He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. “No tricks, no funny business. If we can't reach the spirit they want, then we don't take them on. Period.” I wasn't in this to cheat people. But I wanted a way to help them without trying to have a regular job, where, most of the time, I'd have to ignore the spirits I was supposed to be assisting. “We'll keep doing some pro bono stuff, helping spirits without living relatives or friends to pay us, because that's just what we do. But if you look at the profit Ed was making without being able to see other ghosts, you'll see it's possible, especially with two of us.” I dug into my bag for the folder and handed it to Will. I'd created a spreadsheet using the data I'd gotten from Ed. He'd made contact once he found his parents. He was living with them in Springfield.
“I see Ed found you, too,” Will said dryly. We'd given Ed a ride to the bus station that night after the party and shared some of our story with him. Well, we had had to tell him something when he saw me and knew I wasn't his sister. We'd made quite the impression, I guess, and he wanted to stay in touch.
“For the first year or so I'd have to work for you,” I said.
Will raised his eyebrows.
“In name only,” I added swiftly, giving him a sour look. “As, like, an intern or something, until I'm eighteen… again.” So annoying! “After that, we'd have to restructure, probably as an LLP.” I paused. “Think of it sort of like a private detective agency, only with ghosts instead of guns and without a license. For now.”
He didn't say anything, and I rushed to fill the silence. “We're not going to be able to have the normal lives everybody else does, but so what? Why not use it to our advantage? You can major in whatever you want. I'm going with business, I think. Maybe marketing. I'm good at getting people to do what I want.” Except for Will, maybe.
Will looked up from the business projections and the logo ideas I'd affixed to the outside of the folder. “You've put a lot of time into this.”
“Hello, success doesn't just happen, remember?” I folded my arms across my chest, struggling against the urge to pretend I didn't care what he thought.
“So, you want to work together,” he said slowly, like I'd suggested we vacation on the dark side of Mars.
I stiffened. “It's not necessary. I can do this on my own.” I snatched the folder from him.
“No.” He grabbed the folder back. “You're not understanding what I'm—”
“Well, maybe if you'd try to be clearer about it,” I said.
He exhaled loudly in frustration, and I braced myself for the next round, already prepping the points I would bring up in response to his arguments. Besides, this
I was distracted, thinking about all of this, so I didn't notice him leaning over until he took my chin in his hand to turn my face toward him. “It's a good plan,” he said, stroking my cheek. “You just have to give me more than ten seconds to think about it. So impatient…” Then he kissed me, slow and deep, until I felt like I might float away… or melt.
I reached out and wrapped my hands in his T-shirt to anchor myself, but the feel of his warm skin only made things worse… and so much better.
“Okay?” he murmured after a long moment.
He shifted in his seat, pulling back slightly and dropping his gaze.
“I wasn't sure,” he said cautiously. “I know you still have to go to school here, and if you want to fit in…”
I leaned over and pushed him back in his seat, enjoying the surprise on his face and the heat in his gaze. “Forget them,” I whispered, before pressing my mouth against his and doing my very best to make him feel as dizzy and out of control as he'd made me feel.
After a second, he reached out to clutch at my waist, and one of us — no, both of us were trembling. It was, quite simply, one of the best moments of my life — before or after.
“Making out in burner row. I'm a bad influence on you,” he said breathlessly when I let him up for air.
“Terrible,” I agreed with a smile. And I wouldn't have had it any other way.
