not. And that way you’ll be closer to me. In case you need me, I mean,” he added quickly.
They climbed the stairs, and Rain was suddenly acutely aware that they were alone together in the house. Jason turned to her when they reached the top, reminding her to come get him immediately if anything else happened. Then they went in opposite directions down the open hall.
“I’m going to leave my door open, okay?” Jason called across the way.
She nodded. “I will too.” A closed and locked door wouldn’t make her feel any safer; if Brandy wanted to find her, she’d come right through the wall. Rain tried to suppress a shudder as she gave him a little wave. “Goodnight, Jay.”
“Night.”
Chapter 12
It took a few moments for Rain to figure out where she was when her eyes slowly opened on Thursday morning. Then the events of the night before came rushing back to her, and she sat up quickly.
Her gaze found the clock. A little past 9 a.m. She rolled toward the edge of the king sized bed; she had felt safer in the middle. When she swung her legs out from under the sheets and put her bare feet on the wood floor, a cold wetness made her gasp and recoil.
Tucking her legs back under her, she peered down at the floor. Another puddle of water. A.J.’s room was right above hers, there must be a leak somewhere. She looked for a telltale stain on the ceiling or the wall, but found nothing. How odd. And yet, not really, for this place. She made a mental note to search the web for ghosts and condensation when she went to the library next.
She scooted to the other side and got up to use the bathroom. Then she mopped up the spill with a towel and went downstairs. According to Jason’s note, he had gone for a run. She busied herself with breakfast and cleaning.
How would she spend her day? She had eight days to herself until her friends returned a week from tomorrow. Eight days alone with a ghost. Her stomach churned with anxiety as she recalled her terrifying midnight visitor. But if her theory was correct, and Brandy drew energy from them being together, then it would probably be an uneventful week, haunting-wise.
Jason returned, then went right back outside to shower. Disapproval emanated from him as he stalked around, preparing to leave. She reiterated that she would be fine, and reminded him of her premise that one of them alone wouldn’t attract much attention from the spirit world. He didn’t laugh.
He gave her a quick hug and she walked him to the door. “You’ll call if there’s a problem? I’ll try and keep my cell phone on at all times, except during class.”
Rain pictured herself calling him with some nonsense complaint during his welcome-back sex with Cara. She blushed a little, looking down so he wouldn’t notice. “Yes, if it’s important, I’ll call. A.J. said the same thing, I have all his numbers too. And Allie’s, of course.”
“Call me first. I have the most flexible schedule. And be very careful, okay?” He stood next to his open car door, studying her expression.
She collected herself, smiling and projecting what she hoped was a confident demeanor. “Yes, yes. I’ll be fine, though. Now get going already, I have big plans!” She laughed and waved, and watched him drive off.
Shutting the door behind her, she sighed and leaned against it. Which of her big plans to attend to first, she wondered? She decided on a trip to the market and the library. Pushing herself away from the door, she went to get her purse.
At the local grocery store, she put an enormous amount of food on Mrs. Pierce’s tab, a twinge of guilt adding to her melancholy. As she loaded her bags into the car, she suddenly realized that now she had to go straight back to the house. She rolled her eyes in exasperation; she couldn’t wander the stacks at the library and check her email with all the food sitting in the stifling car. Oh, well, she thought, it’s not like I’m busy tomorrow. She changed her plan for the
They climbed the stairs, and Rain was suddenly acutely aware that they were alone together in the house. Jason turned to her when they reached the top, reminding her to come get him immediately if anything else happened. Then they went in opposite directions down the open hall.
“I’m going to leave my door open, okay?” Jason called across the way.
She nodded. “I will too.” A closed and locked door wouldn’t make her feel any safer; if Brandy wanted to find her, she’d come right through the wall. Rain tried to suppress a shudder as she gave him a little wave. “Goodnight, Jay.”
“Night.”
Chapter 12
It took a few moments for Rain to figure out where she was when her eyes slowly opened on Thursday morning. Then the events of the night before came rushing back to her, and she sat up quickly.
Her gaze found the clock. A little past 9 a.m. She rolled toward the edge of the king sized bed; she had felt safer in the middle. When she swung her legs out from under the sheets and put her bare feet on the wood floor, a cold wetness made her gasp and recoil.
Tucking her legs back under her, she peered down at the floor. Another puddle of water. A.J.’s room was right above hers, there must be a leak somewhere. She looked for a telltale stain on the ceiling or the wall, but found nothing. How odd. And yet, not really, for this place. She made a mental note to search the web for ghosts and condensation when she went to the library next.
She scooted to the other side and got up to use the bathroom. Then she mopped up the spill with a towel and went downstairs. According to Jason’s note, he had gone for a run. She busied herself with breakfast and cleaning.
How would she spend her day? She had eight days to herself until her friends returned a week from tomorrow. Eight days alone with a ghost. Her stomach churned with anxiety as she recalled her terrifying midnight visitor. But if her theory was correct, and Brandy drew energy from them being together, then it would probably be an uneventful week, haunting-wise.
Jason returned, then went right back outside to shower. Disapproval emanated from him as he stalked around, preparing to leave. She reiterated that she would be fine, and reminded him of her premise that one of them alone wouldn’t attract much attention from the spirit world. He didn’t laugh.
He gave her a quick hug and she walked him to the door. “You’ll call if there’s a problem? I’ll try and keep my cell phone on at all times, except during class.”
Rain pictured herself calling him with some nonsense complaint during his welcome-back sex with Cara. She blushed a little, looking down so he wouldn’t notice. “Yes, if it’s important, I’ll call. A.J. said the same thing, I have all his numbers too. And Allie’s, of course.”
“Call me first. I have the most flexible schedule. And be very careful, okay?” He stood next to his open car door, studying her expression.
She collected herself, smiling and projecting what she hoped was a confident demeanor. “Yes, yes. I’ll be fine, though. Now get going already, I have big plans!” She laughed and waved, and watched him drive off.
Shutting the door behind her, she sighed and leaned against it. Which of her big plans to attend to first, she wondered? She decided on a trip to the market and the library. Pushing herself away from the door, she went to get her purse.
At the local grocery store, she put an enormous amount of food on Mrs. Pierce’s tab, a twinge of guilt adding to her melancholy. As she loaded her bags into the car, she suddenly realized that now she had to go straight back to the house. She rolled her eyes in exasperation; she couldn’t wander the stacks at the library and check her email with all the food sitting in the stifling car. Oh, well, she thought, it’s not like I’m busy tomorrow. She changed her plan for the
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