Every Touch by Nerika Parke Read Free Book Online Page B

when he felt them connect.  After repeating the action a few more times to satisfy himself he wasn’t going to lose his newfound solidness, he stood and went back into the bedroom, striding to the chair and grasping it forcefully.
       “Ha!” he exclaimed in triumph, laughing as he picked up the chair and twirled around with it before replacing it on the floor by the window.  He stood back and looked at it for a few moments then he reached out his hand, concentrating.  It passed through the solid wooden back of the chair.  Repeating the action, he grabbed it, grinning when he was holding it again.
      He spent the next hour perfecting his new ability, alternating being physical and metaphysical until he could do it with barely a thought.  His practice was interrupted by the sound of the intercom buzzer and he smiled and ran to the door leading to the corridor, eager to show Oliver his new skills. 
       It was only when he collided with the door and staggered back, clutching his nose, that he realised his error.  The pain brought tears to his eyes and he lowered his hand to see blood on his hand which shimmered and vanished after a few seconds.
       Despite his throbbing nose, he began to laugh.
       “Well, that was embarrassing.”
       After gingerly feeling his nose for injuries and wishing he could check it in a mirror, he carefully became metaphysical and walked slowly through the door, extending his hands in front of him, just in case.
      He reached the door to the stairs and suddenly stopped, looking back at the lift.  Smiling, he pressed the button, stepping in when it arrived and riding it down to the lobby.
       Oliver was standing by the door looking in when Denny strode proudly from the lift doors, but he didn’t notice as he stared at one of Denny’s neighbours, an attractive, leggy blonde woman walking across the lobby. 
       “Dude, who is that ?” Oliver said, craning his neck to watch her walking through the still open lift doors.
       “I think she lives on the second floor,” Denny said, “but I don’t know her.”
       “Why the heck not?” he said in disbelief.
       Denny shrugged.  “When she moved in I was dating someone else.  I thought about it after that ended, but you know, dating someone who lives that close?  Having to avoid seeing them after it ends badly?  Way too much hassle.”
       “Well, that’s a defeatist attitude, assuming it’ll end badly.”
       Denny laughed.  “With me it’s a safe assumption.  Not necessarily badly, but it always ends.”
       “What’s her name?”
       “No idea.”
       Oliver stood back and folded his arms across his chest, regarding Denny intently.  “Do you know any of your neighbours?”
       “Yes,” he said defensively, desperately trying to think of names.
       Oliver raised his eyebrows.
       “I see Mr Duncan in flat six often.  He and his wife have always been kind to me, ever since I moved in.”
       “And?”
       “And... okay, so I don’t know the rest.  Stop judging me.  I have friends, just not here.”
       Oliver grinned, unfolding his arms.  “Well, you’re stuck there now, so you’re going to have to get to know them if you don’t want to lose your mind.”
       He thought about that.  “How would I get to know them if I can’t even speak to them?”
       “Hang out with them.  Take an interest in what’s going on with their lives.  At the very least, learn their names.”
       “You mean, hang around in their flats with them?  Isn’t that kind of creepy?”
       “We’re ghosts, being creepy comes with the territory,” Oliver smiled.  “Even I have the folk who are in my zone regularly, the kids at the school, their parents, the people who work in the shops, walk in the park, live around here.  Take it from me, you’re going to need the company if you don’t want to develop a hole in your marble bag.”
       “But in their homes?”  Denny