Me and My Ghoulfriends by Rose Pressey Read Free Book Online Page A

tee, despite never having seen a picture of her. So that’s where it all began for me. I really could feel for the little girl standing in my store, with her perfect pigtails and pretty pink dress. She was so confused by the situation she was almost in tears. And rightfully so. I could tell her one thing for sure, it wouldn’t get any easier. The confusion caused by the whole thing never got any easier for me.
     
    Unfortunately, Brianna’s shop stayed open just a little later than mine did. What had I been thinking by agreeing to go into her shop? Maybe if I could stall Mindy, I could make us late, and Brianna would be closed. That way, I could avoid the entire fiasco which was inevitably going to unfold. To my regret, I had the rest of the afternoon to worry about the disaster soon to develop. I shuffled over to ask the woman if she needed any help.
     
    “May I help you find anything?”
     
    “No, thank you, we’re fine. Although…” The woman laughed. “My daughter has developed an instant fascination for Abraham Lincoln. She’s been studying presidents in kindergarten, but I didn’t think she was that interested,” she said.
     
    I looked at the little girl nervously.
     
    “Yes, well I suppose that’s a good thing.” I laughed uncertainly.
     
    Turning my gaze, I eyed Abe, who had obtained another accomplice. A man was standing beside him and, based on the looks on their faces, they were obviously having a lively conversation over one of the new releases.
     
    I had no idea who the man was, but I knew by his transparency that he was not of this world. I prayed he’d go away soon. I flashed them a go-away glare when the woman wasn’t looking.
     
    However, the little girl saw me, and she knew I could see them too. I gave her a wink and then held my index finger up to my mouth, making a shush expression. She obviously liked having that little secret because she giggled.
     
    “Please let me know if you need anything,” I said, walking away.
     
    The woman nodded in acknowledgement and I moved over to the register and tried to pick up where I’d left off with my work, although I was finding it very hard to concentrate. Most of my thoughts were of Callahan and his incredible lips. I couldn’t even think of his body or I’d have to close shop for the rest of the day to recover. Mother and daughter paid for their biography on Lincoln, and I was left to my thoughts.
     
    The rest of the day was uneventful. However, my nerves were on edge as I watched the clock for six, when Mindy would arrive to take me to my impending execution. At least, on a better note, my mind kept wandering to Mr. Yummy. I was thankful to have him to daydream about.
     
    I wondered what he was doing over there, mere steps away from me. I was envisioning his rippling muscles as he poured coffee. Okay, so he didn’t have a sexy occupation. He wasn’t a firefighter or police officer, but with looks like his, he didn’t need to be.
     
    At 5:45 I started becoming increasingly apprehensive about our shopping endeavor. I didn’t know why I’d always let Mindy talk me into those types of things. Throughout our entire friendship, she’d gotten us into some crazy escapades. Sure, I’d gotten myself into my fair share, but she was a master at it.
     
    I remembered the summer we went on vacation with her parents as if it were yesterday. We were both sixteen and, like all teenagers, a little rambunctious. Mindy conveniently forgot to tell her mother about our plans to walk along the sand that evening, and when Mindy and I set out for the beach that fateful night the shoreline was covered by water. Mindy suggested we should walk down the street to the pier instead.
     
    Again, she didn’t bother to share any of that information with her mother. In a panic, her mother had called the police when she’d gone to the beach and seen the tide was in and we were nowhere in sight. The coast guard went out to search the choppy waters for sharks