his head and squints, considering it. “I suppose not.”
“Then it can wait until I officially begin work on Monday. After nine in the morning,” I add, just so I don’t have him waking me at 12:01.
He sighs. “Very well.”
We go through the guest parlor into the public part of the house.
The living room has people in it today, a small group getting snacks and drinks, and a few couples sitting and chatting.
Probably waiting their turn for a guide, or maybe resting between activities.
I make sure the door to the private area closes properly behind me, smile vaguely at the people who’ve looked up, and walk into the front entrance.
There are a lot more people here, some standing around, looking at brochures, others waiting in line at reception, where Skye and Kieran are efficiently looking after them.
There’s a woman in period costume, who I assume is one of the guides, counting heads, and then she instructs the group to keep close and leads them down the hall toward the museum, which clears out the space a bit.
“Uh…” I turn to Freddie, then realize I’m not sure if he’s manifested or not. “Can everyone else see you right now?” I whisper out of the side of my mouth.
“No,” he says, “but I would be happy to manifest if that’s your preference.”
Suddenly appear in the middle of a room full of people? I’m beginning to see what Kieran meant about needing a ghost wrangler.
“That’s fine,” I whisper, trying not to move my lips. “Did Kieran leave my keys in the office?”
“Indeed he did. In the top desk drawer, I believe. Allow me to show you.”
We walk toward the reception desk, getting a snarky comment about cutting the line. Kieran looks up, but then smiles when he sees me.
“I’m not cutting,” I assure the annoyed visitor. “I work here.”
“Hey, Josh,” Kieran says. “Here to get your keys? Give me a few minutes, and I’ll—”
“It’s fine,” I tell him softly. “Freddie will show me where.”
He blinks at me, then his eyes widen and shoot to the space beside me—unfortunately, not the side Freddie’s standing on. The ghost huffs in disapproval.
“He’s on my right,” I mutter, and Kieran’s gaze flicks over.
“Apologies, Freddie,” he says quietly. “Josh, get settled, and we can chat later. Tell Arissa and the others that your lunch is on us today.”
“Thank you.” I sidle around the big desk and go into the office, grateful for his offer.
I may have forgotten that I’ll need to stock my brand-new kitchen with groceries before I can eat.
Hmm… I wonder if the grocery store delivers out this far?
If not, I’ll be making a regular Uber trip to the store and back.
If I end up keeping this job for as long as I’d like to, it’d probably be cheaper to learn to drive and buy an old banger of a car.
Something to think about.