Page 101 of Séance

They came back.

Part of me didn’t believe they would.

Someone clears their throat, and I realize that I’ve been cradled against Jameson’s chest for some time, neither of us moving.

“Let the poor girl go before the food gets cold,” Gunner mutters, nudging Jameson away, then he guides me toward the table that almost bends under the weight of the food piled on it. I stare in shock, and Gunner sheepishly rubs the back of his head, avoiding my gaze. “I wasn’t sure what you liked.”

Charmed by the slight blush darkening his cheeks, I rise up on my tiptoes and brush my lips against his jaw—the only place I could reach. “Thank you. It looks amazing.”

Jameson leaps forward, dragging out a chair before bowing elaborately in my direction. “For you,mademoiselle.”

I suppress a smile at his atrocious accent, curtsying to him. “Merci beaucoup, monsieur.”

His head snaps up at my reply, and my stomach swoops in excitement at the heated gleam I see in his gaze that promises naughty things. Just as he takes a step toward me, Jaceson knocks him aside and places my drink on the table. “Eat first.”

After the amount of takeout food I inhaled last night, I shouldn’t be hungry. To my surprise, my mouth actually waters at the delicious aromas. As I sit, I swear that Jameson mutters, “Miserable cockblocker,” under his breath. I smother my smile, watching as the guys take their places around the table. Jameson doesn’t wait and begins piling food on his plate, easily dodging Gunner when he reaches out to slap his hands away.

“Rue goes first,” he rumbles.

Jameson freezes, a waffle hanging out of his mouth when he turns to look at me, his voice muffled by food. “Sorry.”

I snort at the image of him with his cheeks puffed up like a chipmunk squirreling away food.

He yanks the waffle from his mouth, chews, then swallows a large lump of food with a grimace. “I forgot to eat last night.”

I wince, knowing that it was my fault. He was so busy feeding me, that he completely ignored his own meal. The reminder of last night is sobering, and I look down at my plate, not sure I’mready to discuss anything with them yet. “That’s okay. You don’t have to wait for me.”

Thankfully, the guys take me at my word and fill their plates. Happy for the reprieve, I do the same, moaning as the delicious food plays with my taste buds. To avoid the inevitable discussion, I end up eating way more than normal, my stomach stretching until I feel like I’m ready to burst.

I sit back and sip my tea, watching in awe as the three guys absolutely devour the mountain of food without once pausing for breath. I wouldn’t have believed it without seeing it myself. Boys are fascinating creatures, and I’m enthralled as I watch the strong column of Jaceson’s throat as he swallows his black coffee or the way Gunner’s arm flexes as he eats.

Jameson nudges my arm, his eyebrows wiggling up and down suggestively. “Forearm porn, am I right?”

I nearly choke on the sip of tea I just took.

His brows instantly furrow with concern, and he pats me on the back until I wave him away. “I’m okay.”

Avoiding their gazes, I grab my cup and bring it to the sink, focusing on the mundane task of rising it out. The silence behind me is nearly deafening, and my shoulders rise to my ears as I do my best to pretend I’m invisible. Mortification keeps me glued to the spot, afraid if I move, they might notice me.

Jameson leans over the counter, his head next to mine as he peers down into the sink with a furrow between his brows. “I think the cup might be clean.”

I stop scrubbing the poor cup, my shoulders wilting, and I reluctantly turn off the water. “You might be right.”

“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you or made you uncomfortable,” Jameson says quietly as he uses his fingernail to trace the lines in the grout on the tiled counter. “If it helps, the guys and I like the way you look at us.”

Warmth fills my face, and I find the courage to gaze at him. “And how do I look at you?”

His pale blue eyes darken when he looks up at me, his gaze steady. “Like we’re the most fascinating creatures in the world and you crave us as much as we crave you.”

My heart aches at the way his confidence wavers, his gaze dropping to the tiles once more before he shrugs. “At least that’s what I hope.”

I lower the cup into the sink, then gently touch his shoulder, my fingertips tingling at the contact. I have no fucking clue what to say, my emotions still raw from last night. “I’m not used to getting any attention, much less attention from boys. Usually, if anyone notices me, that means I’m in some sort of trouble. I was taught to be quiet or something bad would happen.”

My throat tightens when his expression turns thunderous, but I force myself to continue. “I’m not used to being seen and noticed. It’s both wonderful and uncomfortable at the same time. Part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop, half expecting my happiness to be ripped away at a moment’s notice. While I love the attention, I’m not sure how to react half the time.”

Jameson sighs heavily, his body melting against the counter until his head rests on his arm, and he stares up at me with stormy blue eyes. “I wish I could help you, but I’m not like the others. I don’t have that little voice in my head that tells people the right way to act or how to be polite or show respect. I tried learning it, but I can’t seem to catch all the nuances that come naturally to others. I also don’t seem to have that brain-to-mouth filter the guys are always talking about.”

For the first time, he seems embarrassed. He looks away, unable to meet my gaze, like he thinks I might find him lacking. He practically oozes misery, and my heart threatens to crackat his despair. I hate seeing his joy for life dimmed for even a second.

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