Chapter 4
What a lame excuse.
What a bullshit reason.
It was an insult to my intelligence.
Any other day, I would've blown up.
But right now, all I felt was cold fear. I just wanted to get out fast.
I nodded quickly, grabbed his arm, and pulled him toward the exit.
"Let's just go. We'll talk back at the hotel," I said urgently.
But as we moved, that familiar, mocking laugh echoed behind us.
The temperature in the hall seemed to drop.
I froze, turning slowly.
There she was, the female ghost girl, leaning casually against the wall near the exit, arms crossed, a sly smirk on her face.
"Ryker..." She drew out his name, sweet and taunting. "You promised me a meal. Now you're ditching me for some other girl?"
Her voice made Ryker's knees go weak. A stupid grin spread across his face.
I glanced at the female ghost and then at Devin.
He did the same.
Our eyes met.
We were thinking the same thing.
"You can see her too, right?" I asked.
"It's a ghost!" Devin shouted.
Ryker grinned and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "Honey, you go back first. I'm going to grab a bite with Milana."
"No!" I clutched his arm tightly. "You're coming back to the hotel with me now."
If she were just a regular woman, I'd have signed the divorce papers with Ryker right then.
But she wasn't. She was a ghost, one who could cloud his mind.
Maybe none of what happened in there was really his fault.
Maybe he wasn't cheating. Maybe he wasn't even in control.
I couldn't help coming up with excuses for him in my head.
We'd just tied the knot, and there was no way I was going to let that female ghost mess with him right in front of me.
I said, "Come back to the hotel with me."
"I'm not going. Let go of me." Ryker hardened his expression and yanked his arm away from me, clearly annoyed.
He snapped, "Sierra, can't you show a little empathy?
"Her brother just passed away. She's feeling down. What's wrong with me grabbing a couple of drinks with her? Are you seriously getting jealous over this? How petty can you be?"
"Yes, I'm jealous. A man and a woman, alone, going out for a meal? No way. You're coming back with me," I snapped.
Panic and fear gripped me. I reached for him again, my forehead damp with cold sweat. "Let's go."
"You've lost it." Ryker stepped back, his face dark. "Have I spoiled you these past few years? You have to control everything. I'm your husband, not your servant.
"Go back if you want. I'm not leaving Milana alone when she's like this."
"Ryker, you're always so kind to me," Milana said.
She watched me with pitiful, doe-like eyes. "Sierra, if you're so worried, why not come with us?"
"No, no, no." I waved my hands frantically, unable to meet her gaze.
Ryker grew even angrier. "See how reasonable she is? But you have a filthy mind and see sex everywhere.
"You're threatened just because she's beautiful. How pathetic is that?
"If you don't want to come, then go back to the hotel and stay there. Milana, let's go."
As Ryker moved toward her, I panicked and grabbed his sleeve, holding on tightly. "Don't go."
Milana's face instantly turned icy. She shot me a glare sharp enough to kill.
She snapped, "You are so annoying.
"You won't go yourself, and you won't let him go either. What is wrong with you?"
Ryker pulled away from me.
"She's being difficult. Just ignore her. Let's grab a bite. What are you in the mood for? My treat tonight. There's a great seafood place on the corner."
When Ryker mentioned that seafood buffet, I was stunned.
It was one of the highest-rated spots online, a place I'd been dreaming of trying even before we came to Avalon.
We'd specifically chosen a hotel nearby so we could go whenever we wanted.
But when we tried to book earlier, they said the promotional deal had ended.
"That was a one-month special for our tenth anniversary. Now it's back to the regular price, 280 dollars per person," the waiter said.