My So-Called Phantom Love Life
Page 15
‘It exists. Some people die and pass across to the astral plane straight away. Others, like Owen, stay for a while.’ I hesitated, unwilling to reveal what had really happened to her brother. ‘There are ghosts everywhere.’
Her gaze slid sideways. ‘Is – is he here now?’
I swallowed and drew in a deep breath. ‘No. He moved on a few weeks ago.’
She folded her arms. ‘Good, because I’d take back all that soppy stuff if he was.’
I clenched my hands into fists. ‘You believe me, then?’
‘I dunno. Maybe.’ Eyes wide, she stared at me. ‘Just saying I do believe you, if he’s not here, where is he? Heaven?’
I’d been expecting this question and had rehearsed my answer over and over. But as easy as it would have been to agree with her, I couldn’t. ‘I don’t know. No one does, for certain.’
Cerys sank into the bench and tilted her head back to stare at the sky. ‘My parents used to worry about me coming here all the time.’ She let out a shaky laugh. ‘They had no idea I’d meet someone like you.’
I wasn’t sure what she meant by that but it didn’t sound entirely complimentary. She wasn’t convinced, I realised, which made me wish even more that I’d spoken to her while Owen was still around so that he could help prove that he was really there. A familiar dull ache started in my chest as I once again wished things had ended differently. ‘He used to tell me he’d let you down. Did he?’
She looked searchingly into my eyes before shaking her head. ‘No. I suppose I did blame him at first, especially when my parents were struggling to cope. But I never could stay angry with him for long, not even when he was doing his smug older brother thing. One flash of that cheeky grin and I’d forgive him.’
I knew exactly what she meant. The memory of it cut at my heart. ‘He had it tough, too. I think he regretted a lot of things but more than anything, he was sorry for the pain he caused you.’
Lapsing into silence, I stared at the island on the lake. It was harder than I’d expected, talking about Owen with her. She was handling it much better than I was.
‘Skye?’ Cerys broke into my thoughts and laid her hand on my arm. ‘I don’t know if what you’re telling me is true but, if it is, then I’m glad he wasn’t alone. It must have been hard for him, watching us moping around. Thank you.’
I couldn’t help it; a sob escaped me. Pressing my lips together, I struggled to get my emotions under control. ‘You’re welcome. I liked him a lot.’
Cerys gazed at me, her shimmering grey eyes so similar to her brother’s that it hurt. ‘I can see that,’ she said, and a wobbly smile crossed her face. ‘Look at the pair of us, snivelling away. Wherever he is, I bet he’s making girls cry there as well.’
Once again, the image of Owen kneeling on the floor of the cottage flashed into my mind. Firmly, I pushed it away and attempted a smile of my own. ‘You’re probably right.’
‘I saw your Friend Request on Owen’s page, by the way,’ she said. ‘I look after it now. You don’t mind if I don’t accept it?’
I’d forgotten all about that; it seemed like a lifetime ago now. But I could hardly blame her for knocking me back. Besides, what reason could I have for wanting it now, anyway? ‘No, I don’t mind.’
She looked relieved. ‘Only, I think we’ll close his page. Eventually, people will stop coming to it and it will make it feel like they’re forgetting him. I don’t want that.’ Then she threw me a sideways glance. ‘You could always add me, if you wanted to?’
‘You know, I might do that,’ I replied. ‘I bet you’ve got plenty of stories to share about Owen.’
Cerys grinned, a wicked look in her eyes. ‘Trust me, I do. Did he ever mention his obsession with the Go Go Bunnies?’
Nico waited until I’d waved goodbye to Cerys before he joined me on the bench.
‘Well?’ he asked. ‘Did you tell her?’
Nodding, I watched Cerys as she disappeared behind the trees. ‘Yeah. She took it pretty well, all things considered.’
‘You mean she didn’t call you a nut-job or run away screaming,’ Nico replied, looping an arm around my shoulders. ‘Sensible girl. How are you doing?’
I thought about that. Since the night at the cottage we’d been closer than ever; we’d all slept in the next day but Nico and I spent hours talking things through once we’d woken up. Recognising we had a lot to sort out, Celestine and Jeremy had given us some space and, even though Nico and I were shocked to our core by what we’d been through, the time we spent together reminded me of everything I loved about him. Once he’d moved out to live with the family Celestine and Jeremy had tracked down for him, I had to settle for long phone calls and snatched meetings. We were trying to take things slowly, though. A lot had changed since the last time we’d been together. I needed to come to terms with what had happened to Owen and the colossal guilt it had given me. For his part, Nico was busy settling into his new life and was learning all kinds of things about his parents’ true relationship. It seemed much of what Nico had been told by his father was untrue and only added to our conviction that Nico had got out in the nick of time. There was no sign that Ivan Albescu was searching for his son but none of us doubted it was only a matter of time before the Solomonarii began to hunt him down. Nico had already begun to prepare for the showdown. He’d stayed in touch with Gregor and was learning all he could about the Solomonarii to prepare himself. He wanted to be ready when they came.
In the meantime, he was enjoying getting to know his new family and it made me glad to see him more settled. The downside was that he was further away and attending another school. We’d reluctantly agreed to limit our contact as much as we could in case Ivan was watching me, but I already missed seeing Nico every day at school.
