I opened my walk-in closet and closed the door behind me. After quickly changing into my night clothes, I opened the closet door and headed for the bed. I propped my pillows up against the head board and picked up the book on the nightstand. I tried to get into the book but it just wasn’t working. And when she scooted closer I realized that it was useless. Setting my book down, I turned off the light and set my glasses next to my book. After shifting the pillows, I lay down beside her, lifted my arm over my head and waited.
It didn’t take long, Lexie liked cuddling. She buried her face in the crook of my neck, her hand going to my chest, her leg hooking over one of mine. I brought my arm down to wrap around her. By morning, she’d be lying on me. I watched her sleep against me. My hand slowly running up and down her back. She was almost out the door today. I took a deep breath of rosemary and relaxed. That was the worst part for her, the only part she said she’d leave over. She was staying. Watching her sleep, I tried to come up with a plan to convince the guys to agree to my crazy idea. I wasn’t going to lose her just because she also cared about the others. I couldn’t…
Chapter 6
August 17th, 5:45 A.M.
I gently closed the Blazer door. If Rory caught me sneaking into the house at this hour, he’d kill me in six different ways and then ground me for my afterlife. The lights flicked on. I froze. When the front door didn’t open, I let out the breath I’d been holding, eternally thankful that Rory’s room was at the back of the house.
I made it to the door and unlocked it slowly. Opening it, the small creak the hinge made seemed to echo through the house. I stepped into the family room and came face to face with a taller woman.
Light blonde hair, blue eyes, pretty face and a great rack. She jumped when she saw me. Something fell out of her purse and onto the porch. It was a lacy black thong… Oh my God… My mouth dropped open. She pressed her finger against her lips. I had to cover my mouth to stop from laughing. Her eyes were wide as she picked up her panties, grabbed my arm and dragged me back outside of the house then down the driveway.
“Lexie-”
“You slept with Rory,” I whispered a little too loudly.
Aunt Susan’s face was burning red. “Well, he is my ex-”
“Were booty calls covered in the divorce?” I snickered.
“We were talking last night and I slept on the couch.” She tried. But she sucked as a liar.
“Bullshit.” I snorted, trying to keep it down. “You wouldn’t be sneaking out and your panties would be on.”
“What are you doing sneaking in this early?” she demanded with a raised eyebrow.
That sobered me up. “My friends and I had a fight, we talked it out then I fell asleep.”
Her eyes narrowed on me. “Bullshit.”
“Hey, my panties are still on me just as they have been all night.” I flat out told her.
She tried not to laugh but it didn’t work. “Fine, I believe you. Rory got a text last night from some kid named Miles. He told him where you were and that you fell asleep. He even asked if you could crash there.”
I smiled to myself. “Yeah, that sounds like Miles.”
“Damn, it’s good to see you, Lexie.” She smiled as she shook her head.
“You too.” I couldn’t stop smiling.
Susan pulled me into a hug. I hugged her back. “I was so glad to hear that you came to live with Rory. I worried about you every day.”
I smiled as I squeezed her back. “I’m okay. Not even dying anymore.”
She let go and shot me a look. “That’s not funny.”
“Oh, yes it is.”
Susan smiled again. “Please don’t tell Tara.”
“What? No epic getting back together?” I couldn’t help but ask.
She sighed. “I love Rory. I always will. But we both know we don’t work as a couple. Amazing sex, yeah, we have that down pat.”
I cringed. “Oh, ew.”
She smirked. “Amazing, sweaty, toe curling-”
“Nope, no, nada, not listening.” I started walking away.
“-screaming sex,” Susan finished as I shuddered.
I turned around and flipped her off.
She chuckled. “Take care of yourself, kiddo.”
“You too.” I turned back around and walked into the house, this time not caring if I made noise. Hades was on the couch, stretched out on his back. I smiled and headed upstairs. I still had to pack for the camping trip.
When I got upstairs, I put away my birthday presents. Well, all but Ethan’s. I sat down and finally opened the wrapping. It was a book. A book of poetry. Love Her Wild by Atticus Poetry. I smiled to myself. Ethan was a constant surprise. Maybe this trip wouldn’t be a disaster after all?
* * *
It was still early when I finally loaded my bags into the back of the Blazer and headed in for Hades’ dog food. Rory was still getting his gear out of storage while Tara had gone upstairs to pack. Yes, Tara and Rory were coming with us. Them coming will just make talking about the alternative relationship we all might be starting easier. And if I repeat it enough I’ll eventually believe it.
I picked up the backpack with Hades’ toys and bowls. “What time are you guys planning on meeting us?”
Rory set down the tent on the dinner table, that was already covered in lamps and fishing gear. “Uh, it should take us about a couple of hours after you guys leave. Tara is dragging her feet.”
I shifted the large bag of dog food over my shoulder. “Okay. Can you bring extra sunblock?”
“Yeah, no problem.” Rory called. “Tell the boys to drive safe!”
“I will!” I shut the door behind me and headed to my truck. I put the bag in the back. I made sure I had all my stuff before I closed the back gate. It wasn’t long before I was climbing in and taking off. Hades sat in the front seat with his face out the window. But before I could go to Miles’ house and meet the others, I had a stop to make first.
