Four

That was an incredible night with Zoey last night. After the drive to jog her memory, we went back home and had dinner. "I think coffee is the best option right now," I thought loudly.

"Pumpkin spice is my favorite." Zoey entered the kitchen. My jaw dropped the moment my eyes saw her. Why is she wearing that around me? Is she nuts? Only my flannel shirt and undergarments? No, she's only a friend! I thought, trying not to show the effect she was having on me.

"Yeah, pumpkin spice is my favorite too." I poured myself and Zoey a cup of coffee.

"Besides the funeral, do you have any plans today?" she asked.

"Nope."

"You think you can drive me to the store to get some decorations for dad's grave?"

"I can do that, but I have tons of decorations in the shed. You are welcome to use whatever you wish."

"You're positive this morning,'' she said.

"I will even help you. I only have to fill the hole with the backhoe.''

"I think we should go to the store later to get some cake," Zoey suggested.

"Cake?" Zoey nodded. "I already ate pizza because of you."

I narrowed my eyes. Zoey laughed.

"You enjoyed it," she said.

"You want a cake? I'll get you a cake."

"Such a gentleman." Zoey embraced me in a big hug. I wrapped my arms around her, breathing in her scent. Feeling her hair against my cheek, I rested my head on her shoulder. She felt so fragile, so breakable in my arms. At this moment, I realized I'd do anything to protect her. "Sorry, I shouldn't have done that," she said.

"I honestly enjoyed that. Thank you."

We brought a variety of cut-up fruits outside with us in a big bowl for breakfast. "You hold the fruits. I'll grab the box of decorations. Are you thinking about fall or flowers?"

"Fall, definitely." Zoey's eyes lit up.

"Sweet, you can tell, fall is my favorite.'' I pulled down a big box of fall decorations – pumpkins, fall signs, cornucopias, and fall wreaths. "You can help me decorate the whole cemetery. I already put out the pumpkins, but I normally put out scarecrows and other fall decorations as well."

"This is going to be fun," she said.

"You ready, darling?"

"Darling?" Zoey smiled. I smiled too. "My dad used to call me darling."

"I know it's tough losing someone." I grabbed her hand.

"Now, at least, I have found the very best someone to help me through it."

I hadn't been in a relationship since Angie died. Was I ready to open my heart to this girl? "Let's get started decorating," Zoey yelled excitedly. She grabbed a wreath from the box and hung it on Bill's grave. She, then, placed autumn signs that read 'Give thanks' and fake pumpkins by the grave.

"That looks great."

She smiled. We moved on to other graves hanging up the wreath with beautiful colored autumn leaves. "When do you want to start building those scarecrows?" she asked.

"Well, first, I need to pick up some hay from the farm's market.''

"Will we have time today?"

"We should.'' I sat on a bench.

Cars started filling the cemetery. I popped a handful of fruit in my mouth. "Throw me a grape," Zoey said, opening her mouth.

"Throw you a grape?" I laughed.

"Just do it," she said. I threw the grape, and she caught it in her mouth. "See? I am talented."

"You're goofy.'' I smiled.

"Let's see you try," she said with a smirk.

"Easy. I got this."

She took a handful of grapes, throwing them at my face. "You cheater, that was more than one grape."

Zoey took off running. I ran after her, finally catching up and wrapping my arms around her waist. "You think you're able to outrun me?" I laughed. Zoey turned around to face me, wrapping her arms around my neck.

I brushed her hair away from her face. She's so beautiful. I just might kiss her, but would she like that? Is that what she wants too?

"Kevin?" she whispered, slowly inching her face closer to mine. I kissed her slowly, letting the taste of her lips take over my mouth. My lips moved across hers, and in moments we were passionately making out. Zoey ran her fingers through my hair as I pulled her body closer to mine. When our lips finally pulled apart, I grabbed Zoey's face in my hands. "You are so damn beautiful. You know that?" I said, placing a kiss on her forehead. Zoey smiled.

"That was the first time I'd have ever kissed anyone," she said shyly, her face turning red.

"What? Are you sure that's not part of your memory you're missing?" I said, trying to hide how surprised I was. "Did I make the first kiss special enough?'' I looked deep into her eyes.

"You did," she said with a smile. "Looks like the funeral is getting close to its end. I will finish putting the decorations away while you handle the cemetery work," she said.

"Alright, I shouldn't be too long." I went back to the shed to grab the backhoe again. I jumped into the seat and started the engine. I drove out, grabbed some dirt with the front bucket to fill in the hole, covered the casket with soil, and smoothed it over the hole. It didn't take me long to do the job.

