Page 69 of The Haunting of Lockton

“It’s cool if someone else is here,” I said, not sure why he was being so weird about it. “I promise I won’t bite.”

When he laughed, it had a nervous edge, just like his phony smile from earlier. “No one else is here. It’s just us.”

A light thud came from the living room.

“Oh yeah?” I nodded that way. “Then who’s in there?”

He bit at his bottom lip. “No one. Probably just the house settling.”

Last night, I had felt so relaxed with him. The wall I used to keep everyone out had been lowered, and I’d let myself be swept away by how good it felt to be with him.

Now, there was a twist in my gut. Reality had slammed back in.

“Look, Paxton.” I shoved my hands in my hoodie pocket. A defense mechanism. “I don’t know what you’re hiding, and maybe it’s not my businesstoknow, but at least be straight with me. I don’t like being lied to.”

Paxton grabbed the can of coffee to start making more but hesitated. His expression had clouded over. “I’m sorry.”

“For lying?”

“I…” He chewed at his bottom lip again before swiping his tongue across it, leaving behind a glossy shine I wanted to press my own lips against. “I can’t tell you.”

As ridiculous as it was, I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d had some other dude over while I’d been zonked out upstairs. Or maybe the guy was a regular fuck buddy who’d shown up thatmorning wanting to see him. I could handle it, whatever it was, but what I couldn’t handle was being lied to like this.

“I know I heard someone in here with you. I’m not stupid.”

“I didn’t say you were.” Paxton glanced at the archway before moving his brown eyes back to me. They still reminded me of sunlight hitting a glass of bourbon. “But this is… complicated. I’m not sure how to approach it. Or if I even should.”

“If youshould? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Can we drop this, please?” His eyes were pleading. “I don’t want to fight.”

“We’re not fighting. We’re talking.”

“Maybe I don’t want to talk, then.” He moved his hands around as he spoke, a flustered side of him I hadn’t seen before. “Let’s just move on from it, okay?”

“Move on from what?” I stepped toward him. “The fact you have some other guy here?”

“It’s not what you think, Skyler.”

“Thentellme what it is, Paxton. For fuck’s sake, if he’s just a friend or something, that’s fine. I don’t see why it’s so complicated to give me a direct answer.”

“And I don’t see why it’s so pertinent for you to know,” he said. “Where is this jealousy coming from? You’re not my boyfriend.”

I stilled in place, that twist in my gut gnawing deeper. “You’re right. I’m not.” I took a step backward, away from him. “Is he?”

Paxton sharply exhaled. “Of course not. You think I would’ve slept with you if I had a boyfriend?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know you well enough to say.” It hit me then that Paxton seemed to knowmepretty well though. He was observant and so goddamn attuned to my thoughts it was almostscary. But he hadn’t let me seehim. “You’ve barely let me past that door of yours.”

“Some doors are better left closed,” he said softly.

“Better for you or for me?”

“For both of us,” he answered. “Why open that door and let you into my life, why let myself even entertain the idea of this being more, when it won’t last? When you leave Ivy Grove, anything we built together won’t matter. We’re just two guys having fun until then.”

“And the guy in there?” I motioned again to the archway. “Is he someone you’re just having fun with too?”

“Please, Skyler. Let’s drop it,” Paxton said in a pleading tone. He strode forward and grabbed my hand. “I promise it’s not what you’re thinking.”