The Ghost Host: Episode 1 (The Ghost Host Series) Page 32

  Griffin pockets the keys and nods. A second later, Morton is out the door on his way to some meeting I’m happy not to be involved in. It’s an odd exchange, but for one reason more than any other. “Ask me what?” Narrowing my eyes, I stare at Griffin. Morton said he wasn’t here to study me.

  For the first time since walking into the office, Griffin loses his easy confidence and stuffs his hands in his pockets. “If I can…watch the show.” He shrugs apologetically, almost as though he’s embarrassed.

  “The…show? The Ghost Host show? You know about that?” I ask, though I’m not sure why I’m surprised. Morton is his dad. It’s not like us working together is a secret or anything…except from my parents.

  Griffin grins. “Being interested in the strange and unusual is kind of a family hobby.”

  That’s…odd. “Uh,” I said slowly.

  “If you’re not comfortable having an outsider there, I get it,” Griffin says. “Just thought I’d take a chance. I’ve been curious since my dad mentioned you.”

  Frowning, I’m not sure what to say, so I ask another question. “Does he do that a lot? Talk about me, I mean.”

  For a moment, Griffin hesitates. His gaze focuses on me a little more intently before relaxing. “Let’s just say, my sisters are beginning to think of you as part of the family.”

  “And…you?” I ask slowly.

  He laughs. “I don’t get to talk to my dad as often as they do because I’m out on assignment a lot, but yeah, you could say that. Sorry if that’s weird.”

  I open my mouth to say it is most definitely weird, but then I say something else entirely. “As far as family goes, I’ll take what I can get.”

  If he thinks it’s a strange thing to say, I can’t tell. Actually, he looks like he understands, which I don’t really get but won’t complain about. Things with my parents have been tense. They brought the twins out to see me once over the summer, and I swear my dad was almost disappointed to realize I was doing okay. Not great or anything, but all right enough that I’m not running home with my tail between my legs.

  The entire four days they were here, he asked question after question, demanding to know how I’d gotten into college, how I’m supporting myself with Zara not working and me supposedly working part-time as a data entry clerk for the F.B.I. field office. I know he thinks Morton got me the job out of pity, because there’s no way he actually believes in my ability to see ghosts or communicate with them. He was on edge the whole visit, waiting for my life to implode. To say it was disheartening would be putting it mildly.

  My mom was a little better, and the twins had a blast touring the city and causing trouble. The twins believe me. They know I’m not lying, and have a pretty good idea about what I can do without ever having seen it firsthand. My mom is being cautiously optimistic. It’s not the same as believing me or supporting my choice to move out here, but it’s better than being forced to attend therapy sessions and take medications I don’t need. She’s ready to swoop in and haul me off to a psychiatric facility at the drop of a hat, though. I have no doubt of that.

  “Hey,” Griffin says as his hand slips onto my shoulder and squeezes. “It’s all right.” He doesn’t elaborate, and for some reason that makes me feel better.

  “If you really want to come,” I say without looking at him quite yet, “it’s fine with me.” I keep to myself that Holden will most likely not be fine with it, and Malachi and Kyran will almost definitely be either pissed or jealous or whatever, but I don’t really care. Homework is only part of why I’ve been less than eager about showing up to shoot the shows since…well, since I screwed everything up.

  Big surprise, right?

  I sigh and start shoving all my homework paraphernalia back into my bag. Griffin moves to help me, wordlessly lending aid. We work together in the minute or two it takes to pack up my scattered belongings, with a strangely familiar synchronicity. He looked familiar when he first walked in. I realize now that was due to having his dad’s eyes and jawline. This is different, more elemental. We don’t get in each other’s way or grab for things at the same time. His nearness is comforting.

  There’s sexual zero attraction between us. It seems weird that I feel one hundred percent accurate saying that about him as well as myself, but I do. He was teasing, kind of, when he said he and his siblings are beginning to think of me as family. That’s exactly what he feels like, though, an older brother I know will have my back.

  I’m used to weird, but this is freaking me out a little. Maybe a lot.

  Normally, I keep these kinds of odd thoughts to myself. Morton insists I share every stupid little thing with him that has to do with my paranormal talents. Some of the everyday stuff too, unfortunately. Maybe it’s just habit, but I don’t keep my thoughts to myself for once.

  “I’m not the only one feeling this, right?”

