“Ah . . . literature? I think,” I ventured.
“You don’t know what he’s studying, either? Well, what do you guys talk about?”
“Oh, just other stuff. You know. Art. Music.” The undead. Immortality. Evil zombies. There was no way I could tell Georgia anything about him.
Georgia stared me down for a moment and then snapped, “Fine. If you don’t want to tell me about him, that’s okay. You don’t know much about my life either, but it’s not for my lack of trying to include you. I’ve stopped asking you out because I know you’ll say no.”
“Okay, Georgia. Who are you seeing?”
My sister shook her head. “I don’t give you information if you don’t give me any either.”
I reached out for her hand and pled, “Georgia, I’m not intentionally trying to exclude you from my life. You know I’ve a hard time with . . . well, everything. But I’m finally getting back on my feet, and I promise to make more of an effort.”
“Then you’ll come out with me this weekend?”
I paused. “Okay.”
“With Vincent?”
“Um . . .”
Georgia shot me a look that said, See?
“Okay, okay. We’ll go out with Vincent. But not clubbing, Georgia, please.”
Georgia’s black mood transformed instantly, and she bounced gleefully on my bed. “No club. Fine. How about a restaurant?”
“Sure. I’ll check to see if he’s around.” More like, if he’s alive.
“Call him now.”
“Some privacy, please?”
“Okay,” Georgia conceded, leaning over and giving me a kiss on my forehead. She walked to the door, and then turned. “Thanks, sis. Really. It’ll be good to have you back.”
The streetlights were just coming on as we walked up to the subway station. Vincent and Ambrose, who had been leaning back against the magazine kiosk and chatting, straightened up when they saw us. My heart melted into a soppy mess as Vincent walked up and kissed my cheeks, and then, turning to Georgia, gave her his most dashing smile. “And you must be Kate’s legal guardian . . . I mean, sister. Georgia, right?”
Georgia laughed and exclaimed flirtatiously, “Well, just look at you! Katie sure knows how to choose ’em!” She looked like she wanted to stay right there all night, staring into his eyes.
“Georgia!” I exclaimed, shaking my head.
Ignoring me, Georgia looked over Vincent’s shoulder at Ambrose and gave him a flirty wink. “Don’t worry, Katie-Bean. Looks like Vincent has brought someone along to keep me busy. And you would be . . .”
“Ambrose. Enchanted to meet Kate’s lovely sister,” he said in French, giving me a sideways glance. I understood. If she knew he was American, she’d start asking questions. Maybe too many questions, although I was sure he was used to making up cover stories. “So where are you taking us, ladies?”
“I thought we’d go to a little restaurant I know in the fourteenth arrondissement,” she said.
Vincent and Ambrose gave each other a fleeting look, just as Georgia’s phone rang. “Excuse me,” she said, and turned to answer the call.
“Not our favorite neighborhood,” said Ambrose in a low voice.
“Why?” I asked.
“It’s kind of ‘their’ turf. You know, those people I was telling you about. The ‘other team,’” Vincent said, glancing up to make sure Georgia hadn’t heard.
“What can they do to us outside, in a busy neighborhood, with two humans along?” asked Ambrose. He stared off into space for a second and then nodded his head and turned to me. “Jules said to tell you, ‘Hi, beautiful.’”
“Hey, watch it!” Vincent said.
“He says, ‘Whatcha going to do about it?’” Ambrose said, poking Vincent.
“Jules is volant . . . here? Right now?” I said in amazement.
“Yeah,” Vincent said. “We’re not on official business tonight, of course, but he insisted on coming along. Said he didn’t want to miss out on all the fun.”
“Can I talk to him?” I asked.
“When we’re volant we can be heard only by other revenants—not humans. So Jules can hear what you say out loud, but he can only respond through me or Ambrose,” Vincent said. “But you’ll want to be careful.” He gestured toward Georgia, who was getting off the phone.
“Too bad,” she said. “I had a couple of friends who were going to join us, but they’re not able to come.”
“Shall we?” asked Ambrose, holding his arm out formally for Georgia to take. She laughed delightedly, draping her arm through his, and they headed down the stairs.
Once they were out of earshot I said, “Hi, Jules!”
Vincent laughed and said, “Looks like someone’s got a bit of a crush.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.