Read Online Haunted Ever After by Juliet Madison - Free Book Online Page B

lined up in the centre of the table went out in a progressive waft of smoke. ‘I did it!’ Red exclaimed.
    ‘What the hell?’ Lorena said, wafting the smoke with her hand. ‘How did that happen?’
    ‘Must have been the sheer force of my laugh,’ Mel said, laughing again. She really needed to learn not to drink so much.
    ‘How weird. They just went right out, like someone blew them out.’ Georgie appeared puzzled.
    Ty’s face was creased, obviously confused too.
    ‘Oh, it’s just this old place. There are some draughts here and there; remember there was one during the photo shoot?’
    ‘Oh yes, true.’
    ‘You had a photo shoot?’ Ty asked.
    ‘Yes, we did happen to have a visit by the paparazzi.’ Lorena batted her eyelashes. ‘To commemorate the special occasion of Sally’s imminent wedded bliss.’
    ‘And what else do you have in store this weekend?’
    ‘Yeah, Lorena, spill, woman.’ Mel clapped her on the back.
    ‘Time will tell, you’ll have to wait and see.’ She leaned back in her chair with her fingers threaded over her belly.
    ‘Are you going to the Winter Solstice Festival in town tomorrow?’ Ty asked, then dug into his meal again, the visible strength of his chiselled jaw emphasised by his chewing.
    I glanced at Lorena. ‘Are we?’
    ‘Yes, but that’s all I’m revealing.’ She made a show of zipping her mouth shut.
    ‘Might see you there, then.’ Ty smiled.
    ‘So, Doctor Ty, can I ask something?’ Mel said, and I knew even if he said ‘no you may not’ she would ask anyway.
    ‘Shoot.’
    ‘Why do you strip? Is it the money or the thrill? It’s okay, if it’s just because you enjoy teasing women and giving them heart palpitations, we won’t judge, will we girls?’ She garnered our agreement with her gaze.
    Ty rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. ‘I won’t lie. It’s for the money,’ he said. ‘But only because I’m saving up for something.’
    Must be something big if he’s been saving for three years.
    ‘A house? A round-the-world trip?’ Mel probed further.
    ‘Actually, medical school.’
    Silence again.
    ‘I want to be a doctor.’ He tugged at his surgical top. ‘A real one, that is.’
    ‘Wow. Seriously?’ I asked.
    ‘Seriously. I already have a uni degree so I’ll be applying for the graduate program, which only takes four years to complete.’
    ‘I see a lot of students come through that program at the hospital I work at. They put them straight into hospital from week one.’
    ‘That’s right. On the job training, plus all the academic lessons. Best way to learn, I think.’ He gave a nod.
    ‘Definitely. So have you applied yet?’
    ‘Sat the entrance exam earlier this year and passed. I have an interview later this year and that will be the decider.’
    ‘Good luck.’
    ‘Yeah, good luck, Ty,’ said Lorena.
    ‘So you’ll really be Doctor Ty soon!’ said Mel. ‘Maybe you can tell them you’ve had some work experience, getting into the role for your preparation.’ She winked.
    Ty laughed. ‘Not sure if that would enhance my application, but if they ask about my work history I won’t lie. Maybe it’ll show how much I want it.’ He took a swig of wine. ‘And I won’t be Doctor Ty. It’ll have to be more professional: Doctor Tyler Roxford.’ He smiled.
    ‘Consider me your first patient.’ Mel chuckled.
    ‘Do many people your age do the program?’ Georgie asked, looking both at Ty and myself. ‘I mean, not that you look old or anything, but…’
    ‘But I’m no spring chicken,’ he said. ‘I’m twenty-eight. I’m guessing there might be a few “older” students, but from the people I saw at the exam, most looked like they’d come straight through a uni degree after high school.’
    ‘Yep. Mostly people in their early twenties. We’ve had a couple of people in their forties too. They’re often the most dedicated, to be honest. Had more life experience.’
    ‘Hopefully my life experience will be an advantage.