client out to brunch and was nearby. It’s always quiet here and good for napping.”
“You took a client out to brunch on a Saturday? It’s unsettling seeing you so grown up.”
“Hah.” He puts the spaghetti in the microwave. “It’s unsettling being so grown up. I turned down going out to the bar last night with Bryan because I knew I had to get up early today.”
“What is wrong with you?” I tease, knowing Harrison lives for going out so he can bring a new girl home with him. “Are you going out tonight to make up for it at least?”
“Most likely.”
“I’m going out too. Laney’s boyfriend is playing at Martini’s.”
“He’s still in that band? I heard they were awful.” He makes a face and I shoot him one right back.
“Be nice. It’s Josh’s hobby, and they’ve gotten better since last year.”
“Did they replace everyone?”
I give Harrison a blank stare. “No. And I’m not going out just to listen to them. My date was a bust last night so maybe I’ll pick up a hottie from the bar to bring home.”
“You’re going to bring home a stranger?”
“Like you never do. Feel free to set me up with some of your single friends.” I take a bite of the apple.
"No fucking way.”
“Marcus from your office is cute. And I know he’s single.”
“You don’t want to go out with Marcus. He’s not the settling down type. You’re much too wholesome for that.”
“Wholesome?” I raise my eyebrows. “I feel like that’s a nice way of saying I’m a prude, which I’m not. Not at all.”
“Too much information, Anora.” He flicks his eyes to me, expression softening. “Be careful if you do decide to go home with anyone.”
“I’d take them home with me. And if they don’t pass Hunter’s test, I’ll shoo them out.”
“And you wonder why you’re single,” he says under his breath.
“I gotta run,” I tell him. “Can you let Hunter and Buster in soon? It’s too hot for them to be out for much longer.”
“Yeah. See ya, sis.”
“Hey, Anora!” Leslie, my friend and another riding instructor at the barn, calls as I get out of my car and cross the gravel parking lot. She’s leading her horse into the barn, coming from the indoor arena. Sundance spooks, able to sense—or maybe even see—the ghost standing at the threshold of the woods next to the arena. I’ve named him Bob, and he’s been appearing in that same spot for years, stuck in some sort of time loop.
He never looks at me, never speaks or moves more than that one step he takes from the woods. A deep sadness resonates from him, and he surveys the pasture with a pained expression as if he’s looking for a lost love. I’ve fallen deep down the rabbit hole trying to figure out who he is and why he’s tied to this place, but have come up empty-handed, making me think his body was buried somewhere in the woods. I’ve considered going to the police because if his body is in the woods, it deserves to be found.
But what would I say? Hey, I think there might be a body in the woods because a ghost haunts the barn where my horse lives? I’d sound crazy for sure and wouldn’t get taken seriously.
“Hey!” I call back, pulling the hair tie from my wrist, raking my hair into a messy ponytail as I walk. Bob slowly fades from view and Sundance settles back down. The barn is busy, as it always is on Saturdays, and it’s one of the rare places I enjoy the hustle and bustle of people. After hanging my purse up in my tack locker, I head out to the pasture to get Charlie, the pony I use for riding lessons.
I’m unhooking the pasture gate when I get the feeling of eyes on me. I turn, looking through the arena behind me for Bob. I watch Leslie and Sundance, half expecting him to spook again. He canters around the arena twice, not so much as looking at the spot where Bob usually stands.
I turn back around and am suddenly face to face with Bob. My heart jumps into my throat and my lips part as I gasp in shock. Bob never moves from his spot. Never. What the fuck am I supposed to do? Twenty-four years of being a medium should have trained me for this, yet I’m rooted to the spot, unable to look away from the dead man that stands in front of