Whirlwind

By Bailey Bradford

Dying sucks, but the afterlife is one hot place to be.

Stefan wasn't physically perfect in life, and his search for someone to love him resulted in his murder. Now he's been dead for years, and he's lonelier than he ever was when he was alive. His physical problems might have vanished when his body ceased to live, but his spirit has to deal with the memories of the past.

Jordan and Gideon are friends who share eager guys when they can find them, but being in a war zone hasn't allowed for that to happen often. One roadside stop puts an end to their lives. Jordan and Gideon are at a loss to understand what happens to them, why they stay behind when others go up into the light. Searching for answers, they head to Jordan's hometown—McKinton, Texas—but a hell of a lot of things have changed in the decade and a half since Jordan left.

Namely, the arrival of one wicked, joyful spirit named Stefan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Sep 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781784307899

Bailey Bradford

A native Texan, Bailey spends her days spinning stories around in her head, which has contributed to more than one incident of tripping over her own feet. Evenings are reserved for pounding away at the keyboard, as are early morning hours. Sleep? Doesn't happen much. Writing is too much fun, and there are too many characters bouncing about, tapping on Bailey's brain demanding to be let out. Caffeine and chocolate are permanent fixtures in Bailey's office and are never far from hand at any given time. Removing either of those necessities from Bailey's presence can result in what is known as A Very, Very Scary Bailey and is not advised under any circumstances.

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Whirlwind

ISBN # 978-1-78430-789-9

©Copyright Bailey Bradford 2015

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright September 2015

Edited by Eleanor Boyall and Rebecca Scott

Pride Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2015 by Pride Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Pride Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Southern Spirits

WHIRLWIND

Bailey Bradford

Book eight in the Southern Spirits series

Dying sucks, but the afterlife is one hot place to be.

Stefan wasn’t physically perfect in life, and his search for someone to love him resulted in his murder. Now he’s been dead for years, and he’s lonelier than he ever was when he was alive. His physical problems might have vanished when his body ceased to live, but his spirit has to deal with the memories of the past.

Jordan and Gideon are friends who share eager guys when they can find them, but being in a war zone hasn’t allowed for that to happen often. One roadside stop puts an end to their lives. Jordan and Gideon are at a loss to understand what happens to them, why they stay behind when others go up into the light. Searching for answers, they head to Jordan’s hometown—McKinton, Texas—but a hell of a lot of things have changed in the decade and a half since Jordan left.

Namely, the arrival of one wicked, joyful spirit named Stefan.

Dedication

To all my friends—y’all are blessings, don’t ever forget that.

It’s easy to remember all the bad things we’ve done, all the mistakes we’ve made,

the imperfections we have.

Remembering to love ourselves, to forgive and try again, is much harder,

but so very worth it.

Trademarks Acknowledgment

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmark mentioned in this work of fiction:

Mack: Mack Trucks, Inc

Chapter One

Stefan Bausch nudged his friend Ro. Wanna play football?

Ro looked horrified for a moment, his eyebrows scrunching together as he gawked at Stefan. Why would I want to do that? I hated football when I was alive, and what would we use for a ball?

A ball, Stefan said blandly. Don’t tell me you haven’t learnt how to pick things up yet. You’re with Conner. You’d have to know how to grab corporeal things just to keep up with him.

Ro scowled. That still doesn’t answer the why part.

Because, Stefan said as he waggled his eyebrows, think of the way everyone at the park would freak out if they saw a ball shooting back and forth through the air. It’d be hilarious…maybe. Or maybe not, since a lot of the townsfolk believe in spirits—ghosts. Stefan wasn’t interested in being exorcised. Again.

Sounds like a great way to freak out someone and end up cast out of this world and into whatever comes next, Ro muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. Didn’t something like that happen before?

How did Ro know what he’d been thinking? Stefan rolled his eyes. Yeah, yeah, and it sucked. It was your grandparents who did it, wasn’t it?

I don’t want to talk about them. Ro glanced around. You know I still fear that they’re gonna pop up just to try to ruin my afterlife.

Conner would handle them, Stefan informed his friend. Ro had to know that. Conner would never let anyone hurt Ro.

Ro flipped his long black hair. Sure he would, but I don’t want him to have to. Anyway, I’m pretty sure they would hang around the other part of the family, not the heathen gay side.

Maybe. But sometimes Stefan got so bored he wished someone jerkish would show up. All the spirits he knew were nice—and either straight or hooked up, like Conner and Ro.

We could go see what’s happening at Sev and Laine’s place, Ro offered, a hopeful light springing up in his eyes. Conner’s off greeting newcomers. Ro’s joy died down and his expression shifted into one of sadness. How he knows when someone’s going to pop up is beyond me. And him, too, actually. He says he just feels this tug in his chest. Ro shook his head. That sounds creepier than us being dead in the first place. Oh man, I sure hope whoever does show up isn’t a psycho criminal. I always worry, but I don’t know why. It’s not like a psycho spirit could kill us all over again. I need to quit watching the news. It’s all bad shit. Why can’t everyone just get along?

