Page 64 of Just This Once

A second later, Keene’s voice exploded, “Jesus. For the last time, I didn’t throw the damn books.”

“You were the only other person up here,” she spat, tapping her toe severely.

“I don’t care. It wasn’t me.”

“Well, it was either you or the library ghost, and I don’t feel any cold spots.” When she lifted her hands to prove it, she jumped a second later as if she actuallyhadfelt a chilly burst wash across her fingers, and I took that moment to pull my hopefully faulty amulet from my pocket.

If this thing really worked, it would work now.

16

PARKER

When the inside of my vial flooded with a pure-white cloudy substance, assuring me that a ghost was near, I hissed, “Son of a bitch,” in extreme irritation.

The damn amulet seemed to be working just fine.

For everyone but Hope.

To further convince me of the ghost’s presence, a brush of cold air wafted over me, ruffling my hair.

I glanced up, ducking my face to the side and really wishing Keene’s mom didn’t feel the need to greet me that wayeverytime I visited the library.

It was creepy as fuck.

“Hey,” I mumbled my reluctant acknowledgment to Robin the ghost, while Keene and Library Girl continued to argue.

“Well, if itwasa ghost,” Keene ranted. “Then I’m sure she threw the books for a damn good reason. What kind were they, anyway?”

Waverly blinked. “Whatkind?”

“Yeah. What subject were the books about?”

“I don’t know,” she cried in disgust. “One was about academic integrity and another about copyright infringement or something.”

“Well, then, there you go,” Keene shot back as if that explained everything. “The bastards probablydeservedto have the books thrown at them…literally.”

“Oh, so you’re admitting your guilt now?”

“Fuck no. But even if Ihadthrown them, what the hell are you going to do about it? Call campus police on me? Because I really wish you’d just go ahead and do it already. Getting taken in by them would besomuch more preferable than having you stand here bitching at me all night.”

Wow. Duggie was starting to channel a little Grumpy into himself there. Maybe he really was spiraling.

“Oh, I definitely called someone,” Waverly taunted snidely.

And Keene demanded, “What?Who?”

When Waverly glanced over at me with a small smirk as if I were the ace up her sleeve, I stepped forward to stand next to her, where I glanced down the rows of shelves to find Keene sitting at a table by himself, surrounded by piles of books.

“Surprise,” I deadpanned.

His shoulders immediately slumped, and he muttered a dejected, “Fuck.”

“Hey,” I assured him with lifted hands. “At least I don’t plan on handcuffing you and giving you a cavity search. Take the win where you can get it.”

“I’m not leaving,” he told me rebelliously. “The library’s open for another three hours.”

“Don’t care,” I said with a shrug. “You’ve outworn your welcome with the friendlies. Pack it up and let’s go, kid. I’ll walk you out to your Jeep.”

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