Page 77 of Séance

Before I can gather my wits, we’re charging toward the door. A peal of laughter escapes me as we dodge Hicks, his curses blistering the air behind us. Before we can hit the door, Ellis stands in the way. When we don’t show any indication of slowing, his eyes widen, and he hastily steps back and opens it.

Jameson whoops with laughter, then we’re dashing out the door and into the street. Some people swear at us when we bump into them, too busy reading their phones to pay attention to their surroundings, but more than a few people see us coming. They smile when they catch sight of us and leap out of the way with a chuckle.

A glance shows Ellis following at a quick pace, but the streets are congested and he’s falling behind. I tap on Jameson’s shoulder to get his attention, then nod behind us. “Slow down. We’re losing them.”

He only shoots me a bright smile, his happiness so genuine that my breath is knocked out of me for a different reason this time. “They have my phone tracked, and I’m sure they have yours bugged too. Even if we lose them, they’ll catch up with us.” He pauses, tipping his head to the side as if calculating the odds, then just shrugs. “Eventually.”

I’m not sure I like the idea that they bugged my phone without telling me about it.

It’s just a little too reminiscent of my controlling father and his need to keep me under his thumb. I expect Jameson to be upset by the intrusion, but he doesn’t seem bothered in the least, like it wasn’t done with the intention of spying but out of genuine concern.

It’s such a foreign concept that I can’t quite grasp it, and I decide to worry about it later. We end up going two more blocks before we lose our tail. He slows before finally setting my feet back on the ground, then he gently smooths the furrow between my eyes.

“Don’t worry, pookie.” He tugs me against his chest, snuggling me close. “They do it because they care.”

It sounds like something he’s been told a dozen times before.

“When would they have done something like that?” I’m completely baffled, touching my phone briefly where it’s tucked into my skirt.

Jameson snorts, then pulls away and snags my hand. “They are sneaky fuckers. If you allowed them to touch your phone at any time, then they had time to download an app to track you.”

I have to run to keep up with him as he drags me behind him, and I curse my short legs when I almost stumble. “Slow down, please. You seem to forget I’m short.”

Jameson halts so suddenly that I slam into him with an oomph, but he only wraps his arms around me and grins. “Not short. Fun-sized.”

My smile breaks free, and I snort at the idiot. Knowing I have to take control before he runs off again, I rub my stomach. “I really am hungry. Can we stop somewhere to eat?”

Jameson immediately turns serious, lifting his head as he searches the streets for a suitable restaurant. After gaining his bearings, he slips his hand into mine once more, then he leads me down a different street at a more sedate pace. With my free hand, I tug out my phone. “Where are we going? We can ask Hicks and Ellis to join us.”

A put-upon sigh leaves Jameson, but he nods dutifully. “There is a deli ahead. I was thinking we could grab a picnic basket and eat in the park.” He stops walking suddenly, his gaze locking on mine as he searches my face. “Would you like that? Have you ever had a picnic before?”

Pleasure warms my chest that he would ask. I’m not sure how he knows I’ve missed out on so much of my childhood, but my insides melt that he wants to create new memories for me. “I would love to go on my first picnic with you.”

I lean up on my toes, then kiss the underside of his jaw. I’m not sure it’s appropriate to go about kissing them on the lips whenever I feel like it, but I wanted to show him that I appreciate his thoughtfulness.

Jameson touches the spot, the shards of white in his pale blue eyes making them appear brighter, and he gazes down at me reverently. “I would do anything for you.”

I place my hand on his chest, both giddy at his confession and terrified. No one should have that much power over anotherperson. It’s dangerous, especially with someone like Jameson, who loves the people around him a little too hard.

My smile is light—a struggle when it feels like my heart is two sizes too large in my chest. “How about you ask before you do anything? Us women are mysterious creatures, and our emotions are so volatile sometimes that our anger is fierce once you rile us up.”

He winces at a memory, his eyes turning solemn as he places a hand over mine. “Promise.”

I release a relieved breath, my shoulders relaxing, and I smile up at him. “Good. I promise when I get mad, I’ll do my best to think through the situation calmly before reacting, okay?”

It’s not like Jameson is a child—far from it—but it’s also obvious that someone hurt him so badly that he’s still carrying the scars from it. Even though the guys do their best, I suspect that not even they are aware of how much he struggles behind his mask.

He’s so desperate for connections with others that he throws himself into life, searching for it in all the wrong places. Though his heart might be the biggest of them, it’s been bruised and battered, and he’s desperately looking to others to fill the hole inside him.

I don’t want to see his beautiful, innocent heart shattered.

Jameson searches my eyes, and something in him relaxes. He threads our fingers together, brings our hands to his lips, then kisses the back of my hand solemnly. “I… Thank you.”

He slips his arm around me, and we begin walking down the street at an almost casual pace. I’m almost suspicious at the change…until he starts speaking.

“My mother never wanted children. I suspect that if Dad hadn’t found out that she was pregnant, she would have aborted us.” He tightens his grip on me, as if afraid that I might run, but I only rest my head against his chest.

“My mother loved the single life. She worked hard and played harder. Dad gave her whatever she wanted. It was a surprise to everyone when she agreed to marry him. After a year, I think the newness started wearing off. She began working longer hours, staying out late with her friends, and going to parties.

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