Page 96 of The Ghost and the Graveyard (Knight Games 1)
She raised an eyebrow. "Comfortable. Hmm. Is he ugly?"
"No, he's very attractive. However, he doesn't have a body. I mean, he doesn't have full use of his body. He's a quadriplegic." Was my nose growing? I was rambling, making it up as I went along.
"Wow." She let that sink in. "So, how independent is he? Is he someone who has his own life without you?"
I had to think about that one too. The leprosy analogy was somewhat of a stretch, but the quadriplegic was a bit too close for comfort. Even though Logan was independent and was in many ways taking care of me, he wasn't able to leave the house. He had Prudence and me-that was it.
"He's very independent but socially isolated due to his condition."
A brunette waitress bopped over to our table and took our drink order. As soon as she turned her back, Michelle set down her menu and leaned across the table.
"So, the dilemma you're facing is whether to choose body or soul. You're wondering whether you should feel guilty for wanting the body of the first man when the second may be the more ethical choice because he deserves your love more."
"Yes, I think that's it."
"Grateful," Michelle started, "how certain are you that each of these men are what they seem? You haven't known them for long. Do you know for sure that bad-boy dangerous is as shallow as you make him out to be? And the deep soul, will he always have the emotional connection to you that he does now? A lot can change once the newness wears off."
This is why I like talking to Michelle. She has a way of simplifying everything, even when it isn't what I want to hear. "I guess you're right. I haven't known either of them long enough to know for sure. But Mr. Dangerous did lie to me."
"About what?"
"Well, he omitted the truth about what he did for a living."
"But you described what he did as monstrous."
"Yeah, so?"
"Can you blame him for omitting the truth? He's probably embarrassed about what he is. Maybe he wishes he could change."
I hated to admit that she might be right. I didn't know Rick, not really. I wasn't sure of his intentions. Maybe my former self had been married to him, had lived a whole life with him, but that wasn't me. That was someone else.
"And the other one, the perfect soul, it's easy to do the right thing when you don't have any other option. If he's isolated, you might grow tired of him. No one can be the center of someone's universe forever. It isn't healthy. I'm sure the disability you could live with, but the dependence? You couldn't take more than a week of it. You'll feel suffocated."
She was right. I couldn't use Logan for coffee and breakfast indefinitely. He wasn't my housekeeper. Besides Prudence, I was all he had. What would happen to him when I moved out? I didn't know for sure. Logan said that the next witch might not be able to send him on, but what did that mean? What would happen to him here?
"Grateful?"
"What?"
Michelle spread her hands. "Did you hear what I just said?"
"No, um, sorry. I phased out just then. What were you saying?"
"Why can't you choose bachelor number three? I mean, why is this such a pressing issue? It's a free country. Don't underestimate your ability to not commit."
I blinked in her direction. "Like, don't commit to either of them?"
"Yes. Remember the blonde paradox? Remember Gary? You tend to rush into things, only to find out that the guy isn't who you thought he was. Why don't you just wait, take it slow this time, and see where it goes?"
"Uh, I've already not taken it slow...with both of them."
The server returned with our drinks. I ordered a Valentine burger with cheese. Michelle opted for the garden salad, definitely the healthier choice. She was always making the healthier choice. She glared at me until the waitress stepped out of earshot.
"You're right. You're right," I admitted. "I'm not good at going slow. I have needs."
"Wait. When you say you haven't taken it slow, you mean, um..." Michelle leaned across the table, looking around her to make sure no one was listening, "You mean sex, right?"
"Well, yes." I bobbed my head back and forth on my shoulders. "Not sex exactly, but enough."
