Read Online Ghost of a Chance by Lauren Barnholdt - Free Book Online

that’s extremely stylish, but for some reason she has paired it with mom jeans.
    â€œHey, Cindy,” I say.
    â€œHi, Kendall.” She gives me a big smile, like she’s super-happy to see me. “I like your shirt.”
    â€œThanks,” I say. “I like your coat.”
    â€œYou do?” She beams. “It’s new.”
    We walk inside and are immediately accosted by a salesperson wearing a nametag that says ROBBI. There’s an outline of an E after that, which obviously means his name is Robbie and a letter fell off somewhere.
    â€œHello,” he says. “And what are you shopping for today?”
    â€œWe’re just looking,” my dad says firmly, and I roll my eyes. My dad hates salespeople. Seriously, he totally refuses to ask for help with anything. When his doctor put him on a low-cholesterol diet and gave him a list of supplements that might help, he wandered around Whole Foods for half an hour before I talked to an employee without him noticing. It’s totally ridiculous.
    â€œWe’re looking for a TV,” I say now. If I’m going to be getting a TV, then I’m definitely going to need something high-end. If I’m going to be stuck in my room with no friends, eating my way through boxes of peanut butter cups, then I should at least be able to do it in high-def style.
    â€œWhat size?” Robbie asks. “And do you like LCD or plasma?”
    â€œLCD for sure,” a voice says behind me. “Plasma’s got a better picture, but the tubes always blow out, and then you have to replace them, and I honestly doubt your dad’s going to want do that.”
    â€œThanks,” I say automatically and turn around, expectingto see another Best Buy employee. But it’s not a Best Buy employee. It’s Lily. She’s peering at a display of heart rate monitors. “Wouldn’t it be hilarious if I put one of these on?” she asks, trying to touch them. But of course her hand just goes right through the display case. “Can you imagine?” She throws her head back and laughs. “You know, because I’m dead?” She laughs again.
    â€œWho are you talking to?” my dad asks.
    â€œUh, Robbie, of course,” I say.
    â€œBut he asked you what kind of TV we wanted. There was nothing to thank him for.” My dad peers at Robbie like he’s some kind of con man instead of a college kid who’s probably working for minimum wage and just wants us to buy a TV so he can go on his break or whatever.
    â€œI want an LCD,” I say. “That way we won’t have to keep replacing the bulbs.”
    My dad looks at me in surprise.
    â€œWhat?” I say defensively. “Just because I’m a girl, I can’t know about electronics?”
    â€œNo,” my dad says. “Not because you’re a girl. But because you’ve never showed any interest in anything technological before.”
    â€œThat’s such a lie,” I say. “Who’s the one who set up the wireless printer?”
    â€œYou set up the wireless printer?” Cindy asks. “That’s amazing!”
    I can’t tell if she’s being nice or condescending. I decide to believe she’s being nice. “Thanks,” I say, beaming.
    â€œOlder people are so impressed with technology,” Lily muses. “Of course, I really shouldn’t be making fun of old people. They’re old and I’m dead, so honestly, they’re better off than I am.” She sighs and continues to look at the heart rate monitors.
    She has a very good point. She actually seems kind of nice. Maybe I judged her too harshly just because she’s Madison Baker’s sister. Maybe Lily’s the nice one. So I probably shouldn’t judge Lily just because her sister is a brat.
    Oh, well. It’s really not my concern anyway. Poor Lily is going to just have to find someone else to help her move on. I’ve decided