Page 138 of The Haunting of Lockton

“I don’t need more time to decide,” he said. “And I don’t think you do either.”

He was right. I didn’t. Everything I’d always wanted was within my grasp. That quiet but happy life with the people I loved. A real home, which Julian and I had never had. Jovie had said I was welcome to stop by the bar anytime and perform. I could also check out the coffeehouse and sign up to play there. Julian and I could still record content for our show by investigating other places in Ivy Grove. He could spend more time with Callum and maybe learn more about his gift.

And I could be with Paxton.Reallybe with him.

“Who’s the snot monster now?” Julian asked.

That’s when I felt the wetness on my cheeks. It oozed from my nose too. “Asshole,” I muttered before using my sleeve to wipe my nose. Gross but whatever. I’d wash it later. “So this is really happening?”

Julian’s smile softened, and he nodded.

“You’re really okay with it?”

“Yes,” he said. “To be honest, I don’t want to leave either. Ever since my accident, I haven’t felt the same. Because I’mnotthe same. And it wasn’t until we came to Ivy Grove that I started to feel like maybe there was a reason for it all.”

I wiped at my eyes again. The quiver in my stomach came from me trying to hold back more tears. I hated crying.

“Want to tell Paxton the good news?” Julian asked. “Or bad news, I guess, seeing as to how he’ll be forced to spend more time with you.”

“Okay, that’s it.” I bent down and scooped up some snow, packing it into my hand. “Run for your life because shit’s about to get messy.”

Snow smacked me in the face.

“Messy like that?” Julian asked.

“Oh, it’s on now.” I hurled the snowball at him, catching him in the chest.

An epic battle ensued as we flung snow at each other, screaming and laughing like we were kids again. My hands stung from the cold, and my nose was running, but I didn’t care.

I was happy.

Happy that Julian was safe. Happy that we’d decided to stay in Ivy Grove. And as I took cover behind the oak tree and glanced over at the kitchen window, seeing Paxton staring at us as his body shook with a laugh, I was happy because I’d fallen in love with someone pretty damn special.

Someone I refused to live without.

***

The main area of Ivy Grove Ghost Tours had been transformed into a mini theater with a projector and large screen on the wall to cast the first episode of the Lockton special.

Valentina and her husband, Madison and Jason, her new boyfriend, plus Levi, Taylor, and other friends who’d been invited sat in chairs that had been set out to preview the episode. Afterward, we’d post it to our channel.

Julian slumped lower in his seat each time he appeared on screen. Taylor smirked and playfully nudged his arm, which only made him more embarrassed.

“Look at that handsome devil,” I said as my face came on the screen.

Chuckles rumbled around us, followed by something light smacking the back of my head. Madison had wadded up a napkin and thrown it at me, making Paxton laugh so hard he snorted. She behaved like a feisty little sister toward me now. Big change from when we’d first met her. Back then, she’d fallen all over herself trying to get me to notice her—and I had—but I’d noticed someone else more.

And I hadn’t looked away from him since.

Paxton sat in the chair beside me, our hands clasped together and resting on my thigh. He watched the episode with excited eyes but cringed each time the camera panned to him. The clips were from our first night of investigation, as well as in-between sections where we’d interviewed him. “Should’ve edited me out,” he muttered.

“Not a chance,” I whispered back to him and held his hand tighter. “You’re a total heartthrob.”

“Pfft.”

“You are,” I said, keeping my voice low. I brushed my lips across his earlobe. “You makemyheart throb. Among other things.”

He turned his face into me, and I felt him smile against my cheek.