Dreamers (The Dreamers Series) (9 page)

I stop by the kitchen to grab a snack as my salad is wearing off. It’s already two o’clock, and I have an enormous laundry list of tasks to complete. I throw together a sandwich, quickly smearing peanut butter on a slice of soft white bread, then slicing bananas to lie atop the gooey goodness. I find bliss for a moment as I sink my teeth into my absolute favorite comfort food in the world. The energy was much needed for the afternoon which is turning out to be overbooked. It’ll be a miracle to accomplish a dinner party, seduction, and deliverance all in the course of a few hours. I quickly make my way toward my room so I can regroup and get this show in the road.

I pass the lengthy mirror in the hallway, easily noticing just how tired I look. I’m a complete wreck. You certainly wouldn’t be able to tell by the looks of me now that I usually do take pride in my appearance to some degree. I was blessed with natural good looks from my daddy, who was tall and handsome. He had the darkest, most mysterious green eyes I’ve ever seen. Luckily Daddy’s looks weren’t the only gem he passed on. My inherited persistence and stubborn genes could easily be a key factor in sorting through this mess of a situation. The first order of business is going to be making myself presentable. My skin is gray, eyes bugged, my hair a knotted mess—it’s time to get it together; especially if I am to succeed in my newest conquest—seducing Heather. Nick was right, it’s the fastest way. I can’t sit here and play games while he rots away in death. As much as I would like him to stay here with me forever, I can’t let him live his life in agony. I care about him enough to want more than that life for him, even if it means sacrificing him to a peaceful eternity that doesn’t include me. This is the first time in my life I’ve known the true meaning of love—I do love him, somehow. Pleasure and pain, mixed with a selflessness I have never felt before. As abundantly as my logic screams for me to doubt a love that is merely days old, I trust that my heart knows reality from fiction. He was put into my life for a reason. I won’t run from my feelings. I will cherish every sweet moment, fully aware of the fact that he will be ripped from me within moments of realizing the truth behind his predicament. He will be released from the chains imprisoning him within his purgatory. I can’t be selfish enough to want anything less for him. I will do everything in my power to give him the life he deserves, starting right now.

Second order of business is going to be pulling a dinner party out of my ass with only an afternoon to get it together. I had no intentions on seeing Cayden anytime soon. Truth is, I’m seriously dreading it, but now that I’ve used it as an excuse for being in Heather’s room I’ve landed myself with no alternative.

I pull his card from my pocket, dialing the number into my cell phone.

Oh god, it’s ringing…

“Cayden Manning.”

“Cayden, it’s Sydney, we need to talk.”

“You’re damn right we need to talk. Where the hell is my brother?”

“I honestly don’t know where he is, Cayden. If I knew, I would tell you. I promise you that.”

“You know something, and unless you want police knocking at your door within the hour you better start talking.”

My head spins at the idea of confessing the truth. I can’t just blurt out the fact that his brother’s ghost is haunting me, and we are in love—not unless I want a bed next door to Lana. I choose my words carefully, trying to smooth over the damage I caused this afternoon.

“Cayden, I had such a great time with you at lunch. You seem to really care about my sister. I don’t want this to ruin things for you guys. I can tell you really care about her. Can’t you give me the benefit of the doubt for a moment, for Mia’s sake?”

“Here’s the thing. I love Dominick, he is my brother. I’m angry at him, yes, but I want him to come home. I was beginning to make peace with the thought that something actually might have happened to him, and he could actually be dead, until last year when that crazy girl Lana told me she was dating him. Then I knew it was all another one of his schemes. I can’t let that go, not after what it did to Mother. He needs to face his problems and stop running.”

“First of all, he was never dating Lana. And secondly, I can prove that he isn’t running from you. Could you give me a chance and let go of every reasonable scientific thing you’ve ever believed? Will you do that, for him?”

“Yes, I would do anything for Dominick—even though he’s a douche bag for what he’s done. He’s all I have left.”

“Come over tonight, bring Mia. That will give me time to set everything up.”

“Set what up?”

“The Ouija board.”

The line went dead as he hung up. I can’t say that I blame him for not believing me, but I have no other way of proving it to him. I need him here, I have to keep him on a leash. I can’t have him interfering with helping Nick cross over.

