13. Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Justin
I sent a message to Clay before I got into the shower.
Glad to hear from you. I’m looking forward to seeing you tonight. Justin
Ramon hadn’t sent a message to Clay as he’d threatened, which was a relief. Ramon... It was a shame he was dead because I wanted to kill him myself at times. The bullshit I’d dealt with in the last forty-eight hours was enough to drive me insane.
I showered and scrubbed myself raw because Ramon was right. I smelled like a bag of shit, and the stench wouldn’t win me any friends, much less impress Clay. Once I was finished, I went into my bedroom and checked my phone to see a message from the man himself.
I’m glad. I was worried that maybe you’d changed your mind. I’m looking forward to seeing you, too. Clay
His message had my heart racing. It had been too long since we’d last connected, and I was worried he’d lost interest.
My life was currently spinning out of control, but at least Clay seemed to still be interested in our friendship. That was more than I thought I’d get.
I dressed in a pair of black jeans and a light-blue chambray shirt, hoping I looked enticing enough that Clay would give me another chance. It might seem as though I’d been gaslighting the guy, but that wasn’t the case. I was truly interested in a relationship with him, and I hoped he was too.
When I walked into Smokehouse Q KC, I saw Clay Fines pacing the waiting area. God, he looked good. Blond hair. Blue eyes. Muscles for days. How the fuck did I get so lucky that he even gave me a glance to begin with?
“Hi, Clay. Am I late?”
He grinned. “No, not at all. I’m just painfully early because I was excited you wanted to see me. I was worried that maybe you’d taken off on me.”
That was so far off the mark. “I’m sorry I wasn’t around sooner, but I’m glad to be back now.”
Clay put his hand on my lower back and guided me to the host stand. “Hi! We’re both here now. Fines, party of two.”
The young woman grinned. “Follow me.”
We were led to a table in a nice corner and sat close to each other. “Can I get you some drinks from the bar?”
I turned to Clay. “It’s good to see you,” then I turned to the lady to order. “I’d like an IPA, please.”
Clay chuckled before he sat. “I’ll have the same.”
I stared at the gorgeous man for a moment, unsure of what to say until I gathered myself.
“Again, I’m sorry. I can’t really give you a plausible explanation for why I disappeared.
If I explained it, you’d think I’ve lost my marbles.
I know Eve told you I went to St. Louis to visit my parents, but you know that’s not true, don’t you?
You saw me at Willow Creek Cemetery, so you know where my parents are buried. ”
Clay sat back in his chair and stared at me. “So, why did you ask her to lie?”
“It was a ridiculous idea, especially knowing you knew it was a lie. I’d like to explain it to you, but I don’t think you’ll believe me if I tell you.”
No way would he believe I was possessed by a spirit—or was he a demon? Hell, I still didn’t believe it.
Clay smirked. “Try me, Justin.”
Our drinks were delivered, along with cornbread and honey butter. “Thank you,” we both responded in unison.
Clay grinned as he shifted the basket of cornbread toward me. “I have a pretty good imagination. Why don’t you explain it to me?”
I kinda snorted. “I like you, Clay. I’d like to go on an official date with you, but I won’t push for it. If I tell you what’s going on with me, I’m afraid you’ll run for the hills. No joke.”
Clay chuckled. “An official date? Can’t we call this an official first date?”
His request surprised me. “Uh, yeah. I mean, I’d love to call it an official first date.”
“So, you were in St. Louis? Why, if I can ask?” Clay’s smile was sweet, though nervous.
Answering honestly was going to make me look like I was off my rocker, but I couldn’t lie to him. “Yeah. St. Louis. It was for a weird reason, though. I mean, I’d love to say I’m still sane, but I’m not sure if that’s the truth anymore.”
Clay stared at me for a moment. “I’m a little lost, Justin. We all have moments of temporary insanity, I believe.” His grin gave me comfort.
“Hi. I’m Glenda. Can I get you an appetizer?” The server who interrupted us was a cute blonde girl with a big smile.
“Should we get the burnt ends?” Clay asked as he held a finger up for the server to give us a minute.
I nodded in agreement.
God, he was exactly the kind of guy I’d love to have in my life in a more permanent way, but why would he give a shit about me when my behavior had been so damn strange since the moment we met?
Hell, I’d already lied to him—well, through Eve—but I’d admitted the lie to him. Could he trust me after that?
I’ll tell him. I’ll explain things to him. I dare him not to believe me.
God, that was all I needed. Fucking Ramon to take over and tell Clay the truth about what the hell was going on? The man would have me hauled away to a mental facility before I could take control of my own body!
When the young lady delivered our appetizer, she grinned. “I’ll give you some time to look at the menu. No rush.”
We opened the menus, but I didn’t glance at mine. Instead, I studied Clay. He was absolutely incredible person, and I wanted to know more about him.
“So, my shit is a mess, but is there anything you might want to share? What have you been up to?” Deflection was a strategy. Not a good one, but a strategy nonetheless.
Clay chuckled. “Mostly wondering about you. The rain stalled my sorghum harvest, which is fine because it has a longer harvest season, but I had time to sit and stew on you, and I’ve determined you’re a puzzle I really want to solve.
You’ve intrigue me, and when I’m intrigued, I become a dog with a bone. ”
Oh, man. He’s a smooth talker.
And just when I was enjoying the quiet in my head and the thoughts of the man next to me, Ramon opened his pie hole. My desire to strangle him increased exponentially.
“I’m n-not really that i-interesting.” Yeah, the nerves were back and so was the stutter.
“See, like that,” Clay said, issuing a thoughtful smile.
“You were perfectly fine when you got here, but after I mentioned how much I was interested in you, you got nervous and the stutter you usually control popped up. I promise you, Justin, nothing you tell me will make me less interested in you. We all have idiosyncrasies, but they set us apart from other people. I’m open minded, and I really want to know why you’re so on edge. ”
“S-sorry. I—”
Suddenly, I was blind again. Fuck you, Ramon.
“Okay, time for a shot of truth. I’m Ramon Blanco. You can look me up if you want. The kid found me on the internet.
“Excuse me, what?”
“I’m what you might call a spirit who possessed your friend, Justin.
See, he and Eve came to New Orleans with a group of douchebags for his birthday.
They summoned me back from a place between Heaven and Hell, and I saw my shot to get a second chance to find out who the fuck killed me.
I died in St. Louis in 1996. I was shot by some bastard I might know, but I need Justin to give me the chance to find out which one. You could help with that, you know.”
The farmer’s eyebrows went up into his hairline. “Say again?”
God, I was trying to claw my way out, but fucking Ramon was too powerful. What the fuck was I supposed to do?