As she toweled off, Raine realized just how much she depended on Gran's company. Paying a witch to ward her apartment against ghosts might have been a good if Gran wasn't one.
Rubbing the heel of her hand she cleared away the majority of fog lacing the mirror. Who was the girl staring back? She figured it was supposedly her but she still didn't know who she was.
Had she known who she was, maybe she wouldn't have become a statistic. All those stupid girlie magazines swore a healthy person could share themselves with someone else. Well, obviously she wasn't a healthy person. For crap sake her best friend was most likely her dead Gran.
"There you are my dear."
Raine didn't even bother jumping. Most ghosts had some kind of purpose in the afterlife, Gran's appeared to be the same as her life: to marry off her granddaughter.
"Hi Gran. Did you seriously not know where I was?"
The old lady let out a belly laugh. "Oh goodness, no. I know everything. I knew everything when I was alive too. Like when you dated that wolf and I told you it would end badly."
Raine shivered. That was the last thing she wanted to think of. "Yes. Noted. I got it. Bad taste in men. I am going to see Geri, just like you asked. I am listening to you. I had to shower though. I smelled like the gym."
Gran floated up behind her, a light dip in temperature where she remained.
"Sweetie, you're beautiful even after the gym. I wish you could see how others see you. Don't you let the past get to you. I will be here as long as you need me."
Raine closed her eyes and allowed herself to breathe out the tension. Her birthday was coming up in a week and this was her first year without a live Gran that could plan her parties. Ghosts weren't exactly allowed to plan things, buy cakes or gifts. Most humans couldn't see them. The only time she usually saw them was if she had to try and contact a loved one. A friend, Quinn, had tried to rope her into helping the police once, but that didn't go well. She'd leave murder victims to Quinn.
"Alright dear. I'll let you get dressed. Hurry up. We are getting you a date for your birthday if it's the last thing I do."
Raine allowed a smile to cross her face. "Gran. I thought the last thing you would do was haunt me until I got off my butt and got over you leaving me? Turns out you're still here, haunting me."
Gran scoffed. "Ha. You know better dear. I will be here until I see my great grandkids. What can I say? I have lot's to do still. Damn old age tried to keep me down. Well I showed it."
"Thanks Gran. Now give me some privacy. We can leave in a few minutes."
She bit the inside of her cheek. Did she really want to do this? To share her crazy with someone? Her parents had been a terrible example of relationships. Raine’s past was a pretty bad indicator. She had yet to find someone who helped her feel any more confident in herself than being alone had.
Tucking the edge of the towel along her chest she braced her hands on either side of the sink.
"Raine. You can do this. You can find someone that will love the crazy. You can do this. At the very least do this for Gran."
Smoothing her hands over the front of the towel she shrugged. This was her. A hot mess. It was probably time to start letting someone else in the driver’s seat of her love life.
* * *
Raine raised her hand to knock as the door swung open. "Oh wonderful. You're just as beautiful as your grandma said."
Lowering her hand she turned to glare at Gran who suddenly decided to find interest in the sconce on the wall.
"Come on now. Come in. I don't have all day. I have lots of clients."
Raine stepped into a wall of delectable scents. Warm chocolate and fresh bread, and a sweet scent she didn’t recognize tickled her nose. Her stomach growled.
"Let me guess, you don't take care of yourself now." Gerri clicked her tongue. "Go sit. I put out some cake, but you need more than that. Tiny thing, aren't you?"
Raine scrunched her brow as she glanced down; assessing what exactly Gerri thought was tiny. She had huge boobs, hips that would never squeeze into designer jeans, and her legs were so muscular she struggled to find boots that would zip up over her calves. This woman was off her rocker.
"Uh. Tiny?"
Gerri tsked again. "Do not argue with me. Go sit."
Rolling her eyes, Raine glanced around for Gran. Of all the times for her to leave now was not one of them.
"Gran," she whispered, "where the heck are you?"
"Here you go dear. Who are you talking to? Are you looking for your grandmother? I told her to take a hike. She'll be back to walk home with you later."
"Oh. Thanks, I think?" Raine was relieved, but maybe intimidated was a better word. "So you are a paranormal then? Can you only see ghosts too?"
Geri laughed. "Oh goodness no. But as you know, most paranormal beings can see things most humans can't. You my dear are special and just haven't found the right man to bring out your potential."
Shifting side to side, she settled back into the couch. Raine glanced around and loved the homey feeling of the apartment. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea. "I hope you understand that I don't believe in someone else being my soul-mate. That just doesn't seem to be possible, but it would be nice to have someone I at least trusted."
Gerri held up her hand. "I understand. Say no more. I have a one hundred percent success rate. I have
