Page 136 of The Haunting of Lockton

Skyler

“Hey,” Julian said as he stepped into the living room. “Are you busy?”

“Nope.” I was sitting on the couch, guitar in my lap as I worked out the chord arrangement for a new song. “What’s up?”

“You’re playing,” he said, smiling at the guitar.

“Eh. I’m just messing around.” I set it aside. “Where’s Taylor?”

“His shift started at noon,” Julian responded. “He should be able to make the party tonight though.”

“That’s good.”

A light thud came from the kitchen, followed by a grumbled curse.

“Everything okay in there?” I called out.

Paxton was hard at work preparing food for the party later. I had offered to help him, but he’d quickly banished me to the living room after I’d snuck one too many pecans meant for the pecan pie.

“Yes,” Paxton responded. “My head just wanted to say hi to the counter when I bent to grab a pan. Stop laughing, Al.”

Julian looked toward the archway, then dropped his gaze to the floor. “I bet he’d disappear if I walked in there, huh?”

“Probably,” I said, wondering why Alan was still so shy around my brother. “Did you wanna talk about something?”

Julian shifted his weight from foot to foot. “I could use some fresh air. Can we take a walk?”

Prickles of anxiety stabbed at my chest. “Sure.”

I knew my brother better than I knew myself most days. And there was definitely something prattling around in his head. Something that had him restless and a bit on edge.

After we grabbed our coats, we went out the back door. The sun had melted most of the snow on the rooftop, but it still blanketed the grass and was deep enough for my shoe to sink into as we walked. The powdery texture with a little ice mixed in was perfect for snowballs. I refrained from making one and throwing it at him. I was too anxious.

“Okay, you gotta start talking.” I stopped beneath the same oak tree I’d pressed Paxton up against a few days ago. The memory warmed the center of my chest, easing some of the anxious prickles. “Put me out of my misery and tell me what’s going on.”

“Sorry,” Julian said, staring down at the snow as he shifted his foot through it. “I didn’t mean to stress you out. I’ve just been thinking about something, and I’m worried about how you’ll react.”

“That definitely helps my stress level.”

He tried for a laugh, but it missed the mark. “When we first came to Ivy Grove, I knew right away it was unlike anywhere else we’ve ever been. It justfeelsdifferent here.”

“I know what you mean.” I looked toward the kitchen window. Paxton stood at the sink and met my eye, rewarding me with a smile that struck my heart like a blazing hot arrowhead. “Ivy Grove is special.”

“Yeah.” Julian followed my gaze. “We’ve met amazing people here. Paxton. Taylor. Zeke and Carter. And Callum.”

“Eh. I’m not sure I’d call Callum amazing. He almost got you killed.”

“He saw no other choice, Sky. Owen was too strong. If not for Callum’s plan, I probably wouldn’t be here right now. Or, I guess I’d be here but not actually beme.”

“Fine. Remind me to give him a fruit cake for Christmas as thanks.”

“A fruit cake?”

“Yeah, because they’re nasty as fuck. The perfect gift for him.”

That time, Julian’s laugh hit home. His expression then fell into one more serious. “Does that mean you still want to be here for Christmas?”

Ripples of anxiety traveled down to my belly and twisted tight. I hadn’t meant to suggest it, but now that the question was laid out there, it was hard to breathe. Because Ididwant to still be here next month… and the months after. I wanted to help Paxton decorate his tree. I wanted to do romantic shit with him, like go look at Christmas lights and drink hot cocoa together. More than any of that, I wanted to fall asleep beside him each night and wake up beside him every morning.