The cemetery had become a second home by this point. I could probably drive there in my sleep. It was just like every cemetery in most places. Headstones, grass and trees. Oh, and the huge group of souls waiting by the veteran memorial. I parked and left Hades in the car.
“All right, a few announcements before we get started.” I got every ghosts’ attention. “I’ll be going camping for a week or so. Which means, I won’t be able to cross anyone here.”
Groans and complaints rang from the group.
“But when I get back, I’ll do crossings in the morning and at night to make up for it.” They all muttered about it but acted like they understood. I rolled my eyes as I moved into the center of the first large circle of dead. “How many are missing this morning?”
“Three more.” A woman with glasses spoke up. “They all liked to stay out of town.”
“Fuck.” I muttered. We were still losing souls. And since the other night had shown me that they don’t just disappear from the rotting… Where the hell were they? Shit.
“Okay, you all know the drill. Hold hands…”
* * *
I was still worrying over those missing souls as I parked in front of Miles’ house. I climbed down and let Hades jump out. Were the ghosts just deciding to go on one last adventure before crossing? No, that couldn’t be right. I opened the front door and let Hades go in. Several of the ghosts were almost desperate to cross.
I started across the circular gravel driveway to the four-car garage that no one ever used. A large green Chevy Silverado truck, that I’d never seen before, was backed up to an open garage door. Asher’s truck was in front of another garage door. I headed inside only to find a garage full of toys. One long trailer had four jet skis already loaded. One wall had five kayaks stored up and out of the way. In another bay there was a large cargo trailer. Asher was at the kayaks while Zeke was opening the back of the cargo trailer. Hades hurried over to him.
“Whose truck is out there?” I asked.
Asher chuckled.
Zeke turned in time for Hades to jump up onto his back feet to brace his feet on Zeke’s waist. He roughed up Hades’ ears and wrinkles. “It’s Miles’ truck.”
“Miles has a truck?” I kept looking around the giant garage and just kept finding more toys.
“Yeah, he doesn’t use it very often. Mostly when we go camping or climbing.” He scratched Hades’ ears.
“Holy crap.” I muttered as I took in all the toys.
“Right?” Zeke signaled for Hades to get down. The giant dog dropped to his feet on the floor.
“Ally, come here, I need to see if we have one you can wear.” Asher called from next to a rack of life jackets.
I stopped gawking and went to his side.
“What size are you?” Asher reached up and moved the hangers.
“It depends on the brand of clothes. I can be an eight in one thing and twelve in another.” I admitted.
He frowned down at me. “How is that possible?”
“Brands make their own sizes.” I shrugged. “But I usually range in the mediums.”
He muttered under his breath about women's clothes as he pulled out a green and yellow life jacket. “This is a medium. Try it on.”
I took the life jacket, slipped it on and clicked it closed.
Asher reached out and tightened the nylon straps around my waist and chest. “Lift your arms above your head.”
I did as he said. His fingers hooked under the shoulders of it and pulled up. It slipped off, surprising me and almost taking my shirt with it. Luckily, I was able to stop it before the hem lifted over my bra. I pushed my shirt back down and looked up at Asher. He had grown still, his gaze on my side, where my scars were over my ribs and down to the back of my hip.
His face strained, he met my eyes. “Boulder?”
I nodded. Why was he so surprised? He’d seen them before.
“What about Boulder?” Zeke asked from the other side of the garage.
“Nothing.” Asher went back to the rack of life jackets. He pulled out another one, this one smaller and still had the tags on it. “Where did this come from?” Asher checked the size on the bright green jacket. “Here, try it.”
I slipped it on and zipped it up. Asher adjusted the straps on the sides until the vest was snug. “Okay, arms up again.”
I did as he said. He tried to pull it off me, it didn’t budge though it did pull on my chest a bit when he pulled hard. “Ow, Ash, I’ve got boobs, man.”
He let go immediately, his cheeks turning pink. “Sorry. That one fits.”
I undid the zipper and took it off. “I got ten that Miles went shopping.”
“I’m not taking that bet.” Asher started pulling other life jackets off the rack. “Zeke, you need to make sure your vest still fits.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Zeke grumbled.
I smiled as I left him to go help Zeke who was at the back of the large cargo trailer.
“So, where’s the camping stuff?” I asked. “Miles just told me to bring a sleeping bag.”
“That’s because we already have everything stored and packed away,” he said as he looked at the back of one of the doors on the trailer.
What did he mean? I moved to stand next to him and my jaw dropped. The trailer was full of camping gear. “Wow. You guys need all this to go camping?”
“There’re tents, futon mattresses, a barbecue, tables, chairs, lamps. Even a shower system…” he said absently as he took a piece of paper off the back of the door. “All the basic stuff you need while camping.”
“Futon mattresses?” I looked up at him with an eyebrow raised.
He met my gaze. “Ethan needed one after the wreck, so Miles bought everyone their own.”
Yeah, that sounded like Miles. “So… you guys don’t go camping. You go glamping.”
The corner of his lips twitched as he held my gaze. I smiled a big smartass smile.
“No.”
