“Who are you texting?” Taylor tried to weasel her way around Ever’s elbows, craning her neck to see his phone. “You know it’s rude to leave people on ‘seen’, right?”

  Ever slipped the phone back into his pocket, tugging his apron straight. “It’s none of your business.” Logan finished his phone call and came back in, causing Taylor to shuffle back to her side of the ice cream display. The boss of Pagoto’s eyed Ever then his niece, before busying himself at the register.

  The revelation of Taylor’s past changed things somewhat. If it turned out that it was actually Logan who had orchestrated the two of them spending the day working together at the start of the week, he wouldn’t have been surprised. What Taylor’s uncle would have hoped would eventuate from it though, he wasn’t entirely sure.

  “So Mesico…”

  “Mexico,” Taylor corrected, raising a finger.

  “Mex-i-co,” Ever sounded it out. “You’re going to study there?”

  “Yep!” Taylor said brightly. “I was accepted to the ‘Universidad Tecnológica de México’”

  The only word that made sense to him was ‘Mexico’ and he still didn’t know where it was.

  “What are you going to study there?”

  “A Master of Computer Systems Engineering,” she said proudly. “They had a new international students bursary to try and get more overseas students.”

  “Cool.”

  “Yep.”

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  It became weirdly quiet as the three of them stood there, ignoring the carcass of the dead conversation. Ever met Taylor’s gaze.

  *How far is Mexico?* He pushed hard into her mind, seeing if there was a way to get the question across to her. Alas, Taylor was not a mythical being. All she did was furrow her brow.

  “I’m going to make some calls,” Logan said somewhat loudly. He went out the door, disappearing around the corner.

  “How far is–”

  “Mexico is over 8,000 miles away. It’s nearly 22 hours one-way by plane,” she replied.

  “So you could hear me ask the question to you through my mind?” Ever asked incredulously.

  "Nope. I just imagined what questions I’d ask myself if I was an idiot.” While Ever spluttered indignantly, she continued. “Does Zoe know that you’re the Grim Reaper?”

  “I’m Death’s apprentice,” Ever huffed.

  “Same difference. Have you disappeared in front of her?”

  “She doesn’t know anything.”

  “So you guys aren’t official yet?”

  “Official? Officially what?”

  “Officially dating!” Taylor raised her hands, which had turned into frustration claws, before relaxing and dropping them.

  “We’re flirting,” Ever said matter-of-factly.

  “Oooooh really?” Taylor said, closing the distance between them. “Has she been sending you nudes?” Her eyes were laser focused on Ever’s pocket. She suddenly gasped. “Have you been sending her nudes?”

  “Nudes? Like noodles?”

  Taylor cried out in frustration, turning to the wall and banging her fist on it. Once more, she forced herself to relax. “He’s a ghost, he’s not a human,” she reminded herself quietly, eyes closed and turned away from him.

  “I’m not a ghost and I am a...”

  He screeched to a halt. He was a human, wasn't he? Then why did he stop himself from completing the statement?