CHAPTER 10
Mila and Tucker had no idea why they were both drawn to their former apartment. But there they were, together, observing the place as it was being prepared for the next occupant. Their possessions had been cleared out and distributed to their families, and the empty rooms were a depressing reminder of how drastically their lives had changed.
Painters were in the kitchen, changing the color of the walls from the cheerful peach color that Mila had personally painted to a standard eggshell-white.
“Things are happening so fast—too fast. I’m trying to make peace with the idea that I’m dead, but how can I when it seems that every day I experience another loss,” Mila said solemnly.
Tucker patted her on the shoulder. “We don’t have to lose this place. We can hang around here for as long as we want.”
“No we can’t. New tenants will be moving in soon.”
Tucker gave her an indignant look. “So!”
“It wouldn’t be right to intrude on them. I don’t want to be the cause of anyone else feeling spooked. All of my efforts to communicate with Imani have been a disaster. She’s scared to death and thinks she’s being haunted when all I’m trying to do is get her attention and connect with her.”
“Why is it so important to connect with her? A few days ago you wanted her to tell your parents that you’re alive, but now that they’ve buried you—”
“I don’t like that expression, Tucker. I prefer to say that my parents attempted to put me to rest, but little do they know…” her voice trailed off.
“Little do they know, you’re not resting well at all,” he said, finishing Mila’s sentence. “But now that you’ve accepted that you were killed in the crash, you no longer need the nurse’s assistance. I don’t get why you’re still lurking around her?”
“Because she senses my presence. Yesterday she was humming my favorite song, and I know that means that we’re connected. I like being around her, it makes me feel like I’m still part of the real world. For whatever reason, Tucker, you and I are stuck in limbo—we just exist—and I don’t want to merely exist. I just feel that if could talk with Imani and explain my dilemma, she’d let me share her life.”
“Share it? How?”
“I don’t know. I only know that she’s alive and I’m not and she has what I want…life! I miss being alive. I want to actually touch something again. I hate the feeling of penetrating solid matter; it makes me dizzy and nauseous.”
“I think walking through doors is cool; I can’t complain about that.”
“It’s more than that, Tucker. I want to eat my favorite foods, I want to have a social life; I want to experience the exhilaration of accomplishing things in life. No offense to you Tucker, but you weren’t the best boyfriend…and I’d really like to experience being in love with a man who has goals and who would be a good role model for our children.”
“That’s a low blow, but the new me is too enlightened to be offended.”
“Now that’s a laugh. Just because you’re dead doesn’t mean you’re enlightened. You’re the same self-absorbed jerk that you always were,” Mila said bitterly.
“Why can’t you admit that in our current state, I’m making out much better than you are? You’re like a lost puppy. The way you follow that nurse around, pleading with her to have a conversation with you is pathetic. You’re wasting your time, Mila. If you want to experience living again, then you’ll have to figure out her weaknesses and start controlling her life. It’s the only way you’ll experience being human again.”
Suddenly interested in what Tucker had to say, Mila gazed at him curiously. “What good is it to figure out her weaknesses?”
“Okay…listen. When I want whiskey, I don’t stroll into Gold’s gym and hover around fitness junkies that only drink green juice and who work out all day. When I want booze, I hang out at a bar and align myself with a person who’s fighting the urge to drink, and then I become that voice in his head that tells him that one little drink won’t hurt.”
Mila gave Tucker a look of disgust. “You’re awful. I can’t believe you’re bragging about causing someone to fall off the wagon.”
“I’m learning how to maneuver in a physical world without the benefit of having a physical body. In other words, I’m making the best of my circumstances. Look, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. If you want to spend the rest of eternity trying to be seen and heard, then be my guest. But if you want to really start living again, then you’ll stop scaring the crap out a potential host and start getting into her head.”
“A potential host? What do you mean by that?”
“A host is someone who might be weak enough to unknowingly let you borrow their body.”
Mila gazed at Tucker with her head tilted to the side. “Are you saying that you get inside the bodies of the drunks that you hang around?”
“I take over their bodies,” Tucker clarified. “And it’s a great feeling. Once you’re inside a human body, you get to experience life once again. Merely walking down the street and feeling a breeze and feeling the rays of the sun gives me rush that’s similar to doing a line of coke. And don’t get me started about sex…oh, man!”
Mila’s mouth fell open. “You have sex?”
Tucker smirked as he nodded his head. “Not ordinary sex, I have amazing, mind-blowing sex.”
“Wow,” she uttered, still looking shocked.
“While you’re bemoaning your fate and whining and crying, I’ve been living my best life. “
“So, let me get this straight. You took over the body of that broken down drunk named Henry, and then seduced someone into having mind-blowing sex with him?” Mila made a disgusted face.
Tucker laughed. “No, not Henry; I don’t hang out with him anymore. I’ve found a more age-appropriate buddy. My newest host is a dude named Glen. He’s a day trader. Buying and selling stock is exciting when he’s winning, but he gets hella depressed when he loses money. And when he’s feeling down in the dumps, it’s a perfect opportunity for me to slip in and convince him to hit the bottle. I’ve also inspired him to elevate his sex game and be a lot more uninhibited in bed.”