‘I’m OK,’ I answered, with a weak smile. ‘Not great but I’m getting there.’
Returning my smile, he ruffled my hair. ‘You’d better be going. You wouldn’t want to miss the wedding of the year.’
I grinned. I didn’t know about wedding of the year, but Isobel and Pete’s marriage could certainly lay claim to being the weirdest I’d ever been invited to; after all, it wasn’t every day I got to be bridesmaid to a ghost. At least the bride wouldn’t be swamped in a meringue of ivory taffeta and the best man wouldn’t try to get off with me. Or I hoped he wouldn’t; the thought of Gawjus George swooping in for a slobbery snog made me feel ill.
Checking my watch, I nodded. ‘I suppose so.’
His dark eyes glittered. ‘I’d like to go to this Dearly D place one day. I’ve heard plenty about it.’
‘You’d be welcome, once the Solomonarii have given up looking for you.’
We stared into each other’s eyes, both knowing it was time for goodbye again but neither of us wanting to say it.
‘I’ll see you on Facebook, then?’ Nico said eventually.
I blinked, willing my tears to subside; crying came too easily to me these days. ‘Yeah.’
He gazed solemnly down at me and placed a lingering kiss on my lips. ‘I love you, Skye Thackery. Never forget that, no matter what happens.’
My heart swelled with bitter-sweet happiness. It was hard to believe that I’d almost hated him a few months ago; now I could hardly bear for us to be apart. Wrapping my arms around him, I absorbed the hug, inhaling a lungful of his scent to carry with me after he’d gone. ‘I love you, too,’ I murmured.
Nico leaned down and kissed me again. The touch of his lips caused an explosion of electricity to run down my spine. Closing my eyes, I drank in the sweetness of his mouth against mine. This was what kissing was meant to feel like, not the feather-like brush of lips that weren’t really there and the realisation tugged at my emotions. Even if Owen had been alive, he could never have competed with Nico.
Unwillingly, we broke apart.
‘Be careful,’ I said, my voice breaking on the words.
He raised his hand to touch my cheek, then backed away. ‘Always.’
Feel
ing as though my heart would break, I watched him until he was out of sight then psyched myself up for the long trek home. As I headed towards Marble Arch tube station, I knew two things: one, I was deeply in love with Nico and two, I had to let him go, for now at least. It was too risky to see each other while his father was searching for him. I could only hope our separation wouldn’t last long because, if Owen Wicks had taught me anything, it was to live each day as though it was my last. And I wanted to spend as many of them as I could with Nico.
Acknowledgements
Sometimes, writers make up more than just their characters and plots. I’m no exception, so I should probably point out that the boats on the Serpentine are specifically designed not to tip over, in case anyone was planning a re-enactment. Also, there is no deserted cottage in Highgate Woods, so if you’re looking to do a little black magic, you’ll have to find somewhere else to go.
As always, my biggest thanks go to Lee, for keeping me supplied with Jelly Tots, and Tania, for not eating all of them. Love ya.
Massive hugs are also due to:
Richard and Janice, for being my cheerleaders.
Clare, for nagging and nagging to read the early draft – I might still be writing it if you hadn’t.
Jo Williamson at Antony Harwood Ltd, for her unceasing patience and lovely lunches. Here’s to the next year!
Brenda, Ruth, Melissa, Vivien, Elaine and the whole team at Piccadilly Press, for pulling out all the stops. Thank you – I really appreciate your vision and hard work.
Sharon Birch and Esther Shawe for their invaluable advice on everything to do with falling through ice and near-drowning – you were both brilliant!
My fellow Sisterbloggers; Keren David, Sophia Bennett, Luisa Plaja, Cat Clarke, Gillian Philip, Kay Woodward, Keris Stainton and Fiona Dunbar – you give great support, ladies.
And lastly, thanks to you, the reader, who brings the story to life. I’ll keep writing as long as you’re there :)
Discover what happened with Lucy and Jeremy . . .
‘Aaargh!’ Stumbling backwards, the man’s face flooded with horrified embarrassment. ‘How long have you been standing there?’ My mind fizzed furiously. He could see me. He could actually see me! I could have hugged him! Well, I couldn’t, but you know what I mean.
Fifteen-year-old Lucy has been stuck in the men’s loos since she was murdered there six months ago and Jeremy is the first person who’s been able to see or hear her. Just her luck that he’s a seriously uncool geography-teacher type – but at least he’s determined to help.
Once he’s found a way for her to leave the loos, she’s soon meeting other ghosts, including the gorgeous Ryan. However, when Jeremy insists that she helps him track down her killer, she has to confront her greatest fear . . .
Spirits, spells and bad boy hell . . .
Skye, a fourteen-year-old who can see ghosts, is very stressed. Not only is the ghost of a sixteenth-century witch giving her fashion tips, but she’s struggling to settle into life with her aunt, and is developing a crush on the most unattainable boy in the school, Nico.
When her aunt asks for her help with a troubled teen ghost called Dontay, she’s glad of the distraction. But then Nico starts paying her attention, and she’s soon facing a battle to keep her love life and her psychic life separate.
As things get ever more complicated, it looks as though Dontay’s past might cost Skye her future.
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Table of Contents
Cover
About the Author
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Acknowledgements