  He doesn’t ask me what I’m talking about or shy away. Instead, he smiles and hands me my backpack. “No, you’re not.”

  “Care to explain what it is?” I ask with a slight edge to my voice.

  “I’m not like Malachi, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  Honest relief sweeps through me, because…I really don’t need that kind of complication right now. Malachi is bound to me, my compliment in all things freaky and bizarre, required to protect me from all the dark and scary beasties trying to suck away my soul and destroy the world. He’s also in, well, not love with me, but heavy like, I guess. Or he was. I don’t even know anymore. Maybe he still would be if I hadn’t accidentally commanded him to have sex with me after nearly dying and completely freaking out when I woke up. Oh yeah, then I ran off like a lunatic and inadvertently made all my friends blame him for taking my virginity when I was at my weakest. Even though I’ve tried to explain to him and everyone else what really happened—or at least my best guess—yeah, things are still a mess.

  Before I realize he’s moved, Griffin pulls me in for a hug and my head falls against his chest. “It’s not as bad as you think,” he says quietly.

  I laugh, but it’s not a happy sound. “No,” I say, “It’s usually worse than I think.”

  Acknowledgements

  When I started writing this book last year, I intended it to be funny. Echo had other plans and this book is not funny. However, when I sent the beta copy to the always fabulous Apryl Baker, there were still vestiges of humor in the first few chapters and she said it felt too YA because it reminded her of iCarly! I had a good laugh about that because it was my kids’ love of iCarly before it ended and my love of Apryl’s books that got me interested in ghosts and introduced me to Echo Simmons, The Ghost Host.

  I also owe Apryl a big thanks for pointing out several majors and minor flaws with the original version of this story and helping me work out how to fix them. You know you have a great friend when they’re willing to be that honest and then stick around to patch up the problems.

  I need to thank my other early reader, Sneha Mohite, who started reading when I only had half the book written and then stuck with me for months on end to get the ending and give me her thoughts.

  My other beta readers on this project were invaluable as well and helped me with a particularly sticky issue so I could get it just right. Thank you, Melissa Bendt, Mylissa Demeyere, Michelle Zeplin, Rhonda Sermon, Monique Bogan, Deanne Gladden, and Nikki Jeffrey.

  Final thanks goes to Kassondra Sturtevant (my awesome sister), aka Mystereah Photography, for taking the cover model pics for the front cover after I whined that there were no good stock photos of redheads, and to the gorgeous Kate Bordeaux for posing for her.

  Also by DelSheree Gladden

  Escaping Fate Series

  Escaping Fate

  Soul Stone

  Oracle Lost

  (Coming 2017)

  Eliza Carlisle Mystery Series

  Trouble Magnet

  The Catalyst (novella)

  The Handbook Series

  The Crazy Girl’s Handbook


  The Oblivious Girl’s Handbook

  The Arcane Wielders Series

  Life & Being (coming Dec 2016)

  Twin Souls Saga

  Twin Souls

  Shaxoa’s Gift

  Qaletaqa

  The Destroyer Trilogy

  Inquest

  Secret of Betrayal

  Darkening Chaos

  Someone Wicked This Way Comes Series

  Wicked Hunger

  Wicked Power

  Wicked Glory

  Wicked Revenge

  The Aerling Series

  Invisible

  Intangible

  Invincible

  The Date Shark Series

  Date Shark

  Shark Out Of Water

  The Only Shark In The Sea

  Shark In Troubled Waters

  About the Author

  DelSheree Gladden was one of those shy, quiet kids who spent more time reading than talking. Literally. She didn't speak a single word for the first three months of preschool, but she had already taught herself to read. Her fascination with reading led to many hours spent in the library and bookstores, and eventually to writing. She wrote her first novel when she was sixteen years old, but spent ten years rewriting and perfecting it before having it published.

  Native to New Mexico, DelSheree and her husband spent several years in Colorado for college and work before moving back home to be near family again. Their two children love having their cousins close by. When not writing, you can find DelSheree reading, painting, sewing and trying not to get bitten by small children in her work as a dental hygienist. DelSheree has several bestselling young adult series, including "Invisible" which was part of the USA Today Bestselling box set, "Pandora." The Date Shark Series is her first contemporary romance series, and her first book in her upcoming new adult series, The Ghost Host, will be releasing 2015.

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