Page 48 of You'll Be the Death of Me

Cole didn’t hesitate before wrapping her in a hug. He held her to his warm chest, and she inhaled the clean, fresh scent of him. She wondered if he smelled like heaven—actual heaven, given his job. The light, crisp fragrance was better than the cleanest air she’d ever breathed. It filled her lungs like a gulp of cool water would quench a dry throat. She wrapped her arms around him and let him hold her, not sure and not really caringif they were breaking some kind of transition specialist–client protocol.

He eventually pulled back, much to her disappointment. “I’m sorry if that was inappropriate. You just... really looked like you needed a hug.” He combed a shy hand through his hair.

She looked up at him with a warm bloom in her cheeks. “I did. Thank you.”

They continued gazing at each other, lost in a suddenly thick haze. Dell felt something pulling on her heart. Like a string tied to something far, far off in the distance being tugged.

“You still there,D?” Jason asked, interrupting them. He’d reached the back gate and was ready to sneak into the alley behind the house.

The spell snapped, and Dell pulled away from Cole.

“Yes,” she said, and caught up to him. She swiped his arm again.

“Okay, good,” Jason said. “Turns out, we were half right about Robbie’s life. He lives with his grandfather and appears to work for some independent contractor tech company. His house is actually right around the corner...” He trailed off, glancing up from an address on his phone.

Dell hurried after him, Cole on her heels, as they turned into the alley. It was not an alley in the sketchy big-city sense. More like a narrow throughway lined by fences spilling bougainvillea and morning glories. When they reached the end of it, they walked toward a sand-colored house with a half turret and stone chimney. Matching stones arched over the little tunnel of an entryway.

They stopped at the door, and Jason took a breath. “Here goes nothing.” He rang the doorbell.

“What’s the plan here?” Cole asked.

“I don’t know,” Dell answered. “I guess jump on Robbie when I get the chance?”

“You know what the rule book says about possession,” Cole warned.

“Yes, but what else are we going to do? I need to tell Jason the whole story.”

Cole went to respond right as someone answered the front door.

An old man in a pouchy gray cardigan looked up at Jason from behind wire-rimmed glasses. His face bent into a welcoming smile. “Yes?” he asked.

“Hi,” Jason said. “I’m a friend of Robbie’s. Does he happen to be home?”

The man’s wrinkled face lit up. “Friend? I didn’t know Robert had any friends in the real world. Come in, please. I’ll call for him.”

Dell and Cole swapped a glance. Jason briefly looked over his shoulder to where they stood and muttered, “That was easy.”

“Robert! There’s someone here to see you!” the old man called into the avenues of the house. It was much like Dell’s house: old, well-decorated, and full of both tight angles and open spaces.

“Not what I pictured for Robbie,” Dell said as they followed.

“What did you say your name was?” the old man turned and asked.

“I’m Jason,” Jason answered, and Dell had to stop her own introduction from spilling from her mouth because the old man’s warm welcome had made her forget she was invisible.

“Pleasure, Jason. I’m Charlie. I’m so glad you stopped by. I never see Robert with another person. He’s always on his phone or hooked up to that jungle of computers in his room. Iwishhe’d bring a girl home someday; heaven knows I’d love to meet one, but I don’t know how he’ssupposed to meet one if he’s always—”

“What did you say, Grandpa?” Robbie appeared and asked. He’d come from around a hallway corner, wearing more black, but his hair looked damp and his face freshly scrubbed.

Good, Dell thought to herself. At least he was clean if she was going to jump into his body again.

“There you are!” Charlie sang. “You have a friend here to visit. John—”

“Jason,” Jason cut in, and stepped forward with a wave and a smile.

Robbie’s face instantly paled. “No. Not you. What are you doing here? How did you even find me?” He turned like he was going to run back down the hall, but his grandfather hooked a hand around his arm.

“Oh, Robert, don’t be rude,” Charlie said. “You never have visitors. Why don’t you make Jake feel welcome?”