Love, Like Ghosts: A Bay City Paranormal Investigations Story

his own laptop as if it had just told him his favorite grandmother died. “What’s wrong?”
“I didn’t get the part.” Shutting his laptop, Greg dropped his chin into his hands. “Ms. Halstead said my monologue was excellent, but my singing voice wasn’t very good.”
Greg’s expression was so forlorn it tore at Adrian’s heart. He reached across the narrow table to touch Greg’s arm. “I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I thought you were great.”
A faint smile touched Greg’s lips. “Too bad you’re not casting the play.”
Adrian shook his head. “I don’t understand why she said that about your singing. I didn’t see anything wrong with it.”
“Yeah, well. ‘Nothing wrong with it’ wasn’t enough to beat out Jon Hudson.”
“Which one was he?”
“The really tall guy with the ponytail.”
“Oh.” Adrian studied the document open on his laptop. He remembered the man now. His acting ability hadn’t been quite as good as Greg’s, but it hadn’t been far off, and his singing had been truly impressive. Adrian had no idea if saying so would hurt Greg’s feelings, however, and he’d just as soon avoid finding out.
Apparently luck was not with him. Greg leaned forward, watching Adrian’s face. “You can’t tell me you thought I sang as well as Jon.”
Damn. Steeling himself for whatever might happen next, Adrian met Greg’s gaze. “No, that’s true. He’s definitely the better singer.”
Greg looked startled for a second, then let out a quiet laugh. “Well, you did tell me you’d never lie to me.”
“Yeah.” Adrian bit his lip. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to hurt your feelings. I know I can be really blunt.”
“No, that’s okay. You didn’t hurt my feelings. I want to hear the truth.” Greg raked a hand through his hair. “They’re casting for Wicked in February. I’ll try out for the part of Fiyero. That’ll be my goal.” He pinned Adrian with a bright, fierce gaze. “I can do this. I can.”
Adrian took in the determined gleam in Greg’s eyes and felt an odd flutter in his chest. Pushing his laptop aside, he reached across the table and took Greg’s hands in his. “I know you can.”
Greg beamed at him. Shooting a glance toward the librarian—who was frowning at them—he lowered his voice to a whisper. “You want to go grab some dinner, then go back to your place?”
“Sure.” Adrian peered at the clock on his Mac. It was only five thirty, early enough that nothing on Franklin Street should be too crowded yet, even on a Saturday. “I could go for Pita Pit, how about you? I’m not in the mood for the dining hall tonight.”
“Me neither. Pita Pit sounds perfect, let’s go.”
They gathered their laptops, pulled on their jackets and exited into the mid-November twilight. Greg produced a Tarheels toboggan from one pocket of his coat and tugged it over his ears. “Damn, it’s cold out here.”
“I know. They’ve been predicting an unusually cold winter this year.”
Greg stuck his hands in his pockets and hunched his shoulders. He didn’t say anything else, but he didn’t have to. Adrian knew what he was thinking—he wanted Adrian’s arm around him, like the night of their first date.
Adrian stifled a sigh. He couldn’t deny that it would feel good to walk down the sidewalk with Greg’s body warm and solid against his side. But he just couldn’t do it. Even though his psychokinesis had settled down a lot since he and Greg started having sex, it still tended to react unpredictably when Greg pushed his comfort zone in public. And walking through the Chapel Hill crowds with their arms around each other definitely pushed Adrian’s comfort level. It made him feel rather like a bug pinned to a piece of cardboard.
I have known the eyes already, known them all. He laughed.
Greg shot him a sharp look. “What?”
“Nothing. Just thinking of something I read once.” And thinking that if I ever get that pathetic I hope someone smacks some sense into me.
“Fine.” Hoisting his laptop bag farther up onto his shoulder, Greg started walking faster. “Let’s hurry. I’m freezing my ass off.”
Adrian shook his head and picked up his pace to match Greg’s. It amazed him that someone with as much professional drive and determination as Greg could be so childish at times.
They’d just emerged onto Franklin Street when a man Adrian didn’t know stepped out in front of them. He wore black jeans and a red wool coat. A brown knit cap covered his