Page 118 of Séance

Jameson refused to leave, and I ended up chasing him across the lawn, dragging him, kicking and biting, back home. The only way to get him to stop was to promise him we could return at first light. I stood guard for most of the night, needing to make sure no one bothered her. I didn’t want her to wake up in the middle of the night alone and afraid—not to mention I didn’t trust Jameson not to sneak out either.

It wouldn’t be the first time.

I only fell into bed just before dawn, managing an hour of sleep at most.

Honestly, I was tempted to pick the lock to her house myself, and I barely talked myself out of it, wanting to respect her wishes. We didn’t do enough of it, and I didn’t want to break her trust any more than we already did.

I also needed time to process what the fuck happened last night.

I can only come to one conclusion—I’m hopelessly and completely in love with Rue. That’s the only explanation for why I’m not freaking the fuck out that ghosts exist.

To my shock, I recognized the voice that belonged to the gangster. I’ve heard it for most of my life. I thought it was my fucked-up conscience. The way James reacted to the ghost told me he recognized him too, and I cursed myself for not realizing that he was being tormented as well.

It’s probably what drove him insane.

The ring she purchased for me muted the voice enough that I could almost think for myself. After last night, it vanished completely, disappearing when she banished the bastard.

The silence in my head is almost deafening and more than a little intimidating.

Rue tried to tell me about ghosts, hinting that they existed, but I was too stupid to understand what she was saying. I thought I was going crazy, just like James, and I was so terrified that I acted like a dumbass and refused to listen.

If I just believed her, I might have been able to spare her from getting hurt. Instead, I stood back, wanting proof.

I’m a fucking idiot, and I hurt her with my doubts.

Even as I shuffle toward the bathroom to take a piss, the chill from last night still clings to me. We came too fucking close to losing her.

Trust doesn’t come easily for me, and I feel like an ass for not giving her the benefit of the doubt. I can’t imagine how difficult her life must have been all alone. While my parents were too busy with their lives to pay attention to me, at least I had my brother.

Rue had no one except for the ghosts.

I can’t imagine how she survived so long on her own.

Well, no longer.

I won’t allow it.

James is right, Rue is ours, I was just too stupid to understand until now.

Twirling the ring on my thumb, I take comfort from the warm metal, a grin tugging at my lips at the thought of seeing her again. She burst into my life, yanking me out of my humdrum existence and showing me how to really live.

It’s not chasing one thrill to the next on the racetrack.

It’s her.

She has more than enough excitement in her life to keep me on my toes for the rest of my existence.

I yank my pants up, something hard nudging me, and my hand fumbles over the planchette I pocketed last night. The toy feels heavier, the dark singed edges no longer cardboard. It’s wooden. Heavier. My fingers tingle at the contact, and I shove it back into my pocket.

Something warns me that it’s too dangerous to leave it just lying about for anyone to stumble across. I’ll need to ask Rue what to do with it. She’ll know. Grabbing a shirt from the floor, I sniff it cautiously, then tug it over my head.

I meet Gunner in the hallway and follow him as he walks downstairs.

Ellis and Hicks are already in the kitchen, each staring forlornly at their coffee mugs. I don’t miss that both of them are wearing their jewelry, and the pinch in my chest eases at knowing neither are willing to give up on Rue, despite what happened last night.

“Are we going yet?” James shouts from the front of the house. “We’re all here now.”

Without missing a beat, Gunner and I head in his direction, and I hear the others follow. Instead of opening the door, James stands in front of it, his arms crossed, the massive scowl on his face lethal. “Not you. You shouldn’t come.”

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