Page 71

Ghosts what? Who?

Nothing existed to me in that moment except Lee and what he could do with his mouth and tongue. He was really fucking good with both.

27

Lee and I were walking to his car in his little courtyard when Cassian pulled in. He parked and got out of his truck, wearing…I didn’t even know. Loose brown pants with holes in them, a loose white shirt that was faded and half tucked into his pants. He was also wearing brown boots with a handkerchief tucked under his collar. His hair was gelled to the side and he wore glasses with red paint splattered on one side, over the rim.

Lee stopped in his tracks. “What. The. Fuck.”

Noah had been hanging around the morning but was quiet so I hadn’t fully minded him. He snorted now, moving around to stand beside me. “Okay. That’s hilarious.”

I glanced his way just as Cassian answered, “I’m the Baskins Serial Killer.”

“The what?” Lee shot me a sideways look.

I shrugged. I had no idea what was going on.

Cassian was smiling so widely and he pulled out a fake machete from his back. “The local serial killer. Roger Baskins. You don’t know who I’m talking about?”

“Uh. No.” Lee’s eyebrows pinched together. He stepped toward me, his hand coming to my hip.

Cassian waved the machete in the air before he turned to show us that he had a strap built into his shirt. He lifted it up and slid the machete inside, strapping it to his back. “See? It’s plastic so school won’t take it away. Isn’t it awesome?”

“Halloween is tomorrow.” I looked down at myself. Lee did a load of clothes so I was wearing my freshly clean leggings, but a different sweatshirt today. His. And on the back it said Ravens Hockey. My knees got weak when I pulled it from his closet. I had to wear it. I didn’t care about any backlash that might be heading my way. Ethan knew about the guys. Rebecca hinted at it as well. I wasn’t expecting anything to happen, but tomorrow I was an adult. I hadn’t told the guys.

“Yeah, but we’ve got that walk thing happening today so people sometimes dress up for today and tomorrow. You don’t have to wear a costume. A lot of people don’t. It’s cool either way, but this was our local serial killer. He killed nine girls and I think the latest was his wife. I think? He tried setting fire to the old library and ended up dying too. He used a machete to chop up his victims and he walked the trails in his boots, leaving behind bloody prints everywhere. That’s all I know.”

“He wore glasses?”

Sheepish, Cassian shrugged. “Dramatic effect. I took liberties. He was a farmer so I wanted to showcase the worn clothes. That’s what farmers wear, right? They don’t have a uniform to go out in the field. Or do they?”

“Do we look like farmers? I like the holes, though.” Lee’s hand nudged me ahead of him. “You came to pick her up?”

“I did.” He was so happy about it too, beaming, but his eyes darkened with arousal as he took in Lee’s hand on my side. His grin curved up, slowly. “Did you guys mess around last night?”

Noah grunted. “He gets off on it. Is he like that with anyone or just you two?”

As if Lee could hear him, he asked, “You’re like this with just us, right?”

Cassian’s grin vanished. He straightened. “Fuck yeah, only you two. Another guy touches her and I’ll rip his arm off. And I couldn’t give a fuck about any other girl.” He cupped himself through his pants. “We gotta go to school or I’m going to stay here all day.”

“Fuck, Cass.” Lee’s grin was wicked.

“Exactly. I’m imagining all sorts of stuff.” He groaned, eyeing me. He spoke, intently, softly, “Turn around.”

A thrill went through me, leaving me a little light-headed. I turned, slowly.

When he saw the back, he cursed under his breath. “That’s it. I’m bringing my shit over here so you can wear it too. I did not expect to have this reaction at seeing you in his clothes.” He looked down at himself, a full bulge showing. He pressed the bottom of his palm over himself. “I’m officially hurting here.”

“I’ve been wearing his sweatshirts the last three days.”

“Yeah, but those weren’t clearly his, you know? Like, they could’ve been anyone’s. That one, though. That’s got his number on the back.”

“It does?” I didn’t notice.

“Here.” Lee moved around me, and I heard a click before he showed me his phone screen. Number sixty-one. He touched my top left side. “Mckenna.”

I looked down. His last name was typed there, but small. In black lettering over the black hoodie. Ravens Hockey was in dark red. The hockey stickers were also in glossy black lettering, along with his number. I had completely missed his number and last name.