Chasing Ghosts by M.K. Hardy

Author:M.K. Hardy [Hardy, M.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, lgbt, Contemporary, romance, addiction, drug/alcohol use, performance arts/visual, Writer
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2017-07-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

“AND WHAT DID you do then?”

I shrugged, tapping my short nails against the sides of my mug.

“I went downstairs, picked up my bag and jacket, gave her shoe to a steward, and left,” I said simply. In the silence that followed, I dragged my gaze back to Mary’s. “I know what you’re thinking. And I agree. It was stupid, and I shouldn’t have risked it. I guess I had enough other distractions that…”

“You did put yourself in a dangerous situation. And you did come through it without making any mistakes. You should be rightly proud of that,” Mary told me. “But you should also be careful about repeating it—don’t let it make you cocky. Just because you were okay this time doesn’t mean the next time will be the same.”

“I know. Believe me, I have no intention of doing that again.” Even if it did probably give me the kick I needed… Of course, it was hard to know whether that was as much a product of the alcohol as it was Melody’s careful coaching.

“Intentions are all well and good, but… Just be careful, Nic. The tighter you wind yourself, the easier it is to snap.”

I smiled weakly. “I got it.”

“Have you heard from her since then?”

I shook my head. “Although our next meeting was already scheduled since we have a regular Thursday thing, so I wouldn’t necessarily expect to.”

“And do you think it will be difficult?” Mary asked, reaching for her ever-present pack of tissues to stifle a sneeze.

“I have no idea. I’m seeing Melody again this evening—I guess we’ll see if she has any further insight.”

“I suppose so. Is there anything else you’d like to talk about? Any stresses, challenges, problems?”

“Well, I’m currently wrestling with the temptation to email Laura Maguire and ask her about that thing in the restaurant. She looked just about angry enough to tell me if she thought it’d drop Isobel in it…”

“And would you? Betray Isobel, I mean.”

“What? No!” I frowned. “You know me better than that.”

“Then why ask at all?” Mary queried, ignoring my outrage. “What would it gain you?”

“More insight, I guess. And it would satisfy my curiosity about a couple of things.” Like whether she was ever interested in me at all.

“Hm. You couldn’t just ask Isobel? It seems she’s growing to trust you, at least more than she did.”

“Only because I have Melody feeding me prompts,” I contested.

“And you’re sharing more of yourself as well. You don’t think that has anything to do with it?”

“Christ, I don’t know. I don’t think she’s even that interested—I think she just wanted to pay me back for pushing her buttons.”

“Maybe you ought to see how your meeting on Thursday goes before you start making any assumptions.” Mary more often than not ended up acting like the good angel on my shoulder—a fact for which I both loved and hated her. “And I would stay away from Laura Maguire if I were you. She’s obviously trouble.”

I raised my eyebrows. It wasn’t like Mary to make such a black-and-white pronouncement—at least not without meeting someone.

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