Chapter 34

“I’m not in your mind.”

“What do you call this?”

“A dream. You told me you’d rather be at the beach than the prom.”

“What about earlier?”

“I wasn’t in your mind then either.” Cooper settled beside him, his legs sticking straight out in front of him, the water washing over his ankles. “I was just talking to you. It was more wishful thinking on my part than mind reading.”

Edwin sighed. “I don’t know why you won’t just leave me alone. I mean, you’ve been dead for almost fifty years. Surely you’ve met other people to torment in all that time.”

“No, not really. I’ve never met anybody like you.”

“What’s so special about me?”

“I don’t know. But there’s a connection between us.” Cooper looked up, flashing him a quick smile. “Maybe it’s because we both love the car.”

“Why didn’t you answer me when I tried to talk to you earlier?”

“I didn’t want to scare you. You tend to get grumpy when you’re startled.”