“And...?” Kate asked, urging him to continue.
“That, and I know seeing her with other guys just about crushes poor JT.”
Kate gasped. Michael still wasn’t sure he knew what Luke was saying.
“JT likes her?” Kate asked.
“Oh, yeah. He’s had it bad for her since the moment they met. But she’s this loud, promiscuous hothead and he’s probably one of the most chilled out, laid-back guys I’ve ever met. He’s my best friend and I want him to be happy, and it kills me to see her continually hitting on all these guys right in front of him, because I know, at least on some level, that she knows how he feels about her. But she just goes on flaunting it. That’s what really gets me worked up.”
“Wow,” Kate said. “JT’s such a nice guy. I don’t know why she doesn’t go for him.”
“Well, maybe she will someday, when she gets tired of hooking up with random losers. No offense to your brother.”
“Oh no, I fully agree. He’s a huge loser,” Kate told him as her phone chimed again. She read the message. “Make that a huge loser who is warning me not to bring you back to the apartment and that Mom is on the warpath because I decided to stay a few extra days without consulting her.”
“You haven’t called her at all?” Michael asked.
“Well, I couldn’t! And then after I finally snapped out of the possession or whatever, I was so hung up on what had happened that I sort of just forgot I even had a phone,” Kate explained. Her phone chimed again. “Oh, and now she’s mad at Michael again. She thinks you’re a bad influence on me and I never had an attitude problem until I met you.” She turned to look at him. “Apparently, you really know how to bring out the rebel in me.”
“Well, I’ve always wanted to be a badass...” Michael joked. If Brink had been there, he would have guffawed and made fun of him for being a nerd.
“Mikey, I’ve met kindergarteners who are more badass than you,” Luke remarked. Okay, so when Brink wasn’t there to make fun of him, Luke stepped up to get the job done. Good to know.
“Well... at least I’m tall.” It was quite possibly the worst comeback of all time, but Kate still threw her head back and laughed.
“Oh come on. How much does height matter, really?” The barely-five-foot-nine Luke asked.
“Oh, it matters,” Michael assured him.
“Not asking you, Mikey.” Luke turned to look at Kate.
“Well personally, I like tall guys,” she confessed.
“Oh, you’re biased. Your opinion doesn’t count.”
It was a ridiculous conversation, Michael knew, and one that he might not even remember in the years to come. But in that moment, he tried his best to savor what it felt like to poke fun at the little things, to be with friends, and to not have a care in the world. It may not have seemed like much in the long run, but he knew there would come a time when he would long for those moments of lighthearted laughter and careless freedom.
And as he accidentally made eye contact with the ghost of a young stewardess halfway across the room, he knew that time would be coming sooner than he would like to think.
Acknowledgements
I’d like to thank God, my Lord and Savior, for all He has done and all the blessings of this life.
I’d also like to thank…
My mother, Susan, for continuing to believe in me even when others didn’t. I owe you everything, Mom, and I love you more than I can say.
My father, David, for his patience and constant encouragement. Thank you for being my wingman at my first book-signing event! I love you!
My sister, KJ, who is my best friend in the world. I don’t know what I’d do without you!
My three AMAZING editors, all of whom deserve their own dedication.
Nancy Lamb, thank you for your wisdom and kindness and you willingness to go through the entire book with me and talk about what needed to be done.
Hannah Alvarez, thank you for being basically the smartest person I know and one of the best friends I’ve ever had. You are a constant source of sunshine in my life, and I love you!
Kathleen Farmer, thank you for your eager enthusiasm, your sharp eyes, and your beautiful and open mind. You are, without a doubt, one of the most genuine souls I’ve ever met and one of my very favorite people.
My outstanding graphic designer, Benjamin Durham. Thank you for another completely awesome cover! You simply are the best!
My friend and amazing photographer, Kaylynn Krieg. Thank you for the beautiful headshots and for being such a joyful and wonderful person. Let’s go on a photography adventure soon!
Finally, thank you to everyone who has read Cemetery Tours and now, Between Worlds. Thank you to all the new friends I’ve made over the past year, near and far. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you, your support, your books that you’ve shared with me, your kind words, and everything in between. I hope you’ve enjoyed the experience. I know I have.
I’d also like to add a special acknowledgement here. To my sweet Jasmine, my friend and constant reading companion for twenty years. I miss you every day and I love you forever.
© 2014 by Kaylynn Krieg Photography
http://www.kaylynnkrieg.com/
JACQUELINE E. SMITH is the author of the CEMETERY TOURS series. A longtime lover of words, stories, and characters, Jacqueline earned her Master’s Degree in Humanities from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2012. She lives and writes in Dallas, Texas.
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