I watched as Ghost licked Zoey's face. They sat on the front step of the house. I walked out and shut the shed door after I returned all my work equipment. "What are our plans for the rest of the day?" Zoey chirped.

"What do you want to do? It looks like a storm is coming. I saw an alert on my phone."

"We will have to build the scarecrows tomorrow, then."

"Let's head to the farmer's market to get that hay."

"You think we will be back before the storm hits?"

"Oh, yeah. The farm's market is right up the road."

"The sky is starting to look gray in the distance," she pointed out.

"It will be fine; we will be back before it gets bad.''

We had finally reached the truck, and Zoey carried Ghost in her arms. She put him in the truck ,only to sit in the back seat happily.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, I am fine," she replied. I turned the radio on, and again she started singing along happily.

"I like listening to you sing,"

"You do?''

"It gives the drive some entertainment and makes me smile." We both smiled.

We pulled into the farmer's market and parked the truck. Frank was outside, bringing in shopping carts. "Hey pal," he said as Zoey and I were getting out of the truck.

"How are you doing, Frank?''

"I am good. How's Ghost?" Frank asked, petting him from inside the shopping cart that he was placed by Zoey.

"He's good. This is my friend Zoey. Zoey, this is Frank."

"Hello, Frank," Zoey politely said as she saw Frank confused. He looked around as if he was searching for someone.

"Who are you talking about?" he finally mumbled.

"Zoey. She's standing right here." I grabbed Zoey's hand.

"You okay? Are you overworked, or exhausted? You want me to call a doctor?'

"What? You can't see her?" I managed to blurt out.

"No! I don't see anyone standing there." Frank freaked out.

"Oh, she must have left. Silly me." I lied hoping Frank wouldn't think I was a total lunatic. Frank smiled and went on his way, collecting the other shopping carts. "Zoey, what are you not telling me?" I whispered.

"I have no idea why he couldn't see me."

I knew the girl was mysterious and strange, but I had no idea it was this extreme. Zoey started crying, and she was very distraught. Seeing her so upset broke my heart – I couldn't stand to watch her cry like this.

That explained a lot. Why did Katie say it was strange for Ghost to be in the back seat when it was clear that he had to be because of Zoey sitting up front with me? Why did Zack never acknowledge that Zoey was around, or flirted with her as he would have? Was this all because they couldn't see her?

"Everything is fine, Zoey. We will figure this all out."

"You still want to be around me?" she asked.

"I wouldn't want it any other way. Besides, when has being invisible been a bad thing?" I laughed. She laughed too. "Now, let's get that hay."

We walked inside the store. I didn't know how to handle Zoey being invisible, so all I wanted to do was hurry up and get the hay and get out.

"Are you okay, Kevin?'' Zoey asked, walking through the store.

What if Zoey is all in my head? I have gone mad. What if she died and is a spirit?

"Does this change things between us? The kiss? It all means nothing now, right?" A tear slid down her face.

"Zoey don't do that. I kissed you because I wanted to, and even now, I would do it again.''

"There's something wrong with me,'' she said.

"We will figure this out together, darling, okay? It will all be fine."

We walked past the bakery aisle. "There's that cake you wanted." I chuckled as Zoey grabbed a chocolate cake and put it into the cart.

"Your goal is just to ruin my diet, huh?"

"No. Cake brings joy to your life," she said, flashing a beautiful smile.

"I can honestly say you're doing that, Zoey."

"Did you get a new Bluetooth phone earpiece?" Zack asked, passing by us and looking at some donuts. "

I nod.

'See you later man."

"Yeah, dude, you too," I responded.

I just wanted to make it to the truck. I rushed through the checkout line. Luckily, the girl was talking to another employee. She managed to stop talking, "Have a good day," she said.

"You too.''

"I like your hat." The girl smiled at Zoey.

"I am not wearing a hat, but Zoey is. You can see her?" I was puzzled as my hand began touching Zoey's head.

"Um yeah. Why would I not?" the cashier smiled awkwardly.

"Of course, you can.'' I smiled back at the cashier as we walked back to the truck.

Zoey picked up Ghost and put him into the truck, while I placed the hay into the tailgate before climbing into the truck. She was crying and very upset. "Honey, come on. Don't cry." I placed a hand on her thigh.

"I am invisible! Not everybody sees me!" she cried.

"I see you. You're not invisible to me." I placed a kiss on her cheek.

Nothing made sense to us even after everything we had been through. I was still baffled at the reasons I could see Zoey and many others can't. The ride home was silent – the sound of crickets echoed through our journey back.

"You think you'll be willing to talk to your mom about what she may know."

"I haven't talked to her in years." I took a deep breath.

"I get that, but she has to know something."

