Page 64 of The Haunting of Lockton

“Helping them move on isn’t the only way to help them,” Taylor said, rising from the step. He leaned against the post of the entrance. “Some ghosts just want their story told.”

Julian studied him. “You say that like you know from experience.”

“Eh, it’s just a theory.” Taylor cleared his throat.

Julian stood up and swayed a moment before steadying. “We should gather our equipment and head out.”

“You sure you’re okay?” Taylor asked, walking with him into the building. “If you pass out, I’ll throw you over my shoulder.”

Julian snorted. Their voices trailed off as the distance between us widened.

Skyler stayed seated beside me, and I realized our hands were still joined. I was holding on to him too tight.

“Sorry.” I let go.

“Don’t be,” he said, retaking my hand and weaving our fingers together. The pressure of his palm against mine grounded me. “Tonight was intense.”

I nodded.

“Are you okay?” he softly asked. When our eyes met, that softness stared back at me too.

“Y-Yeah. I’m fine.”

“For someone who guides people through ghost-infested places for a living, you’re kind of a scaredy-cat.”

My laugh came out rough. I knew he hadn’t meant it seriously. He only wanted to make me laugh. And it’d worked. “You’re the one who took one look at the Hanging Man and fled the room.”

Skyler’s smirk slipped. “Yeah. You got me. I’m a total wuss, what can I say?”

I held his gaze. “It’s more than that, isn’t it?”

His fingers squeezed mine a bit tighter, and I got the feeling he was the one who needed the physical contact right then. Did I ground him too? “I was scared, Paxton. But not for me. You didn’t see what I did.”

“What did you see?” I asked, not sure if I really wanted to know but unable to stop myself from asking.

Skyler’s eyes tightened at the edges. “I saw him appear behind you with this…” He paused, as if searching for the right words. “I don’t know. A sadistic fucking Cheshire cat grin on his face. The creepy fucker reached out for you, and I just knew if he grabbed you, he’d hurt you. Or worse.” His chin quivered. “And it would be my fault. Just like it was my fault Julian got hurt.”

Damn if my already aching heart didn’t throb even more. It outweighed the unsettling mental image he conjured of Samuel Howard’s ghost behind me.

“That wasn’t your fault,” I said. “I guarantee Julian doesn’t blame you either.”

“He doesn’t. He’s told me a thousand times that he doesn’t. But I do. I think I always will.” Skyler studied our joined hands. “And if you’d gotten hurt, I would’ve blamed myself for that too. You’re only here because of me.”

“No. I’m here because it’s part of my job.”

“Well, I’m the one who started crushing on you right when I saw you. I then asked Val if you could be our guide for Lockton, and I haven’t left you alone since.”

I glided my thumb along the length of his. “I’m glad you didn’t leave me alone.”

His eyes lifted to my face.

“I kinda like you, Skyler Knox.”

His smile wobbled. “I kinda like you too, Ichabod.” He ghosted his lips over mine. “So fucking much. Honestly, I’m kinda crazy about you.”

Until you leave, I almost said but stopped myself.

Not the best at expressing myself with words, I connected our lips instead, kissing him soft and slow. He made a small sound in the back of his throat and palmed the side of my neck with one hand while the other remained clasped in mine.