…
Heather looked up from her computer screen and frowned at the darkness outside her window. Her last mediumship client left at three o’clock. She hadn’t meant to lose four hours online playing Skull & Crossbones. The addictive seafaring multiplayer online game allowed her to virtually sail around the world, build up her crews and armories. Hearing her female virtual pirate captain shouting commands didn’t suck, either.
Online multiplayer games gave her an escape during the daylight, when she avoided going out in the sun. Through Skull & Crossbones she’d also met Queenie. She was another rare female player, like Heather, and after a couple months of gaming and online chats, their friendship had blossomed. Heather found it easy to confide in her virtual friend, and the anonymity meant no staring and no explaining about her lack of pigment.
Heather’s screen name, GrayGhost, blinked in the chat window.
GrayGhost: I’ve got to log out and get some food.
She waited for her friend and piratical crewmate to answer back.
PirateQueen817: Okay. And I want pics next time you’re on that pirate ship!
Heather chuckled. I’ll try. I’m not sure I’ll see Drake again so…
Queenie sent a sad face emoji.
PirateQueen817: Ooooooh you didn’t tell me his name was Drake. Sounds…old school? And his friend owns a pirate ship? I’m so jealous!
Heather smiled, shaking her head as she leaned back against the sofa. If Queenie ever saw Drake, she’d forget all about the ship.
The carpenter was handsome in a rugged, brooding, I-could-be-Thor kind of way. But pictures weren’t going to happen. If she started sending them, eventually she’d have to send one of herself. And she was enjoying the blind friendship. Queenie didn’t even know what Heather did for a living.
GrayGhost: Don’t be jealous. I’ll probably never see him again anyway.
PirateQueen817: You said he saved your life. Sounds like the start of an epic romance.
Heather stared at the word on her screen. Romance had never been kind to her. Did she even want that anymore? Her life was plenty full without a man mucking it up.
She stretched her fingers and replied.
GrayGhost: I wouldn’t count on it. Okay, I’m off. Should be back online tomorrow around 3ish.
PirateQueen817: I’ll be off work by then. See you soon!
Heather closed her laptop and got up to stretch. Maybe she needed to start setting a timer. Skull & Crossbones had amazing graphics and adventures at sea that made it easy to imagine you were actually sailing, but chatting with Queenie was quickly becoming one of her favorite parts of the game. Having a friend to confide in who couldn’t ever spill your secrets because she didn’t know your real name was freeing.
However, it was also addictive, and although she worked from home, she had plenty of things to do. Edgar wandered down the stairs, right on cue, his tail tracing the bannister railing. The black cat called out a half-hearted meow as she bent to pick him up.
“Oh stop complaining, Mr. Cacey.” She stroked behind his ears, enjoying the loud purr. “You’ll get your dinner.”
She set Edgar on the floor and filled his dish. While he devoured his food, she went to the fridge and peered inside, even though she had already half decided on heading over to Bob’s again. Eating out was fiscally irresponsible, but cooking for one meant a lot of work before and after. The lure of no cleanup was a huge temptation, and the thought of Bob’s shrimp and hush puppies made the frozen dinners pale in comparison.
“Enjoy your meal. I’ll be back soon.” She started to reach for her hooded cape but stopped herself.
Unlike last night, she wasn’t in a hurry to find anyone. If people stared, let them. In the bathroom, she brushed her long silver hair into a ponytail and swiped a light, frosted-pink gloss over her lips, all while convincing herself it had nothing to do with knowing now that Drake and Bob were friends, or that maybe Drake might be visiting Bob’s Seafood tonight, too.
She rolled her eyes.
Thanks for planting that romance idea in my head, Queenie.
…
Drake finished his beer and set the empty mug on the bar.
One-Eyed Bob wandered over with a white hand towel draped over his shoulder, concern lining his good eye. “You sure you don’t want to talk?”
Drake lifted his gaze, shaking his head. “Nothing to talk about, just having trouble sleeping.”
Bob placed a fresh mug in front of him. “Heard you got a call from a banshee last night.”
“Colton has a big mouth.” Drake swiped the mug off the bar. He bit back the frustration building in his gut. He wanted to confide in someone, but even after more than two hundred years, the sick pit of guilt still ate at his insides. Speaking the words out loud was impossible.
Maybe part of him welcomed the burden of his private hell.
You don’t deserve forgiveness or mercy.
The door opened behind him before he could examine the source of the statement. He glanced over his shoulder to find Heather coming inside. She wore a long purple crushed-velvet skirt, with a formfitting black top. Her hair was pulled back, exposing her long neck and the soft features of her face. This might’ve been the first time he’d ever seen her in such a well-lit place, but hell, she was beautiful no matter where she was or how her hair was styled.
“Drake?” Her smile called to him like a siren.
He turned all the way around on the stool. “What are you doing here?”
She chuckled with a shrug of her creamy shoulders. “Hopefully eating?”
He smacked his forehead, wishing like hell he was better at small talk. Glancing past her, the knot in his gut eased. “Are you alone?”
“Yes.” Her gaze swept up and down the bar. “You?”
“Aye.” He gestured to the stool next to him. “You’re welcome to join me.”
One-Eyed Bob shooed them with his gnarled hands. “That empty booth over there is calling your names. I’ll bring a fresh plate of
