Free Sticks and Stones by Kerrie Dubrock Page B

floating around. Kinda creeps me out.”
              Rick stared at
her in rapt attention. “So, could you cast a spell on me so I can communicate
with ghosts, too?”
              She cocked her
head. “I suppose I could, but why?”
              He shrugged,
“Like I said, Chase and Emily talk with ghosts.” Rick took a swig of beer and
laughed, “I feel out of the loop when I’m at their house and they’re carrying
on with these ghosts of theirs.”
              Grace tucked a
strand of hair behind her ear. “I can’t believe Chase Storm talks to ghosts.”
she whispered.
              “Yeah. It’s a
long story and I’m not even sure if I’ve heard it all.” He wiped his mouth with
a paper napkin. “Maybe someday I’ll introduce you to Emily and she can explain
it to you.”
              “I’d like
that,” Grace murmured as she took a bite of pizza. Her thoughts turned to
earlier in the day. “I saw Ben today.” Rick cocked his head, encouraging her to
continue. “I had a bad dream about him. Anyway, I have a feeling his wife is
practicing black magic and I wanted him to know.”
              Rick nodded
slowly. “So, ya think you two will get back together?”
              She took a long
swig of beer. “No. The thing is…he kissed me before he left and I didn’t feel
anything.”
              “Like?” he
prompted.
              Grace shrugged,
“Well I used to get butterflies when he kissed me. Today I felt nothing.”
              He grinned,
“Did you feel anything when I kissed you?”
              Grace shifted
uncomfortably. “Rick…”
              Rick lifted his
shoulders. “ Ah, I won’t kiss you again. It might get to be a habit and I can’t
get rid of habits.” He took her hand into his. “Grace, I find you to be an
interesting woman. Most of the women I meet are, well, air-heads.”
              She took a swig
of beer. “So what are you trying to tell me?”
              “I get that
you’re not into me romantically, but I’d still like to be your friend. ‘New
friends can have a great time together than old friends’.”
              “Fitzgerald
again?” she grinned.
              “Loosely,” he
shrugged. “So, friends then?” he asked, nudging her foot under the table.
              Grace shrugged.
“I don’t have many friends. Aunt Tilda says I have trust issues.” Rick cocked
his head, encouraging her to continue. “Ben and Janice were my best friends.
Now they’re married to each other.”
              “Ouch,” Rick
said softly. “Sorry.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “I’d like
to be your friend.”
               “Friends,” she
stated, gripping his hand firmly.
              “Friends,” he
agreed, but hoped for more.
     
    *        *        *
              Rick wasn’t
used to driving slowly, but he enjoyed talking with her and didn’t want the
night to end. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt that way with a
woman.
              A smile formed
on her lips. “So…how does one get the name of Ricochet? Do pucks bounce off you
and come back or what?”
              “Sometimes…” he
replied slowly. “For someone not knowing anything about hockey I’m impressed
that you know those little black things are called pucks.”
              She rolled her
eyes and laughed. “I’m not a complete idiot, ya know! I also know the joke
about going to a fight and a hockey game broke out.”
              A deep throaty
laugh escaped from his lips. “Yeah, I’ve heard that one, too.”
              “So, do you…”
              “Do I what,” he
prodded with a grin.
              “Well, do you
fight? When you play?”
              “Sometimes.
Does that offend