"About?"

"What happened to you? Maybe you're a missing person, an active murder case."

"What? Wait… You think I am dead?" She gasped.

"It's the only explanation I can figure out."

"I think I would remember dying," she said snottily.

"Zoey, you have missing memories, and maybe that's it."

"I don't even want to talk about this!" She stormed off to the bedroom as we parked in the driveway.

"Zoey, get back here!" I screamed.

"Leave me alone!" she said, slamming the door behind her.

"Zoey, I am sorry.'' I knocked on the door.

"Go away, Kevin!" she said.

I thought dealing with women is complicated, but dealing with possibly dead women is way worse, I thought, walking over to the couch. How am I going to handle this situation? This is the first time I let a woman in my life since Angie, and she might be dead. I honestly can't stop myself from having these feelings for her. I don't want to either, no I will try my best with this relationship with Zoey, dead or alive.

"Come here, Ghost," I called for him as I sat down. Ghost curled up on my lap, and I gently pet the top of his head.

"Kevin?" Zoey called while walking out of the bathroom.

"What's wrong, love?'' I placed Ghost on the couch before hopping up.

"I hate storms." She was shivering with a pouty lip.

"I would have said we can go into the bedroom and cuddle, but now I can't. You are mad at me.'' I smirk at her.

"Kevin?" she said, her arms crossed against her chest. "I'm not mad anymore." Her lips perked up in a smile.

"Good." I wrapped my arms around her waist, placed my lips on hers, and kissed her gently.

"What if I disappear?" she said.

"We will try our best to make sure that doesn't happen."

She nodded.

"Now let's go cuddle." I grabbed Zoey's hand.

We walked into the bedroom. The storm outside was loud and distracting. The little room shook from the gust of wind. "I have always hated storms,'' she said.

"My mom always said that the thunder god was playing bowling." I laughed. I climbed into one side of the bed and Zoey on the other. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her body into mine. I moved her hair out of the way and gently kissed all down her neck. Zoey turned to face me.

"You think I should contact my mom?"

" I do."

"Okay."

"Look, we will do this together as a team. I am sure she will have some answers."

"What if she doesn't know anything?' We don't know if she really has information, let alone if she can see me. I just don't know how I can forget dying."

"We are not one hundred percent sure what is happening. Let's get some sleep.'' I placed a kiss on her forehead.

Waking up to Zoey felt terrific. I didn't think I would be in this position with another girl. I didn't think I would ever get into a relationship ever again. Yet she could be dead. How long would Zoey be able to stay with me? My heart longed for this answer, and hopefully, I come across it soon before my heart gets too involved.

"Good morning, Casper." I noticed the little Angel's eyes upon me.

"Casper, you're funny."

Zoey narrowed her eyes at me. I tried my hardest not to laugh, but that dirty look she gave me was darn cute. "You're a real jerk," she said, hitting me with a nearby pillow.

"Jerk, huh?" I raised an eyebrow. She brought her lips to mine. I kissed her, roughly pulling her on top of me. She straddled me. I ran my hands up her back. The taste of her lips excited me, making me want her more and more. She pulled her lips from mine and started kissing my neck.

"Zoey baby, we should quit."

"You don't want me?" She sounded very upset.

"Trust me, I do. You don't know how bad."

"Then what's the problem?"

"I am enjoying our relationship. I don't want to do anything to mess this up." I moved the hair away from her face. "You are so damn beautiful. You know that?" She kissed me again.

"Yes. Yes, I do," she smirked.

"Zoey? Have you, um, had sex before?" I asked trying not to stutter.

She shook her head negatively.

"You are a virgin?"

"Yes." She blushed as she had never blushed before.

"You are ready right now." I raised an eyebrow.

"What do you think?'' She took off her shirt. I could, I really could. I wanted her so badly. Every fiber in my body wanted her. No, I wanted to make Zoey's first time special.

"Zoey, I want your first time to be special; I don't want you to feel like you are rushing into this."

"I know. I want you," she spoke.

"We should get to know each other better." Zoey gave me a pouty lip. "Besides, we haven't even gone on a proper date yet."

"And?"

"You never sleep with a guy before a date. I can be a real ass on a date and make you pay for the bill or something; you don't know."

"Whatever… You win,'' she said, climbing off of me.

"Babe, I am just looking out for you. You're important to me. If you want this still after the first date, we will." I gave her a wink.

Watching Zoey walk around the house in nothing but my shirt was making me regret my decision. Somehow, I was falling for this girl faster than I could have imagined. Maybe it was her innocent smile. The way she had never kissed anyone, no, the most likely reason of all was how mysterious she remained to me.