Page 39 of Purrfectly Haunted

JAMES

You should let him go , says a little voice in my head as we enter the nightclub. But the music is loud enough to even drown the voice of my conscience, and I feel the bass vibrate in my chest and bones. The colourful lights combined with the alcohol in my blood has turned the world hazy. We left our coats in the cloakroom, and the moist air, warm as a breath, banishes the cold from early autumn.

Ewan’s large hand fits perfectly in mine, and I refuse to let him go as I pull him through the sweaty crowd.

This is messed up, I know. I’m not clueless, he’s been avoiding me since this morning, right after we talked about dating over mimosas. He took it as a rejection, and I can’t really blame him. This is me, James Sato, opportunist and trampler of hearts. My dating life has been chaotic, to say the least. I used to go all out, but a few heartbreaks have taught me to simply enjoy the good things, and run away when it gets too complicated.

This is why I need to let him put some distance between us. I really should... but even though my brain is ordering me to, my body is always seeking him out, like a moth attracted to a flame. Or it is the other around? Am I the fire spreading and burning his wings? I don’t like it.

So. Let. Him. Go.

My fingers tighten around his hand and I pull him to me as we reach the bar. The others are just behind us. Lana, Shirley, Noah, Luigi, and Emma.

“What do you want to drink?” I shout near Ewan’s ear.

He shrugs, so I order us two rum and cokes with another round of shots for everyone. As the barmaid readies our drinks, I let my hand wander to his lower back, my thumb drawing circles. Eventually, he notices my touch, and he looks down at me.

I smile and lean closer. “My shirt looks good on you.”

I feel him shiver as my breath tickles his ear. I wasn’t lying, he looks like a literal snack in my t-shirt, the red fabric hugging his chest and arms just right. I feel a pang of possessiveness knowing he's wearing my clothes, with remnants of my scent on him. Am I an animal? Probably.

Ewan angles his body towards mine, and my heart skips a beat. No matter the distance he’s trying to put between us, his body language doesn’t lie. He’s attracted to me as much as I am to him. It’s exhilarating.

He licks his lips, and my eyes zero in on them. I want to pluck and taste them like cherries. We never kissed... Why didn’t we? Now it’s all I can think about.

He’s watching me, too, and his lips part. We’re so close now...

Luigi does a silly dance move just in front of us, and the others laugh, breaking our trance. Our drinks appear on the counter and I pull out my phone to pay, but Lana is faster. She winks at me. I like her. She’s funny and unexpected, just like her haunted hostel.

We do the shots then Lana pulls us towards the dancefloor. Ewan appears uncomfortable for a moment, but then Shirley imitates Luigi, doing weird dance moves one after the other, and he relaxes. He’s beautiful, joy radiating from him and the black light making his smile glow.

A guy bumps against him from behind, spilling his beer on himself. He whirls on Ewan, ready to start making trouble just because guys like him love to square up for no reason when they’re drunk. Ewan’s eyes widen slightly, but before the man can open his mouth and start shouting over the music, I grab him by the collar of his ugly shirt and yank down until his face his lower than mine. He’s taller than me, but it’s never been a problem before.

“Move along or I’ll fuck you up,” I shout in his ear.

The guy tries to resist, but then our eyes meet, and he must have seen I wasn’t joking, because he shakes my grip and disappears in the crowd.

Ewan looks at me with his puppy eyes full of gratitude, and fuck, I’m obsessing about kissing him again. He’s a rugby player, and I have no doubt he could have flattened the guy if it came to that, but he’s a softie, so I’ll make sure he doesn’t have to.

“I’m your bodyguard, remember?” I tell him, sliding my hand in his and squeezing. I feel more than hear the way he gasps.

You’re an ass, James, says the voice in my head. Stop playing with your food.

Shirley hugs me excitedly, grinning. “Thank you,” she mouths.

The seven of us dance in a circle, oblivious to the rest of the world. I have to admit, they’re all growing on me. Even Luigi, who’s giving inviting looks to Ewan, pissing me off. But I have no right to be jealous, Ewan isn’t mine. And yet, I never stray far from him, making sure I’m all he can see.

We laugh and we dance and we hug, bathed in the rainbow lights, bodies supple from joy and alcohol. At some point, we all move to the bar to order drinks again, and by the time I turn around, Ewan has disappeared.

We go back to the dancefloor, and I can’t help but to check our surroundings often, waiting for my soft giant to come back.

When five minutes have passed, I share a glance with Shirley. She knows what I’m thinking.

“He went to take a piss,” she shouts near my ear.

Yes, I know, but what’s taking him so long? My frown deepens.

I wait another ten minutes, and by now even Shirley looks worried. We both make our way to the toilets, and she waits outside as I check inside. Men at the urinals glare at me as I shout his name. He’s not here.