Where One Goes(66)

“But he’s acting like a jackass?”

I smile faintly. “Ike and I knew he might take it rough, but I didn’t expect so much . . . anger.”

Henry pats my shoulder. “I hope you won’t give up on him. Give him a little time to come around. He’s deeply hurt, is all.”

“I’ll try,” I promise, but I’m not sure George will give me the time of day.





Mope. Mope. Mope. If you looked up the word ‘mope’ in the dictionary, George’s picture would be right beside it. He’s walked around in a daze, brooding for hours at a time. His dejected mood saddens me, but I will say this, he hasn’t done drugs, and that is a very good thing. All he’s done is sit around and be pissed off.

“George, I know you’re hurting, brother. Stop being a douche and go talk to her,” I tell him, and I’m filled with sorrow that he can’t hear my words. It upsets me to see him like this. This is not how he normally is at all.

When there’s a knock at the door, he sits frozen for a moment, debating on whether to ignore it or not. Maybe he thinks it’s Charlotte. “George, I know you’re in there,” Sniper yells from outside, and George rolls his eyes. “Open the f*cking door, ya wanker.”

“Piss off!” George yells back, remaining seated on the couch.

The doorknob turns slightly, but it’s locked. After it jiggles a bit, the lock pops and Sniper opens the door and enters, credit card in hand. “What the f*ck, dude?” George snaps. “You’re breaking in to my house now?”

“Oh, shut it,” Sniper orders. “I’m not going to let you sit here and be pissed off. Do you even know why you’re so angry?”

“Oh, let’s see,” George begins, his voice laced with sarcasm, as Sniper sits on the sofa chair next to the couch. “She lied about who she is and why she’s here. I don’t even know what to think about the crazy ramblings she’s spewing; that she can see and speak to my dead brother. Oh, and let’s not forget she ratted me out to Roger and I got my ass beat.”

“You were f*cking his girlfriend,” Sniper says, dryly. “Kind of warranted an ass beating, if you ask me.”

“Maybe, but she set that shit in motion,” George snaps.

“She didn’t mean for you to get hurt. She just wanted him to scare some sense into you.”

“I’m not scared of that douche bag, and if it had been one-on-one, I would’ve taken him. They jumped me.”

“I know,” Sniper agrees, as do I. “She just wanted to get Misty away from you so you could get clean.”

George shakes his head before leaning forward, resting his arms on his knees. “I really thought she might be the one. I mean, I didn’t know what to think of her at first. I thought she was different.”

“George,” Sniper says, gruffly. “The girl is in love with you.”

“I know, she started to tell me last night.”

“And?”

“And how do I know she’s being truthful, Sniper?” George asks as he stands and moves to the kitchen, grabbing a Coke out of the fridge.

“You really don’t see it?” Sniper asks in disbelief, standing and walking over to the counter that separates the kitchen and living room. “The way she looks at you. Hell, even when she gives you shit, trying to piss you off, I can see how she feels.”

George shakes his head. “She did it for Ike.”

“No, shit head, she did it for both of you. Did you not see the look on her face when you told her you never wanted to see her again?”

George’s face blanches with embarrassment and his eyes narrow as he remembers. “I was angry.”

“You were a dick is what you were. She and Ike knew you would be upset and maybe have a hard time coming to terms with it all, but none of us thought you’d react like that.”

“Look!” George shouts. “I’m just getting clean so I’m on edge. I fall for this strange drifter who keeps pushing me all the time, only to find out it was supposedly motivated by my brother’s soul that’s stuck in limbo because of me. Forgive me if I wasn’t as rational as you would’ve liked.”

“So you don’t believe her?” Sniper asks point-blank.

“I don’t know,” he sighs. “She can be pretty damn convincing.”

Sniper shakes his head and runs a hand over his shaved scalp. “I believe her.”

“Her father says she’s crazy. You heard the guy.”

“Her father’s a dipshit, and you know it,” Sniper booms. “I know she’s telling the truth, and if you had stayed yesterday and listened, you would’ve seen it for yourself.”

“Man,” George sighs as he places his Coke can on the counter. “I know everyone likes her, and even I was caught up in it. But no matter what, Sniper, I’m not good for her either. She needs to go home and be with her family so they can help her.”

“You’d really let her leave?” Sniper’s expression is sheer disappointment and shock.

“I think it would be best.”


“Bullshit,” Sniper snaps and stomps toward the door. “I can’t see Ike or hear what he’s saying unless she tells me, but I know him like the back of my hand, and so do you. I know he’s here! And there is no f*cking way he’s not crazy about her. But he’s dead, and he’s crossing over soon. He has to leave her. You, on the other hand, are behaving like a f*cking idiot. You could have her if you wanted, but instead you’re choosing to sit here and be pissed off and miserable. Maybe you don’t deserve her.”