That’s asking a lot of humanity, Stefan scoffed. He thought about going with Ro and shook his head. You go on. I’m in a weird mood and should probably just go off and pout for a while.

Are you sure? Ro uncrossed his arms and reached for Stefan’s hand. Ro’s skin was warm and soft, his grip firm and comforting. I’d love to have your company.

Seeing Laine and Sev wasn’t a bad thing, but Stefan didn’t want to hang around another happy, loving couple. Laine and Sev were definitely that. They’d been together forever and still acted like they’d only just met and fallen in love. It was sweet, and caused an ugly spike of jealousy to rear up in Stefan. He hated that about himself.

Nah, really, I need to just chill out. Sleep, maybe. Stefan could sleep in his ghostly form just like he had in his live-bodied form. It helped to pass the time when he was bored stiff.

You sure? Ro asked again.

Stefan barely refrained from rolling his eyes again. I’m sure. Jeez, go before I start thinking you’re afraid I’ll float off to the Great Beyond or whatever.

Don’t even joke about that, Ro snapped. It’s not funny.

Sorry, Stefan said immediately. Ro had almost lost Conner to the Great Beyond or whatever came after when Conner had gone chasing after a spirit. It’d been a close call. None of them knew what happened to them once they went up, up and away. None of them wanted to find out, either.

Really, I’m sorry. I told you I need to go pout. I’m not fit company. Stefan pulled Ro in for a hug. I’m an asshole.

Love you anyway, Ro huffed, but the tone of his voice as he said it took the sting out of him not disagreeing with Stefan’s self-description.

You too. Stefan patted Ro’s back then stepped out of the embrace. Go watch the lovebirds. I’m gonna head to the cemetery.

Ro shivered. That’s so morbid.

I don’t think it is. I like seeing the headstones with the long lives carved onto them. Makes me happy those people had a long time with their loved ones. Stefan nodded. Catch ya later!

Stefan let himself float up a few feet then he shot up high and fast before angling toward the graveyard. He hadn’t been lying to Ro. He was glad for the folks who didn’t die young like he had—it gave him hope for his brother and Darren, as well as other people he cared about who were still living. Stefan didn’t want them to die, but if they did, or when they did, rather, he hoped they’d stay here on Earth with him.

As for being alive, he didn’t miss it. It probably made him a weirdo to like being dead a heck of a lot more than he’d liked being alive, but since he was dead, Stefan figured it was okay. Surely being a spirit in the afterlife entitled him to some quirks.

Well, more quirks. Stefan didn’t like to think back on his life much. He’d been deemed ‘developmentally slow’ and jeez, it’d been hard. People had picked on him, bullied him. Johnny Chapman had even killed Stefan over it.

Stefan shuddered. Johnny had done it in the worst way possible for Stefan. First he’d led Stefan on, made him think Johnny actually cared about him. Stefan had been so lonely, and so eager to please everybody, but especially Johnny since he used to pay attention to Stefan.

Never around other people, though. Johnny had explained how being seen with Stefan would kill his cool cred. That had hurt, but Stefan got it. His brain was damaged, and that always made people steer clear of him no matter how happy and giggly he’d been.

And so he’d let Johnny touch him, hurt him in other ways that he’d thought were supposed to be enjoyable. They hadn’t been, but Stefan had been desperate for companionship. Darren had been Stefan’s only friend, and even so, Stefan had known Darren was slipping away from him. Stefan might have been slow, but he wasn’t totally stupid.

Except for believing Johnny. That had got Stefan pushed over a cliff, literally. Stefan’s greatest fear, besides being abandoned by everyone he loved, was of heights.

No, not of heights. Of falling from somewhere high up. Or being pushed. Johnny’s laughter had been pure evil as he’d shoved Stefan over that cliff. Stefan had had one single second, less than, even, where he’d felt like he was floating. Then he’d been filled with a terror so great it had crushed him. He hadn’t even been able to scream as tears had sprouted from his eyes.

The moment of impact had been the worst. Pain had slammed through every nerve ending in his body, shooting up from the hard ground and rocks he’d landed on. He’d had no idea anything could hurt so bad.

But the pain had ended quickly, and Stefan had found himself drifting, looking down at the gross mess of his body. Dead or not, that image still gave Stefan nightmares.

Stefan shuddered again. Being a spirit was so much better than being alive. He could feel himself—his body was as real in form to him now as it had been before he’d died. Just like he could shudder and all the other stuff he used to do, basically. Breathing was optional,

Reviews for Whirlwind

[L'eau · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked the wrap up of Stefan's story, and his "coming of age", but there wasn't really much to this story, and it should have been shorter than its 12 chapters.