Focus, Sydney; you have too much to do to slow down right now. Figure out Cayden later.

The time in which I have to prepare dinner grows shorter and shorter. If I were a more experienced liar, I could have come up with something that didn’t force me to entertain not one, but two of my current arch enemies. I don’t really consider Cayden the enemy, though. He’s lost, completely void of any remaining family. His hostility is light compared to what I might feel if the situation was reversed and I thought Mia was missing. I decide to cut him a break, given his certain situation. He isn’t a bad guy, he’s just wound tighter than guitar strings where Nick is concerned.

I take the opportunity to relax and enjoy the one thing I love even more than photography—cooking. I blast Paramore throughout the house, thankful for Heather’s taste in expensive electronics. I’ve never experienced sound like this coming from a few tiny mounted speakers along the wall. I feel so sad right now. Everything I ever trusted in Heather has disintegrated in a matter of hours. I thought we might even end up together. I really love her, not loved—I just can’t just turn feelings off like a dripping water faucet. I still pray she is just somehow innocently caught up in the middle of this nonsense.

Tears flood my eyes. I’m not ready to hate someone I love so much, and I’m not ready to love someone I know so little, but I do. I love Nick, as insane as it seems. This is so much to swallow right now. I love her—I love him—I hate this situation.

I succumb to the music and food prep, letting all negativity float away. I go above my initial intent of just entrée, salad, and dessert and create a beautiful antipasto platter with pepperoni, salami, cappicola, marinated bocconcini, and olives. It’s almost too eye-pleasing to eat—almost. Mia will absolutely love this spread.

Damn! I didn’t tell Mia about dinner!

I text her as efficiently as possible considering my fingers are covered in olive oil.

Be here at five-thirty. I’ve invited Cayden. We’re having a dinner party.

Okay, but how are we supposed to talk about the “thing” if he’s coming too?

It involves him.

This is about his brother, isn’t it?

Yes. Just try to remember something. I’m your sister and I would never lie about what we are going to talk about.

You’re scaring me, Syd.

Don’t worry, Mia, it’s just VERY important.

I’ll be there. Just tell me you’re okay.

I’m okay, but I love him. I need your help.

You love who?

Dominick.

Shit, Sydney. Now I am scared. I’m coming now.

Okay, I wanted to talk to you privately first anyway.

On my way.

I have a very short period to get ready before Mia arrives. If I am going to begin the process of breaking Heather down, I can’t do it like this. I need to be in top condition. Her eyes have to want me so much her mind won’t fight her.

I hastily jump in the shower, using the Pear Berry, something I know she loves. I might be late meeting Nick, but once he figures out my plan I hope he’ll understand.

The water feels so good against my skin. It unwinds all the tension in my throbbing muscles. Unfortunately I have no time to enjoy it. I wrap it up in a matter of a few short minutes then dart to the closet. This has to be good, sexy—seductive.

I choose an entirely too short black pleated skirt, and a red spaghetti strap shirt, so low cut that my lacey black bra peeks from the top. I turn in the mirror, fighting embarrassment away, knowing what I have to do. My red lace-trimmed boy short panties creep from the bottom of the skirt, showing off a little too much everything. It should do the trick, even if I do feel like a slut. Instead of drying my hair I choose to grab a palm full of gel, tossing my cherry red hair into a sexy curly wet mess. I drench my face in makeup, blacking the area around my eyes into a smoky dark circle. As I stand back I realize I really do look insane. This is nothing even close to the jeans and t-shirts I usually wear. I top the ensemble with the single pair of heels I own, which were given to me as a gag gift for Christmas. I honestly thought they wouldn’t get a single use. Oh how happy I am that I kept them. These heels must be five inches tall.

Perfect.

I assemble dinner beautifully on the kitchen island. The entire apartment smells fantastic, like an Italian bistro. The spread is accompanied by a few bottles of crisp white wine. Candles line the dining table, music caresses the air.

The doorbell rings. Given that it’s only five o’clock it must be Mia.

I make my way clumsily toward the foyer, opening the door slowly for my sister.

“What the hell are you wearing? You look like a slut.”

