Ghosts of Coronado Bay by J. G. Faherty Read Free Book Online Page A

head and frowned. “Are things really so dissimilar now? Do most girls give up their virginity easily in this time? Are you still a virgin?”
    “That’s none of your business!” Seeing the hurt look on Blake’s face, Maya softened her tone. “Look, it’s not polite to ask someone, especially a girl, a question like that. I--”
    “Hey, Blair! You gonna go hand out flyers with the other prudes?”
    “Yeah, where’s your sign?”
    Maya gave a soft groan. Walking towards them were Mary Ellen Gordon and another cheerleader, Kelli Pasternak. Maya hadn’t noticed them approaching, or she’d have guided Blake down another row. Now it was too late to avoid a confrontation.
    “Who’s the new guy, Maya? Does Stuart know about him?”
    Before Maya could respond, the two cheerleaders slid into Mary Ellen’s sporty new convertible and pulled out of the parking spot with a squeal of tires that made Blake jump. As they drove past, Mary Ellen flipped up her middle finger and shouted, “Smell ya later, loser!”
    Staring after the receding car, Blake said, “I would guess those girls are not friends of yours.”
    “No, they’re not.” Maya shook her head. “And you can probably guess from their big mouths that the answer to your other question is yes, I’m a virgin. But I’m not all hung up about it or anything. I mean, if the right guy came along, someone I loved, I wouldn’t wait for marriage, you know?”
    Blake took her hand and smiled. “Don’t let it upset you, Maya. I think it’s a good thing.”
    “You do?”
    “Yes. A girl’s virtue is her most important asset.”
    Maya let out a burst of surprised laughter. “Wow, that’s a classic. You’ll have to tell my friend Lucy that one. She’ll argue all night with you that a woman deserves to have the same fun as a man.”
    “In my time, we had a name for girls like that. We called them whores.”
    “Whoa! Don’t say that to Lucy or you might find a size six shoe in your butt.”
    “I’ll try to remember that. Tell me, are those the pizzas you spoke of?” He pointed at the window of Rollo’s Pizza, where several varieties of pizza and calzones sat in the display case.
    “Sure are. Best pizza in town. The only pizza in town, too. C’mon, you’ll love it.”
    “Wait.” He placed a hand on her arm. “It’s food.”
    “Of course it is. What did you think it was?”
    His eyes took on a sad cast. “Maya, I can’t eat, remember? I’m a spirit.”
    “Yeah, but when you’re with me, you’re solid. So you should be able to eat.”
    He shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way. I’m solid now, but as soon as you move away from me, my body...transforms back to its natural state. And anything inside me...”
    It took her a moment to catch on. “Oh. It’ll like, fall out, right?”
    “Yes. When I’m with you, I can feel and smell, perhaps even taste, but I cannot eat or drink.”
    For several seconds, neither of them spoke. The early afternoon sun beat down, the last vestige of a summer too stubborn to say goodbye. The sounds of the seagulls overhead, the chanting of the students, the roar of cars passing on Main Street all seemed suddenly too normal to Maya, as if they were the things out of place, not the ghost standing next to her.
    Determined not to let a small detail ruin their day, she took him by the hand and led him away from the restaurant. “Well, then we don’t have to eat pizza. How about if you walk me home instead?”
    The depressed look fell away from his face, replaced by a broad smile. “It would be my pleasure.” He offered her his arm.
    “Well, aren’t you the gentleman?” Sliding her arm through his, she led the way back across the parking lot to Main Street.
     
    *  *  *
     
    Across the street, two long-dead specters watched in truculent surprise as Maya and Blake walked together. To anyone passing by the two beings, they appeared as nothing more than wavering, vertical distortions easily mistaken for heat waves