There’s sweat leaking from my armpits. I want to hold his hand to make it all easier, but it’s way too soon.

Fiona walks into the house, and the door closes behind them. I get out of the car and hop in the front seat, just to be next to Allister. I’m relieved Fiona got past the porch, but terrified. This means I’ll have to actually break in and find Sawyer’s diary now.

“See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Allister asks.

“Okay, but it’s not over. Not even close. It’s just getting started. Her kid was obviously a gun enthusiast—what if she is too? What if she shoots me?”

“Do you want me to go instead?”

“No. Of course not. I can’t put you in danger like that.”

“Okay, in that case, if you’re risking your life today, I need you to know something. Now that you’ve confessed your secret . . . I have one too.”

I’ve never seen him look so serious, and I’m worried what will come next will heap another layer of anxiety on what I’m already feeling.

He waits a few seconds, but it’s still not long enough. “I . . . have kind of a crush on you.”

Wait a minute. What? Did I just hear that? Am I still high?

His eyes look weaker than I’ve ever seen them.

“Why?” I ask.

He laughs awkwardly. “Why not? You’re super sweet . . . and you’re a psychic. What else is there?”

I feel like an idiot. Leave it to me to ruin a moment that’s supposed to be romantic. But he couldn’t have picked a worse time to drop that on me.

“I get it if you’re straight,” he says. “And hopefully you’re not homophobic and this won’t ruin our short friendship, because I like it for what it is so far. But I just wanted to put it out there.”

“No, not at all. Neither of those things. I mean . . . I just didn’t expect it.”

I like you too, I want to say. But you’re attractive . . . witty . . . funny . . . and I’m just Jake.

More moments pass without a text from Fiona, and I’m getting worried.

“Hey.” Allister brings my attention back to him. I expect anger or impatience, but his eyes are still safe. “You don’t have to answer right away. I don’t mean to put you on the spot. I’m just the kind of person who lets people know. Life’s too short to hold it in.”

I love that he says what he feels, and I want that so badly for myself, because here, in his car, would be a perfect spot to kiss him.

But Allister doesn’t get that seeing ghosts is not always a cool thing. Sometimes it’s a scary thing.