Page 38 of Salvation

“You sure?”

“Yup. See you.” I say with a forced smile.

“Right.” He says, stuffing his hands in his pocket. “I’ll come by at some point to fix that.” He nods over his shoulder to the basement door. “Holler if you need anything.”

I dip my head in acknowledgment before busying myself with brushing off invisible dust on my clothing. I only look back up when his voice takes on a teasing tone as he says, “And uh, maybe charge your phone before doing anymore ghost hunting, yeah?”

I roll my eyes and stick my middle finger up at his now turned back. “I saw that.” He calls back. I let my laughter flow freely after he’s gone.

Chapter 38

Wesley

Ifind Blake standing on the porch and digging through her purse. She pulls out her keys at the same time I slam shut the door of my truck. When she sees the toolbox in my hand, she nods toward the door. "I was just headed to grab Elain, but feel free to let yourself in.”

"Will do," I reply. It’s nice to see how close Elain and Blake have become, and it’s such an unlikely pair that it makes me want to laugh. I don’t know Elain well, but I have seen her around town. She’s quiet and tends to keep to herself. No doubt much more reserved than most kids her age.

I notice Blake doesn’t meet my gaze for very long and hauls her ass down the steps before I can say anything more. Our conversation in the basement unlocked something between us, and now I know there are questions we both want answers to. I make my way inside as her car starts. The smell of her,something sweet like lavender, fills my senses far quicker than I’d like.

I’ve seen the inside of the house before. A couple of times now. I take a moment to look around. It’s impressive how far it’s come. Blake’s touch and good eye make it look like a completely different house. Inside and out. My eyes catch her calendar hanging from the fridge, and I can’t help but notice a date circled on it. Today’s date.

Date with Haden,it says.

You have got to be fucking kidding me. I thought she blew the bastard off, and now she has a date? Withhim?

I don’t even turn to see if she’s fully pulled out of the driveway before I stalk towards it and wipe it off her calendar with my hand. It’s childish, I know it’s childish. But right now, I don’t give a fuck. I told him once before, and I’ll have no problem telling him to back off again. I pull out my phone andclick the call button right underneath the contact.

Chapter 39

Bake

One morning after Elain stayed, she mentioned how she hadn’t met my mom yet, and she’s been dying to. We decided this morning we’d stop by to have breakfast with her. It didn’t take much convincing on her part, as I’ve been planning on working to see my mom more often. Elain’s busy asking my mom to show her old pictures of me when my phone pings with a notification.

Wesley’s Hot Friend:

Sorry, I have to cancel on tonight, something came up

I don’t answer right away, just staring at the screen. Something came up? That’s the oldest excuse in the book. The guy practically begged for a date, and now he’s blowing me off? Over text?

“What’s wrong?” My mom sing songs from her rocker.

“Haden canceled our date for tonight.” I mutter back. My mom hums like she’s in deep thought, but it’s Elain that pipes up first. Face scrunched in curiosity. “Sure it’s got nothing to do with him being Wesley’s friend?”

I narrow my eyes at her. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m just saying that he probably had something to do with it.”

“You don’t think…—" They give each other a look, like they know something I don’t. It only makes my nerves worse. If that’s true…no. There’s simply no way he’d interfere like that. What I do with Haden is none of his business, in the same way that what he does with Brittany is none of my business. I turn my attention away from the two before me and furiously type back.

Is this because of Wesley?

It’s best if I don’t get in the middle of it

“What a douche!” I shout. And then wince once I see Elain and my mom giving me a weird look. I don’t pay them anymore mind and go back to fuming at the texts on my screen. Wesley issodead.

And the fact that Haden let someone push him around about taking me on a date caused any sort of attraction I had toward the guy to fly out the window.

“Do you mind if I run an errand?” I ask the two sweetly. They share a nervous glance, but my mom just shrugs, and Elain only shoots me a thumbs up in return.

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