My Soul to Take
Page 54
Its Tod.
I sat up so quickly my head spun, and I had to rub my eyes to make the lights on the back of my eyelids stop flashing. Nash gave you my number? That sounded suspicious even with sleep shrouding my brain like mist over a cold lake.
No, I havent called him yet. I wanted to tell you first.
Okaaay Yet even with important information practically hanging from his lips, I couldnt dismiss the hows and whys. Where did you get my number?
Its programmed into Nashs phone.
And how did you get his phone?
He left it on his dresser. Tods voice was smooth and nonchalant, and I could almost picture him shrugging as he spoke.
You went into his room? How did you get in? But then I remembered him disappearing from plain sight in the hospital dining room. Never mind.
Dont worry, he has no idea.
Thats not the point! I groaned and leaned over to tap the base of my touch lamp once. It flared to life on the dimmest setting. You cant just sneak into peoples houses without permission. Thats trespassing. Its an invasion of privacy. Itscreepy.
Tod huffed over the line. I work twelve hours a day. I dont have to eat or sleep. What else am I supposed to do with the other half of my afterlife?
I leaned against the headboard and shoved tangled hair back from my face. I dont know. Go see a movie. Sign up for some classes. But stay out of I sat straighter, glancing at my own surroundings in suspicion as something occurred to me. Have you been in my room?
A soft, genuine laugh rang over the line. If I knew where your room is, wed be talking in person. Unfortunately, Nash doesnt have your address in his phone. Or written down anywhere I could find without waking him up.
Small miracle, I mumbled.
He does have your last name, though. Ms. Cavanaugh.
Crap. With my last name, and his convenient poof like travel method, it wouldnt take him long to find out where I lived.
Maybe Uncle Brendon was right about reapers.
Dont you want to know why I called, Kaylee Cavanaugh? he taunted.
Umyeah. But I was no longer sure the information was worth dealing with Tod-the-reaper, who seemed more and more grim with each word he spoke.
Good. But I should probably tell you that the terms of our agreement have changed.
I bit my lower lip, cutting off a groan of frustration. What does that mean?
Springs creaked over the line as he settled deeper into whatever he was sitting on, and I could almost taste his satisfaction seepingthrough the earpiece. I agreed to look at the list in exchange for your last name. Ive done my part but no longer need the agreed-upon reimbursement. Fortunately for you, Im willing to renegotiate.
What do you want? I asked, pleased to hear that suspicion was just as thick in my voice as delight was in his.
Your address.
No. I didnt even have to think about it. I dont want you sneaking around here spying on me. Or revealing himself to Sophie, whose parents didnt want her exposed to this brave new Netherworld.
Oh, come on, Kaylee. I wouldnt do that.
I rolled my eyes, though he couldnt see me. How do I know that? You were in Nashs house tonight.
Thats different.
How is that different? I tugged my covers up to my waist and let my head fall back against my headboard.
Itdoesnt matter.
Tell me.
He hesitated, and hinges squealed softly again on his end of the connection. I knew Nash a long time ago. And sometimes I justdont want to be alone. The vulnerability in his voice resonated in my heart, only further confusing me. But then his actual words sank in.
Youve done this before? What, do you hang out there?
No. Its not like that. Kayleeyou cant tell him! In spite of the earnestness of his plea, I knew Tod wasnt afraid of Nash. He was afraid of embarrassment. I guess some things dont change in the afterlife.
I cant not tell him. Tod, hes supposed to be your friend. At least he used to be. He has a right to know youve been spying on him.
Im not spying on him. I dont care what hes doing, and Ive never He stopped, and his voice grew hard. Look, swear you wont tell him, and Ill tell you what I found out about the list.
Surprise lifted my eyebrows halfway up my forehead. He was willing to pay me to keep his little secret? Terrific. ButWhy would you trust me not to tell?
Because Nash said you dont lie.
Great. A grim reaper was holding me to my honor. Fine. I swear I wont tell him in exchange for what you found out about the list. But you have to swear to stay out of his house.
For a moment, there was only silence over the lineTod obviously wrestling with his decision. What could be so important about hanging out at Nashs house? Why on earth would he need to go back?
Deal, he said finally, and I exhaled silently in relief. For some reason, I was sure he would keep his word too.
