The Curse of Redwood (Ivy Grove #2) - Jaclyn Osborn Page 0,75

He waved. “I’m glad you’re not dead.”

I snorted. “Thanks, William. I appreciate that.”

Zeke watched me with sad eyes, though I saw he tried to smile. He was far more troubled by my situation than he’d led me to believe. Hell, I was troubled by it too. I could’ve very well been possessed by the ghost of his former lover.

Things really didn’t get any more fucked up than that.

After leaving Redwood, I stopped by my house to shower and change into clean clothes. My headache was returning, and I popped some Tylenol and downed a glass of water, hoping it would help. As I drove to the café, I called in to work and asked if I could have some time off. I had all my vacation days saved up and requested to use them. Until I sorted out what was happening to me, I wouldn’t be able to focus on anything else.

“Whatever you need,” my manager said. “I’ve noticed you’ve been off lately. Do what you need to do to get better.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry it’s such short notice.”

“We’ll manage,” she responded. “Just focus on you.”

I had one hell of an awesome boss. With that settled, I then called Ben.

“Hey, lazy bones,” I said, when he answered with a croaky hello. “Get up and get dressed. We’re having breakfast at the café with Taylor.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I’m gonna tell him about Redwood. But there’s something I need to talk to you about too. It’d be easier if you were both there together.”

“Give me twenty minutes, and I’ll be there.”

Just as I knew he would. Good ole reliable Ben.

“See you soon.”

I disconnected the call and turned down Main Street. My confidence waned the closer I got to the café. What if Taylor thought I was crazy? He’d seen ghosts at Redwood, but he didn’t know I was sexually involved with one of them. Would he think I was a freak?

I parked a block away from the café because of all the foot traffic and unavailable parking spots. Saturdays in Ivy Grove, especially around this time of year, were always super busy with tourists and locals. Halloween was a week away, and people were definitely getting into the spirit.

A man dressed as Dracula walked down the sidewalk, handing out flyers for a costume shop. He handed one to me and smiled, showing off his fake fangs.

“Come visit the Halloween Emporium,” he said in a phony accent only used in cheesy vampire movies. “We vill be honored to ‘ave you.”

“For dinner?” I asked, taking the flyer and looking it over.

He broke character as he laughed. “That’s a good one. I might have to use that.”

“Go for it,” I said with a smile, before continuing on my way.

The reminder that Halloween was just around the corner made me think about Zeke. It was the one day of the year when he could leave the mansion. I wanted to take him to a bookstore, then out to a nice dinner. Anywhere he wanted to go.

The trickle of excitement dissipated when I remembered Philip. Would I even be in any condition to go anywhere on Halloween? I felt great at the moment, with only a slight ache in my head, but what if I got worse? What if Philip took me over even more?

The thought brought me back to reality. It was why I needed to tell Taylor and Ben everything. I couldn’t work through it on my own. Not anymore.

If there was one thing I knew for certain, it was that everything would be different after today.

Chapter Fifteen

Taylor sat in a booth against the window, a cup of coffee in front of him as he watched the people pass by on the sidewalk. The waitress approached him and refilled his mug before moving on.

“Hey,” I said, once at the booth.

He smiled up at me. “Hey, man. Have a seat.”

“I hope you don’t mind, but I invited Ben too,” I said, as I sat across from him.

“No shit?” Taylor’s grin widened. “I don’t mind at all. Before he gets here, though, do I look okay?”

“Dude, Ben’s in a relationship,” I responded with a snort. “You could be lying naked in front of him, and he still wouldn’t give you a second look.”

“Wow. Harsh.” Taylor poured cream into his coffee before adding sugar and stirring it. “Who’s he dating?”

No need to give him too many shocks in one day. I’d let Ben be the one to decide if he wanted Taylor to know or