I held up my fingers as I listed things off. “Showers, mattresses, a full barbecue I’m assuming…”
He grumbled wordlessly as he handed the paper to me. “Take this inside to Miles, it’s a list of the stuff we ran out of last time.”
I snickered, knowing full well he was getting rid of me so I’d get off the topic. Still smiling, I left the garage and headed into the house. Miles met me at the bottom of the stairs with a duffle bag over his shoulder.
“I have a list.” I held up the paper.
Miles set the bag down next to the stairs and took it. “Batteries, propane for the barbecue and lamps…” he muttered as he headed to the long hallway and the pantry. He grabbed a canvas grocery bag and began to fill it. “I’ll have to stop and get the propane but I have most of this stuff here,” he said as he threw toothpaste into the bag along with floss.
“So, you guys just leave your camping gear in a trailer all year?” I leaned against the doorway to the pantry.
“Yeah, there was no real point in unloading everything but the ice chests, we never used that trailer for anything else anyway.” He added batteries to the bag.
“I actually love that idea,” I admitted. “Except the chance for spiders goes up.”
Miles smiled as he put a lighter in the bag. “I’ll kill any spiders you find.”
“That’s not what I meant.” I smiled. “I can kill my own spiders. It’s snakes I’m worried about.”
He chuckled. “There’s a shovel already packed for those.”
“Wait, you see enough snakes at this place that you have a shovel dedicated to them?” That made me a bit nervous.
Miles chuckled. “Don’t worry, they usually stay away because the twins are so loud.”
I eyed him. “So, how did I get in your room last night?”
The corner of his lips lifted into a half grin. “I found you on the couch asleep and asked you if you wanted to sleep in my room or yours. You leaned into me, which I took as sleeping in my room.”
Yeah, that sounded like me. I ran my gaze over his face. There were small shadows under his eyes. He looked tired. Hell, he didn’t even wake up this morning when I climbed out of bed. And I woke up lying on top of him. He was just as worried as I was. I went to my toes and kissed his cheek. He looked down at me, surprised. I simply smiled and walked out of the pantry. We’d get it settled by the time we come home. We just had to.
* * *
We reached the campsite on Swan Lake almost three hours later. Which shouldn’t have surprised me. We lived in the mountains, why would we have a long drive to go camping? Apparently, our spot was further down from the others on the lake shore.
“Um, Miles, why did that sign just say group site?” I asked from the back seat. Zeke and the twins were up ahead in Miles’ truck and the cargo trailer while Asher’s truck towed the jet skis.
“Because I reserve the group site for us every year.” Miles shifted in the seat.
“Why? There’s only eight of us.” I watched the woods go by as the road took a slow turn.
“Because of Zeke.” Asher glanced at me over his shoulder. “If we’re not far enough away then he can’t relax or sleep.”
That made sense. “But the group campground?”
“We’re also able to hook hoses up for the shower system’s hot water without inconveniencing anyone,” Miles quickly added.
I snorted. “There’s a shower system...”
“And a fully equipped kitchen, a full-size barbecue, futon mattresses…” Asher smiled.
“Yeah, Zeke told me. You guys glamp.”
Miles looked thoughtful while Asher shook his head.
“I guess we do.” Miles turned to smile at me.
“It’s also the only campsite that has no neighbors,” Asher explained. Okay, I could get behind that. One time when I went camping with Dad, some dickweed was drunk and hollering late into the night. Dad was pissed.
The trailer in front of us came to a stop, the brake lights flashed twice before staying on.
Asher put the truck in park and got ou
t.
“What’s going on?” I started taking off my seatbelt.
“We’re at the site and there’s not enough space for Zeke to easily turn around with the trailer. Asher is going to guide the trailer into a good out of the way spot near the boat ramp.” Miles pushed his glasses up his nose. I ran my gaze over him. He had been unusually quiet during the drive.
“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice softening.
“Yes, I’m alright.” Miles turned in his seat so he could look back at me. “Are you?”
“Yeah.” But I wasn’t lying. The strain was there around his eyes. “Miles, you’re a bad liar.”
He sighed and looked back out the windshield as Zeke pulled the truck forward. “I’m aware.”
“Who do you talk to when you need to talk?” I leaned forward.
Miles began tapping his fingers along the console. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’re always here for all of us when we need to talk,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t take it wrong. “But who do you talk to?”
He was silent long enough for the guys to get the other truck turned around and park the trailer.
“I guess, I don’t talk to anyone,” he admitted quietly.
“Don’t you think you should?” I hoped I wasn’t pushing too far.
His eyes unfocused for several heartbeats. “I’ll think about it.”
That was all I could ask. Asher headed back toward us and climbed in. Zeke got out of the other truck with a scowl.
Asher opened the door and got back in. “He’s in a shitty mood.”
“He’s been in the car with the twins for over an hour.” Miles took off his seatbelt.
I snorted. Yeah, that would be enough to drive him to the edge. “Did they survive the trip?”
“I didn’t ask.” Asher chuckled as he pulled into the gravel parking area. He used the mirrors, and Zeke’s shouted instructions to back up into the spot.
When the Dead Have It Easy Page 7