“Clothes,” I shrug casually, trying not to lead anything on.

Mia walks straight past me, helping herself to some wine. She chugs the first glass without stopping for a breath.

“What the hell is going on with you, Sydney? You piss Cayden off at lunch and he won’t even look at me for the rest of the day, then I come here and you are dressed like a prostitute. You barely call me anymore. You’re in love with a dead guy. What is going on with you? I don’t want any bullshit answers either. I want truth or I’m walking out of here right now to find you some professional help.”

I give it to her just as she wants it.

“Dominick is dead. He has been haunting my dreams since I moved in. He needs me to help him find information on his death, so that’s what I’m doing. Somewhere in the middle of all of it we fell in love. I’m in love with a ghost. My ghost is your new boyfriend’s brother.”

She pours another drink, full to the rim, looking at me like I’ve lost it.

“Mia, you know I would never lie to you. I can prove it.”

“Prove it then, Syd. This is too much to believe. If you really say you can prove it, then prove it.”

“Right this way.”

I lead her into my room and pull the Ouija board from beneath my bed. She watches me closely as I set it up.

“Put your hands on the cursor,” I command.

She does as I ask, hesitating only to take another sip of wine.

“Nick, I’m here with Mia. Are you here?”

Y.E.S…B.A.B.Y…I.M…H.E.R.E…

Mia pulls her hands back in shock as she is having trouble absorbing the truth.

“You’re doing that, Sydney, I’m not stupid.”

“Mia, I’ll take my hands off. I can communicate with him without it through meditation. Put your fingers back on the cursor. Trust me.”

She follows orders.

“Ask him something, anything you want to know.”

Before she can speak the cursor begins to move.

M.R…D.U.R.S.E.Y.S…C.L.A.S.S…T.H.I.R.D…P.E.R.I.O.D…S.E.N.I.O.R…Y.E.A.R…

Mia can’t seem to move. This is the moment when she realizes I’m telling the truth. She hadn’t even spoken her question yet, and he answered it.

“He can read minds,” I inform her. “What did you ask him?”

“I asked him which class we had together senior year. We only shared one common class throughout four years of high school. Nobody else would know that, nobody who’s here, anyway. You really aren’t lying,” she gasps.

“No, I’m not lying. Now we can talk about the rest.”

I speak to Dominick telling him he can go. He is probably wondering what the hell is going on, but I can fill him in later.

“This is almost too much to comprehend, Syd. How is Heather handling you being in love with a—um, Dominick?”

“She doesn’t know, and she CAN’T know, not yet. She’s actually part of the reason he’s dead, I don’t know what part she played, but do you remember that bracelet Cayden showed us today, the one of only two in the world? Well, I found Nick’s bracelet in Heather’s drawer today. She had something to do with his death. I have to figure out what it is.”

“How exactly do you plan on doing that? We need to get the fuck out of here.” She jumps up, grabbing my hand in an effort to pull me from the room.

“No, I have a plan. I’m going to seduce her so Nick can penetrate her mind tonight. He can only reach us subconsciously, but her mind is not accessible for some reason. I need help getting her drunk so she won’t be able to mentally fight him off. Problem is she doesn’t drink. I need you to help me either spike her drink somehow, or convince her to drink. Please.”

“What? No! Are you out of your damned mind, Sydney? You need to get the hell out of here and leave it to the authorities.”

“The authorities think he’s in hiding, Mia. Please just help me. I love him.” Tears spill from my eyes as my beloved sister sobs with me in unison.

“Syd, even if you find what you’re looking for what does that mean for you? He’s dead, sweetie. You can’t have him.”

“At least he will be in peace. I can deal with my own heartbreak later. I’m doing this for him, not me.”

“Okay, Syd. I’ll help you. What do you need from me?”

“Get Cayden here. He hung up on me earlier, he won’t show if you don’t get him here somehow. He knows I have been talking to Nick. We need him here so I can prove to him that Nick is not in hiding. The more help I have the better.”

“I’ll call him now.”

She leaves the room, giving me a moment to connect with Nick before Heather gets home.

“Nick, baby.”

“What was that about, Syd?”

“Mia is going to help us.”