Mila thought about the kinky sex that she’d allowed Tucker to talk her into when they were together, and she could only imagine the sort of wild stuff he had his new host involved in.
“Because of me, Glen is experiencing the best sex of his life,” Tucker bragged. “But instead of appreciating his newfound prowess, he’s appalled by his behavior.”
“I can relate to how he feels,” Mila said glumly. “So, how does it work? Do you and Glen both experience the sensations of alcohol and sex when you’re invading his body?”
“I don’t invade his body; I sort of borrow it. When I’m there, it’s like Glen is asleep, and he doesn’t a clue about what’s going on. If I want to, I can withdraw my energy and allow him to be a part of the experience, but the one time that I did that he was so freaked out to discover himself in bed with two chicks that I never let him participate again. Afterwards, when I return his body to him, he feels confused and thinks that he blacked out.” Tucker began to chuckle and Mila shook her head.
“There’s nothing funny about what you’re doing to him,” she chastised.
“What I’m doing is elevating his profile. Turning him into a ladies man. He’s in such demand these days that his phone is constantly buzzing with texts and calls from women he can’t remember hooking up with.”
“That’s cruel. It’s like you’re stealing the poor guy’s life.”
“I’m not stealing it; I’m enhancing it. The guy was leading a boring existence before I enlivened his life,” Tucker said, beaming. Then his expression suddenly darkened. “Besides, if anyone’s life was stolen, it was mine, so why shouldn’t I seize the opportunity to enjoy someone else’s?”
Mila scoffed. “Are you seriously going to look me in the eye and say that your life was stolen?”
“Hell, yeah.”
“You ma
de a conscious decision to get behind the wheel while you were intoxicated. You threw your life away. But my life, on the other hand, was actually stolen. You robbed me of living a full and complete life, and I’ll never forgive you, Tucker!”
“I’m sorry about that night, Mila. I really am,” he said in a gentle tone of voice. “I wasn’t deliberately being a dick. I honestly thought I could handle driving, but obviously I couldn’t.” He reached for her hand and brought it up to his lips. “I’m really sorry, okay?”
She sighed.
“You can’t hold a grudge against me for all of eternity…” He paused and searched her face. “But then again, maybe you can.”
Despite herself, Mila chuckled.
“There it is…that’s the smile I love,” he said teasingly. “The way I see it, we were both too young to die, and we both deserve to continue living. If you’d like, I’ll give you pointers on how to borrow the nurse’s body.”
Mila wrinkled her nose. “I don’t want to do that. I just want to…”
“You want to feel like a living person again.”
She nodded. “Exactly.”
“You’re a sensible girl, Mila, and I know you won’t do anything crazy when you borrow the nurse’s body. If you don’t do anything that’s out of her character, she’ll never know you were there.”
“How do I go about borrowing her body? Oh, God, I can’t believe I’m actually considering doing this.”
“First of all, you’ll have to get inside her head and insert your thoughts. After you’ve successfully manipulated her thoughts and actions, you can begin to experience life inside her body. By the way, it’s easier to merge with a person when their vibration is low.”
“What does that mean?”
“People unintentionally lower their vibration when they give in to emotions like depression, anger, fear, worry, and anxiety.”
“How do you know all of this?” Mila asked.
“I know because I discovered that I didn’t have an easy time merging with Glen when he was feeling cheerful and positive. So, if you want to use the nurse’s body, you’ll be better off merging with her when she’s experiencing a low-vibrational emotion.”
“She worries constantly about going crazy,” Mila commented. “So there shouldn’t be a problem with her vibration, but I need to know exactly how to go about merging with her. What are the steps I need to take?”
“There aren’t any steps. The moment her emotional vibration plummets, you slip right in. It’s as simple as that.”
“How will I know that I’m in?”
“Believe me, you’ll know. For one thing, you won’t be invisible anymore—you won’t look or sound like yourself—you’ll look like the nurse—but you’ll retain your personality. Most importantly, you’ll be a part of the physical world, again. And you’ll be able to do all of the human things that you used to do.”
Mila’s eyes lit up. “I can’t wait to go shopping. I’m so sick of wearing this outfit. It’s a constant reminder of that awful night. And I also need a complete spa day with a massage and a mani-pedi,” she said, frowning down at the chipped polish on her fingernails.
“But remember,” Tucker cautioned, holding up a finger. “Don’t change her behavior too drastically. You don’t want her to behave in a way that’ll make her family and friends take notice.”
“I’m confused. Didn’t you say that you’ve turned the stock market guy into a drunk and a womanizer? Aren’t his family and friends suspicious about the changes in his personality?”
Tucker grinned. “That’s the beauty of using someone like Glen as a host. He’s basically a loner. No close friends and his family lives out of state, so he doesn’t see them much.”
Mila smiled. “Well, I’m sure that a little shopping and a few extravagances won’t cause any of Imani’s friends to raise a brow. You know what, Tucker? For the first time since the accident I’m starting to feel excited, and I have you to thank for that!”
“If you want to show your appreciation you should hook up with me when I’m in Glen’s body and you’re in Imani’s. I’ve never been in bed with a black chick, and I’m curious.”
