17. Sekani Aelor

Chapter 17

Sekani Aelor

B efore long, Isla started to fuss. There was nothing interesting about a sterile hospital room and boring adults. Callum bounced her on his lap but she wasn’t interested—in him, or in the teddy bear he was waving in her face.

Clare scooped Isla up without a moment’s hesitation. She had two kids and they’d made it to adulthood, so she obviously knew what she was doing.

“How about we go down to the cafeteria and get you something to eat?” Clare cooed at Isla. “Is that alright?”

“Yeah. Nothing with apples,” I told Clare.

If Isla had a blowout at the hospital, it was going to be a long drive home.

Did River even bring her bag?

Clare pecked Callum on the forehead. “I’ll be back in a little while.”

“I’ll run by your apartment and grab some clothes,” Matthew said. Callum looked at me with wide, panicked eyes. Had we shut his closet door? Would his dad look in there? “Is there anything else you want?”

“I’m fine,” Callum told him. “It’s not as if I’m going anywhere anytime soon. But take Aysha with you.” He looked at his sister and a slow grin crawled across her face. Either she knew about his box of fun, or she had suspicions.

“I’ll stay with him,” I told Matthew and Aysha. “No rush.”

Callum and I had a lot to learn about one another. I’d done my fair share—more than my fair share—of talking about myself so now he had his memories back, it was his turn.

“Thank you, Mr. Aelor. Behave, Callum.” His dad leaned down and kissed him on the head, squeezing his shoulder before leaving the room. Aysha winked as she shut the door. Maybe she’d show Matthew the toy box. I almost felt bad for him.

“Is anyone going to tell that man he’s haunted?” Waylin looked from River to me.

River shrugged. “I only do hauntings when cameras are running.”

“Wait.” Callum looked between us all. “My dad is haunted?”

I nodded. “Little boy, about seven, just chilling beside him.”

Callum rubbed his head. “His twin died when they were kids.”

“Twins have the same door. They come through it together and have to leave through it together.” I sat on the edge of his bed and took his hand in my own. It was different, touching him now. I could feel him before but now he had heat, a solidity he’d lacked. “Nothing any of us can do.”

“So my dad’s just . . . had a ghost around him since he was seven?”

I shrugged. “If they’re twins, then yeah. It happens. You’d be surprised how many people are just casually haunted. Or maybe not. You stalked me, after all.”

“I didn’t stalk you,” he protested, swatting at my chest with his free hand. “I just encouraged you to help me. And look how great it turned out.”

I laughed softly. “How do you like your coffee, Ghost Boy?”

“With cream and a lot of sugar,” he said.

“Handy information to have for when you get out of here.” I squeezed his hand. “We have a lot to talk about.”

“Yeah.” He smiled. I reached out with my free hand, cupped his jaw and brushed my thumb along his bottom lip before leaning in and capturing his mouth.

His lips parted under mine and I swept into the space. He tasted like pudding, which is probably what he’d been snacking on since he woke up. I hummed softly against his mouth and he smiled as he leaned into me.

“Gross,” River whined.

I ignored him and laid my forehead against Callum. “Been dying to do that.”

“Me too, kind of literally,” he said.

I laughed and slotted my mouth over his.

“We’re leaving now,” Waylin declared. I didn’t pull away. Callum pushed one of his hands into my hair, pulling me down as he lay back against the hospital bed. I shifted and climbed up so I was straddling his thighs. “Let’s go. I’m gonna vomit if we stay.”

“Right.” River said. “That’s just wrong.”

“He’s in the hos—” The door shut behind them, cutting off whatever else Waylin was going to say. I bracketed Callum’s face with my hands, sliding my tongue against his and nipping at his bottom lip.

“Alone at last,” he whispered against my mouth.

“We probably don’t have long,” I warned. His mother was bound to return with Isla sooner or later. Hospital food wasn’t worth lingering over.

“We’ll have to wait until I’m out of here. Then the real fun begins.” His lips tipped up, gray eyes shining.

“I still have my department-issue handcuffs.” I nipped at his bottom lip again.

“Tease.” He groaned, low in the back of his throat, and I laughed.