I sat up so quickly my head spun, and I had to rub my eyes to make the lights on the back of my eyelids stop flashing. Nash gave you my number? That sounded suspicious even with sleep shrouding my brain like mist over a cold lake.
No, I havent called him yet. I wanted to tell you first.
Okaaay Yet even with important information practically hanging from his lips, I couldnt dismiss the hows and whys. Where did you get my number?
Its programmed into Nashs phone.
And how did you get his phone?
He left it on his dresser. Tods voice was smooth and nonchalant, and I could almost picture him shrugging as he spoke.
You went into his room? How did you get in? But then I remembered him disappearing from plain sight in the hospital dining room. Never mind.
Dont worry, he has no idea.
Thats not the point! I groaned and leaned over to tap the base of my touch lamp once. It flared to life on the dimmest setting. You cant just sneak into peoples houses without permission. Thats trespassing. Its an invasion of privacy. Itscreepy.
Tod huffed over the line. I work twelve hours a day. I dont have to eat or sleep. What else am I supposed to do with the other half of my afterlife?
I leaned against the headboard and shoved tangled hair back from my face. I dont know. Go see a movie. Sign up for some classes. But stay out of I sat straighter, glancing at my own surroundings in suspicion as something occurred to me. Have you been in my room?
A soft, genuine laugh rang over the line. If I knew where your room is, wed be talking in person. Unfortunately, Nash doesnt have your address in his phone. Or written down anywhere I could find without waking him up.
Small miracle, I mumbled.
He does have your last name, though. Ms. Cavanaugh.
Crap. With my last name, and his convenient poof like travel method, it wouldnt take him long to find out where I lived.
Maybe Uncle Brendon was right about reapers.
Dont you want to know why I called, Kaylee Cavanaugh? he taunted.
Umyeah. But I was no longer sure the information was worth dealing with Tod-the-reaper, who seemed more and more grim with each word he spoke.
Good. But I should probably tell you that the terms of our agreement have changed.
I bit my lower lip, cutting off a groan of frustration. What does that mean?
Springs creaked over the line as he settled deeper into whatever he was sitting on, and I could almost taste his satisfaction seepingthrough the earpiece. I agreed to look at the list in exchange for your last name. Ive done my part but no longer need the agreed-upon reimbursement. Fortunately for you, Im willing to renegotiate.
What do you want? I asked, pleased to hear that suspicion was just as thick in my voice as delight was in his.
Your address.
No. I didnt even have to think about it. I dont want you sneaking around here spying on me. Or revealing himself to Sophie, whose parents didnt want her exposed to this brave new Netherworld.
Oh, come on, Kaylee. I wouldnt do that.
I rolled my eyes, though he couldnt see me. How do I know that? You were in Nashs house tonight.
Thats different.
How is that different? I tugged my covers up to my waist and let my head fall back against my headboard.
Itdoesnt matter.
Tell me.
He hesitated, and hinges squealed softly again on his end of the connection. I knew Nash a long time ago. And sometimes I justdont want to be alone. The vulnerability in his voice resonated in my heart, only further confusing me. But then his actual words sank in.
Youve done this before? What, do you hang out there?
No. Its not like that. Kayleeyou cant tell him! In spite of the earnestness of his plea, I knew Tod wasnt afraid of Nash. He was afraid of embarrassment. I guess some things dont change in the afterlife.
I cant not tell him. Tod, hes supposed to be your friend. At least he used to be. He has a right to know youve been spying on him.
Im not spying on him. I dont care what hes doing, and Ive never He stopped, and his voice grew hard. Look, swear you wont tell him, and Ill tell you what I found out about the list.
Surprise lifted my eyebrows halfway up my forehead. He was willing to pay me to keep his little secret? Terrific. ButWhy would you trust me not to tell?
Because Nash said you dont lie.
Great. A grim reaper was holding me to my honor. Fine. I swear I wont tell him in exchange for what you found out about the list. But you have to swear to stay out of his house.
For a moment, there was only silence over the lineTod obviously wrestling with his decision. What could be so important about hanging out at Nashs house? Why on earth would he need to go back?
Deal, he said finally, and I exhaled silently in relief. For some reason, I was sure he would keep his word too.
