Page 81 of Séance

I snort at his offer and shake my head. “You’re going to have to do better than that if you want me to kiss your ass.”

Humor cracks his stern expression, and his bad mood forgotten. “Challenge accepted.”

I mentally groan, wondering what kind of mischief he’s going to get us into next.

“Come,” Ellis interrupts, and I pull away from Jameson to glance at him. “Hicks has a surprise for us.”

“A surprise?” My stomach does a funny swoop, and I grimace. “I’m not a fan of surprises.”

In the past, surprises were never good.

They usually ended up with me being beaten within an inch of my life.

Not wanting to let my past intrude on the nice day, I square my shoulders and take a deep breath. “Okay, let’s do it.”

Both men exchange a look, then come to stand on either side of me as we make our way to the docks, each silently offering me their moral support. Ellis bumps my arm lightly with his shoulder. “If you don’t like the surprise, you can just tell us.”

Despite Ellis being quiet, Jameson easily hears and leans over to glare at Ellis. “If Hicks does something stupid to upset my pookie, I’m going to hurt him.”

It’s both a threat and a promise, and I flick him right between the eyes. “That’s not for you to decide. If I have a problem with Hicks,Iwill deal with it.Notyou. Understand?”

He rubs his forehead with a mulish expression on his face, but I refuse to budge until he gives a begrudging nod.

“Good. Now let’s go find Hicks.”

I try to put as much enthusiasm into my words as possible to cover my trepidation. Hicks isn’t my biggest fan, so I’m not looking forward to seeing what he has planned. As we approach the docks at the corner of the lake, my eyes widen when I see a vendor renting out row boats.

Hicks has claimed one of the bigger boats with four oars, and my steps automatically slow, dread building in my gut as I glance over the smooth surface of the lake.

Sensing my unease, Jameson leans down and whispers, “I won’t let anything happen to you. I don’t want you to miss out on living because you’re afraid. If you fall in, I’ll jump in after you. Promise.”

I suspect he’s talking about more than just a boat ride, and the backs of my eyes burn at his sincerity.

Though it’s dangerous, I desperately want what he’s offering.

A friend.

A confidant.

A partner in crime.

A person to call when I’m in trouble, or someone who would join me in mischief-making.

I soak up his affections like a sponge, the attention addicting after a lifetime of loneliness. I reach out and squeeze his arm, not sure that I’ll ever be able to let him go now. As if he understands, he tucks my hand into the crook of his arm.

Ellis peers at us from my other side, his eyebrows rising, but he wisely doesn’t comment. “The lake is shallow. It’s chest height almost everywhere. Only the very center is deep. We can make sure we stay along the shore.”

I swallow a lump in my throat at their thoughtfulness, wondering what I did in my life to deserve such sweet men. I smile at them both gratefully. “Thank you.”

Apparently, climbing onto a small boat takes a talent I do not possess. After nearly capsizing us more than once before I find my seat, I’m terrified to even sneeze and send us rocking again.

Of course, none of the guys have any such problem. They step on the fucking boat, and it doesn’t even bobble.

What the fuck?

I’m convinced it must be a guy thing, and I scowl at them in annoyance.

Hicks takes two of the oars, while Jameson and Ellis each take one. I desperately clutch the sides of the boat as we shoot across the water. Much to my shock, it’s almost soothing to skim over the surface. After a few minutes, I reluctantly release the sides and just enjoy the ride. As much as I don’t want to admit it, being out on the water is nice.

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