Page 39 of The Haunting of Lockton

Paxton looked over at me, his brow drawn tight. “Ghosts aren’t just mindless, unfeeling things, Skyler. Theydohave feelings. Thoughts. Dreams that have been taken from them. To go into a place like Lockton and mock them when they’re already so miserable is just cruel.”

It was after midnight when we pulled into Redwood. Many of the lights were still on, and silhouettes of some of the guests could be seen in some of the windows, pulling the curtains closed, walking across the room.

“Thanks for helping out tonight,” I told Paxton as we got out of the SUV. “And… sorry again. For saying all that shit.”

“It’s fine.” He shoved his hands in his coat pockets. I couldn’t help but notice how the moonlight kissed his pale skin.

God, he was fucking beautiful. And I had fucked up any chance I might’ve had with him.

“Doesn’t seem fine,” I said.

“It’s my fault for assuming things.” He pinned me with a brown-eyed stare. In the daytime, they looked like pools of bourbon, but at night, they were darker, the traces of light brown and orange threads too faint to see. “You’re not who I thought you were.”

A pang hit my chest and tumbled down into my gut. Truth was, I’d worn a mask for so long thatIdidn’t even know who I was. Not really.

“It’s late.” I tried not to let it show how much his words had stung. “Are you okay to drive home? I’m sure Jules and I could share a bed if you wanted to crash in our room.”

“Speak for yourself,” Julian said. “Last time I shared a bed with you, we got to second base. That’s not happening again.”

Paxton smiled at that. A good sign. He couldn’t have beentoopissed at me if he managed a smile, albeit small.

“What?” I mirrored the expression. “I’m a cuddler in my sleep. I can’t help it.”

His face smoothed as he averted his gaze to the ground. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m good to drive home.”

Julian walked around to the back of the SUV to unload our equipment while I remained in front of Paxton, unsure what to say. Despite my easygoing and flirtatious personality, I was actually kind of insecure on the inside. And when I really liked someone, everything got jumbled in my brain.

“I should go.” Paxton pulled his car keys from his pocket.

“Wait.” I touched his forearm on impulse before quickly withdrawing my hand. “Will you come with us tomorrow night?”

“Even if I wanted to, I can’t,” he said. “I have a tour for Bellview at eight o’clock.”

“Oh.”

As his brown eyes met mine, our connection from earlier sparked again. I felt it in my freaking core. He took a step closer. So close I could feel his body heat, making my skin tinglein response. My stomach fluttered at the memory of us in the corridor, our lips a hair’s width apart.

His gaze dropped to my lips. Was he remembering it too?

“Good night, Skyler,” he said.

“Good night, Paxton.”

Paxton then said goodbye to Julian before getting in his car and backing out of the parking spot. I watched him drive through the black gates, the headlights fading.

“Are you going to help me?” Julian asked, dragging a case on wheels behind him while holding another under his arm. “Or are you going to stand around fantasizing about him all night?”

“It’s technically morning.” I walked over to him.

“And you’re technically an asshole.”

“Harsh.” I put a hand to my heart before grunting as Julian shoved a backpack against my chest. “Do you think he’ll be pissed forever?”

“I doubt it,” Julian said. “He seems to really like you. I think he just needs some space. Youwerean insensitive asshole.”

“Yeah, yeah. Tell me something I don’t know.”

With our equipment in tow, we walked toward Redwood and stepped into the entrance hall, the heavy door closing behind us. Once we got the cases into the room, we fell into bed and crashed, not bothering with unpacking anything that night. And, just like the night after we visited the cemetery in Easton, my dream was strange. Dark.