“You’re disgusting. I wouldn’t dream of letting you violate Imani. I’m serious, Imani is off limits.”
He held up his hands in surrender. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
CHAPTER 11
Throughout their meal Imani stole glances at Logan. He looked incredibly handsome in a dark suit that fit him with precision. He had gone all out for their dinner date, securing reservations at Jazmin, an upscale eatery that was dubbed the “most romantic restaurant” in the city. The décor of the place was whimsical, like something from a fairy tale. The ceiling of the venue was beautifully decorated with vines and sparkling lights, giving the impression of a star-filled night. The service was impeccable and the food was superb. It was the kind of restaurant that couples visited on special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and getting engaged.
Sitting across from Logan at the candlelit table, Imani felt special. The conversation during dinner had been effortless. Additionally, the chemistry between them hadn’t been affected by the abrupt ending of their previous date. She was extremely grateful that Logan hadn’t pressed her about her erratic behavior at the beer festival.
Remarkably, the past week had gone smoothly. The hauntings had stopped completely, allowing Imani to finally sleep through the night without popping a pill. She’d been concerned about getting hooked on Xanax and was relieved that she could once again fall asleep naturally. Everything was back to normal and best of all, she no longer questioned her sanity. Now that she was back to being herself she was eager to forget the ghostly activity that had plagued her, and was more than ready to move forward with Logan.
The server brought out their dessert, an extra-large slice of chocolate cake for two, and Imani gave herself permission to indulge in the high-calorie treat. She sank her fork into the moist dessert and closed her eyes. “Mmm,” she murmured blissfully.
“It’s that good, huh?” Logan asked.
“Words can’t convey. You have to try it for yourself.”
Logan dug in and their forks accidentally clinked together, eliciting soft titters of laughter from both of them.
“Did I tell you how pretty you look tonight?” he asked.
“Yes, you did, but I don’t mind hearing it again,” she replied, her face glowing with happiness.
She attributed a portion of her good mood to the time she’d spent at a luxe spa earlier that day. It wasn’t like Imani to pamper herself in such an extravagant manner, but somehow the idea had gotten stuck in her head and she wasn’t able to shake it. But she didn’t regret the experience. After all she had been through she felt that she more than deserved the indulgent spa day that had included a relaxing facial, a deep tissue massage, and a mani-pedi.
Logan gazed at her with an appreciative smile. “Did I mention that you’re rocking the hell out of that dress?”
She glanced down at the plunging neckline of her expensive new dress and blushed. Not only did the dress cost much more than she would normally spend, but it was also a much more revealing style than she was inclined to wear. She had intended to pick up something moderately priced at T.J. Maxx or Marshall’s but had a sudden change of heart and ended up splurging at Neiman Marcus, spending a small fortune on a clingy red dress that revealed an ample amount of cleavage and accentuated her sleek silhouette.
While enjoying the cake and sipping wine, a warm feeling flowed through Imani, and she reached across the table and placed her hand on top of Logan’s. “I don’t want this night to end,” she whispered.
Suddenly her eyes widened in alarm. Although she’d been thinking what she’d said, she hadn’t intended for the words to come tumbling out of her mouth. Convinced that her loose lips were the result of having too much to drink, she subtly moved her wine glass out of reach.
“I don’t want the night to end, either,”
Logan replied.
“Would you like to come back to my place?” she asked.
Obviously taken aback by the unexpected invitation, he tilted his head slightly and lifted a dark brow. “Yeah, sure. Sounds good to me,” he responded.
Imani was as taken aback as Logan was. Her bold request was out of character, and she blinked rapidly as she leaned forward, grasping the wine glass that she’d placed out of reach. Attempting to calm her nerves, she took a big sip from the wine glass.
Although she couldn’t deny that she wanted to go to bed with him, she hadn’t intended to boldly invite Logan back to her place. She chided herself for her lack of subtlety and couldn’t understand why she’d blurted out such a brazen invitation. She might as well have cut to the chase and welcomed him to join her in bed.
Although she didn’t consider herself to be straitlaced and prudish, she wasn’t a thot, either. But for some unknown reason, she was behaving like one. There was no way to wiggle out of the invitation without seeming as unpredictable and erratic as she’d acted at the festival.
Embarrassed that she’d pretty much offered up her body on a silver platter, Imani had to force herself to meet Logan’s gaze. Raising her eyes slowly, her gaze roamed over his face, and she couldn’t help admiring his chiseled jawline and his manly cleft chin. She had to admit that rolling around in bed with someone as sexy as Logan wouldn’t be a chore at all. In fact, the thought of his large hands touching her in intimate places was so arousing that she could feel her skin warming up as her entire body began to respond.
Their server appeared at the table. “Can I get you anything else?”
Logan glanced at Imani. “Do you want more wine?”
“No, I’m fine,” she replied.
Logan paid the check and the two of them slid their chairs back and stood, and then began making their way toward the front door of the restaurant. They were a good looking couple and other diners smiled at them in admiration. Imani graciously returned the smiles and unconsciously reached for Logan’s hand.
The Host Page 9
