Phantoms of Fall (The Haunting Ruby Series Book 2)

by Joy Elbel

  “I like the way you think.” He pushed the door until it was fully open. “After you, my love.” We walked hand in hand through the snow stopping only occasionally to try to catch a gigantic flake on our tongues. It was pure magic—he was pure magic. The fact that he was willing to indulge my fantasies before heading for the goal line said a lot. It said he loved me the right way—the only way I ever wanted to be loved again.

  When we stopped by the fountain, he brushed the gathering snow out of my hair and asked, “Are you ready to go inside yet?”

  I nodded my head. “I’m ready for you to warm me up now.” There was a chill in the air but a fire in my heart. “Before we go inside, I want you know how special this day is for me, too. There isn’t anyone I would rather be with.” He kissed me with lips chilled from the snow. “I love you, Ruby Matthews.”

  “And I love you, Zach Mason.”

  We walked inside the mansion and started up the stairs. “Wait—I forgot something.”

  “What did you forget?”

  “There’s a bottle of wine in the fridge—if we only have a little, my parents will never notice it’s gone.”

  Zach winked at me. “If you want wine, we’ll have wine.” I was never really interested in alcohol before but drinking wine felt like a grown up thing to do. And I was only minutes away from being an adult. Plus, I figured it would help steady my nerves. “I’ll be right back.”

  I ran into the kitchen and nearly skidded right into the dishwasher I forgot to close after breakfast. Slow down! Now is not the time to go and hurt yourself! Calmly, I closed the dishwasher door and reached into the cabinet for a pair of wine glasses.

  I grabbed the bottle out of the refrigerator and pulled out the cork. Why do they call it White Zinfandel when it’s pink? I inspected the bottle to see if I was missing something. But now wasn’t the time for mindless trivia, so I poured two glasses and returned to the steps where Zach was waiting for me.

  “Here you go,” I said handing Zach his glass. “I’m ready if you are.” Before he could reply, a heavy knock sounded against the front door. Who could it possibly be? I never heard a car pull up and we were too far out of town for anyone to have walked here. Whoever it was would just have to go away—I wasn’t about to open the door for some pushy magazine salesman. I mean, for real, which was more important— losing my virginity or gaining a subscription to Cosmo?

  “I’m not answering that,” I said to Zach as I started to climb the stairs. “Ruby, what if your parents sent Andy over to check on you or something? If you don’t answer the door, he’ll panic and call them. The last thing we need is for someone to come barging through the door while we’re in the middle of things.”

  I sighed heavily. He was right. Just open the door, get rid of whoever’s there—that way we won’t have to worry about anything once we get to my bedroom. Trudging down the steps, I yanked open the door, ready to slam it back in someone’s face.

  I noticed the shoes first. A pair of black Converse All Stars—stylish. My eyes gravitated slowly upward. Skinny jeans—not for everyone, but this guy was definitely pulling off the look. Black Cold Eternal hoodie—good taste in music didn’t make me any less mad that this stranger was the only thing standing between me and hot, steamy sex. Then, I saw his face and realized that he wasn’t exactly a stranger.

  Standing right in front of me was Lee. Lee—as in Lee my dead boyfriend. Oh no. Not now! I wasn’t ready for another ghost. Especially not this one and especially not today! But it was definitely thoughtful of him to knock on the door instead of walking straight through it.

  “Who is it, Ruby?” Zach asked as he approached. There was no way to hide the fact that a ghost just knocked on my door—Zach was too smart to fall for my lies by now. I just wouldn’t tell him who it was, that’s all. Treat it like you would any nameless ghost.

  Then I heard the sound of breaking glass behind me. I turned to see Zach with his mouth hanging wide open and wine pooling at his feet. “You can see him?” I exclaimed.

  “Sorry if I interrupted something—my car broke down and your house was the closest.” Wait. Why was a ghost driving a car? The answer was simple. He wasn’t a ghost! He was real but he didn’t seem to recognize me. My brain struggled to reconcile what I thought I knew with what was right in front of my face. It was all too much.

  Lee was dead—he told me so himself in the ER the night of the accident. He told me it was too late for him but that I still had a choice. He told me he wasn’t my true love but that the boy I was meant to be with was still out there waiting for me. He told me….

  I could hear the words he spoke to me that night ring clearly through my head. “He could have blonde hair and blue eyes or he could look more like me. All I know is meeting him will come as a great shock to you.”

  Shock didn’t even begin to cover it. My legs went weak, my vision foggy. I crashed to the floor and everything went black.