The Ghost in the Hall (Beyond the Veil Book 1) by KM Avery

Author:KM Avery [Avery, KM]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: KM Avery
Published: 2021-11-02T04:00:00+00:00

Mason’s idea for lunch was to make sandwiches and take them down the street to Chimborazo park—with Alma, of course—and a blanket for a picnic. I was starting to agree with Lady R’s label-of-choice for Mason of “sweet.” And thoughtful. And definitely more romantic than I was, although that didn’t actually say much.

Now, of course, I had to start the cycle of fretting about what exactly our relationship was. One date was a date. Essentially becoming my personal support system was another level. But I was also far too big of a chicken to do the mature thing and come out and ask him, because if he didn’t give me the answer I wanted, it would break my heart, and I had definitely done enough crying for the weekend.

So I decided to just enjoy a picnic in the park with my whatever and his dog.

Alma had a bone, and happily chewed on that as Mason and I ate our sandwiches, me sitting cross-legged, and Mason lying with his head in my lap. If I tried to eat lying down, I’d choke, but he was managing just fine.

“So,” he said, and I tensed slightly, not knowing what was going to follow that. “How many gigs do you have between now and Halloween?”

I relaxed. “Twelve.”

“Does that include the knitters?”

“Of course.”

“Are you going to survive?”

I shrugged. “Probably? It’s dia de los muertos that usually kicks my ass, though.”

“Oh?”

I played with my sandwich crust. Because I’m obviously four. In order to stop myself, I stuck the chewy piece of bread in my mouth and spoke around it. “I work with the Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center—they host a big dia event every year, usually in a school gym somewhere, for families to create ofrendas. They supply crepe paper and paper flags and candles and marigolds and folding tables… the families bring photos and mementos. I start working at dusk and go until dawn.” It was grueling, especially since it was on the heels of Halloween every year, but absolutely worth it as far as I was concerned. A few of the families remembered me year to year, and I could count on lots of tasty Mexican treats being pushed at me as thank-yous.

Mason half sat up and turned to look at me. “Seriously?”

I shrugged. “I know it’s not the smartest way to make money, since I could probably make a killing doing private parties, but—”

“Ward, that’s awesome.”

I blinked, surprised. “Oh. Uh. Thanks?”

He sat up higher and gave me a quick kiss. “You’re an incredibly generous man, you know that, right?” He went back to lying with his head in my lap.

I felt my cheeks turning pink. “I mean. It’s not like I always do it for free…”

“You have a sliding scale, though, right?”

I stared at him, wondering how he knew that.

“I saw it in the spreadsheet.” Oh. Duh. “How do you find out their income?”

“I can guess based on addresses a lot of the time. Sometimes the five-second google. I also sometimes ask people their budget when I respond to their requests.

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