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Homecoming Spirits

Page 23

by Tijan

“How long have you been able to see them?” The question came from Lee, speaking in a low voice. Calm. His gaze was still deep and penetrating.

More flutters in my chest. I didn’t know if I liked how it felt like he knew more about me than I knew about myself, but it was there. I’d loved it earlier in the kitchen. This was Lee, his effect on me. I supposed.

“Since a while ago.”

“How long?” His voice was raspy.

That did things to me.

I shrugged. “Five years.”

“Five years?” Cassian lurched forward but stayed on his couch. “You’ve been…” He closed his eyes, tightly, and shook his head. His hands pressed against his legs.

Lee’s gaze switched, eyeing those hands as well. Waiting.

Cassian heaved out a sigh and forced himself to sit back. “Sorry, but the thought of you—” His head raised. “Have you told others about this?”

It hit me. The full suddenness of this entire situation. They believed me. My mouth parted. “You guys…” I closed my eyes, bent my head. I wanted to hide, curl in on myself. Being exposed like this was scary. “You guys believe me.” That came out in a whisper to myself.

“Jesus. Of course we believe you.” That was Cassian.

“Fuck this.” Lee.

He sank down on the left of me and Cassian took my right. Both faced me, sitting sideways on the couch.

Lee reached for one of my hands, tugging it gently into his lap. “Who didn’t believe you?”

Cassian cursed under his breath, leaning forward to rest his hand on my leg.

“I don’t want to get into this.” My mom.

“Okay. How about this? How many other people know about you?” Cassian asked, softly.

They were both being so gentle with me. It was nice.

“One,” I said. I shook my head. “No more.”

“What about—” Cassian started.

“Stop, Cass,” Lee said, quietly, but firmly.

I wanted it to go away. Not them. Not the ability. The situation. The memory of my mom, hearing me, seeing me, and leaving me. They didn’t know about my grandparents. Christ. I forgot about my grandparents. New urgency, new panic, rose in me, but that was almost a week away. I’d be homeless on Halloween.

I wanted to bolt, but there was nowhere to go.

And a part of me didn’t want to leave.

“They’ve shared girls before.”

The thought of them, with a girl between them, my heart was pumping faster. I licked my lips, a deep hunger igniting in me.

Both moved closer.

Their hands pressed heavier on me, on my hand, on my leg.

“Guys,” I murmured, throatily.

My pulse was pumping.