No More Secrets (Book 2)

12. Peeping Tom

Dylan grabbed onto my waist as he helped me out of the car. I shook my head, pushing his hands off me. I appreciated his help, but I didn't need it.

"I'm fine, babe," I said. "I can walk by myself."

"Travis, you had a heart attack four days ago. I'm only trying to help."

I shook my head again. He's been grouchy recently, ever since I woke up after I had that heart attack. I hadn't even told him that I was able to see Jenny yet, nor have I asked him about what exactly has been going on with the ghosts. He hasn't seemed like himself and I didn't want to say anything that would set him off.

"Remember how you felt after your accident and all I wanted to do was help? That's how I'm feeling now."

He scoffed. "I seem to remember you insisting on helping me anyway. Besides, losing a leg and having a ghost with a personal vendetta against you are two very different things. I need to be here with you in case she comes back."

He opened the front door to our apartment and let me walk in first. "You really don't, Dyl," I said.

"Yes, I do." He let the door slam shut behind him. "You can't see her, Travis! I'm the only one who can protect you! I can't lose you!"

There were tears in his eyes and I pulled him close to me. "Hey, hey, hey," I said softly, whispering into his hair. "It's okay. You're not going to lose me. I promise. I'm not going anywhere."

He shook his head, stepping back from my embrace to look me in the eyes. "You can't know that. We have no clue what she's capable of. She could have killed you the other day. I stood there and watched the whole thing happen and I couldn't do a fucking thing to help you!"

I sighed. I knew I couldn't keep the fact that I could now see ghosts a secret from him anymore. I grabbed his hand and led him into our bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at me.

"Should you even be having sex right now?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Probably. I'm fine. But that's not what we're doing right now." I sat down next to him. "I don't blame you for not doing anything to stop her. There's nothing you would have been able to do, even if you tried. The good thing is that I'm still alive. Although I think I may have died for a minute during it all."

"What do you mean? No one said anything about that happening."

Before I could answer, Jenny appeared on the other side of the room. Dylan snapped his gaze to her, and so did I.

He looked at me again, realizing I had seen her appear. "You can see her?" he whispered.

I nodded. "Yeah."

He turned back to his sister. "Did you know?"

Jenny shrugged. "He told me he needed to tell you himself. So I didn't say anything."

Dylan shook his head in disbelief. "No. That's not true. Tell me it's not true."

I placed my hand on his. "It is. Jenny, prove it. Say something I'd never think of myself and I'll repeat it."

She thought for a moment. "Okay. I used to have the biggest crush on you when I was a kid. Then I died and I found out you were dating Dylan this whole time... yeah, that sucked. But at least I got to watch you naked in the shower until I realized you two were together. I stopped doing that, then. Promise." 

My mouth dropped open and I could only stare at her. She really did that? I wasn't exactly surprised about the crush. She was a just kid and whenever I came over, she'd run and hide from me. I figured it out pretty quickly. But watching me in the shower? That was too much.

"You better have fucking stopped," Dylan muttered.

"Yeah, please don't," I said, finally finding my voice. "I'll know now if you try to do it again." 

Dylan looked at me. "Okay, Trav. What did she say she did?" His gaze was hard, probably more of the thought of his little sister creeping on me rather than the thought that I actually could see ghosts now. I hoped, at least.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. How could I even say it out loud after we've all heard it once already? "She used to have a crush on me and would watch me in the shower before she knew we were together."

Dylan nodded slowly. "Holy shit," he whispered. "Holy shit." Then he looked back at Jenny. "If you weren't already dead, I'd kill you, I swear. I'm so pissed at you right now."

Jenny didn't wait another second before disappearing.

I leaned into Dylan, kissing his neck. "Someone's a little jealous."

"Shut up," he muttered. "I can't believe she would do that."

"Hey," I sat back up, resting my hand on his thigh. "She's just a kid. I don't blame her for wanting a look. Have you see me?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, that's the problem. You're too hot."

"You know," I said, ignoring the comment for now. "Since I can see ghosts and everything now, can you please tell me what's been going on with them recently?"

Dylan sighed. "There's nothing to worry about anymore."

"Dyl..."

"I'm serious. The less you know, the better. After what she did to you, I tracked her down and confronted her. She shouldn't be bothering you anymore, but there's still that risk that she'll come back again. You need to promise me not to let any other ghosts know that you can see them, okay? Jenny and my grandma are one thing. But if word gets out that you can see them too, now..." He shook his head. "Everything I just stopped might just come back a whole lot worse for you."

He sounded so serious, I didn't want to press for more information. I simply nodded my head, promising not to interact with other ghosts.

"You know what we can discuss tonight, though?" he asked, getting to his feet to stand in front of me. "We can finally start planning that wedding of ours."

I leaned up with a smile to kiss him. "Sounds perfect."