Page 77 of Love at First Fright

I dematerialised to follow him back inside. It wasn’t entirely clear if Charlie understood I’d still be there, invisible and drifting along behind him like the world’s most hopeful stalker. But oh well.

My house. My rules.

Charlie hurried back up to the attic, taking the stairs two at a time. He found Brad sitting by the Ouija board, holding his head gingerly. A trickle of blood ran down from his temple.

“Are you alright?” Charlie crouched beside him. “Should I try to call someone? Do you have a concussion? Can you see straight?”

Too many questions. Honestly, I’d already told him the asshole was fine. Why the devil did he care so much?

Brad put on a brave face. What a hero. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“You were thrown across the room.”

“Happens.” Brad touched the wound, winced. “Occupational hazard. This is nothing compared to—”

“Brad, you’re bleeding.”

“I’ve had far worse on the rugby pitch.” Brad stood, swaying slightly. Gripped the wall for balance. “Besides. This confirms it. We’re dealing with at least a very dangerous Level Four entity.”

Level Four entity.

My highest qualification ever. Go me.

I smirked from my invisible vantage point near the ceiling. Considered spelling out something rude on the Ouija board again but decided against it. Regretfully.

Charlie hovered uncertainly. “Are you sure you don’t need—”

“I just said I’m fine.” Brad’s tone turned sharp. “I’ll handle this. You can go… do something else. Somewhere else.”

The dismissal landed like a slap, Charlie’s expression shuttering. “Right. I’ll leave you to it, then.”

He retreated. Down the attic stairs, footsteps quick and tight. When he reached the bottom, I materialised directly in front of him.

“Boo!”

He shrieked.

Those gorgeous baby-blue eyes snapped wide behind his gold-rimmed glasses. His whole body jerked backward, hand flying to his chest.

Oops.

“Shh!” I pressed a finger to my lips. I didn’t want Brad deciding to follow him.

“Are you kidding me?” Charlie hissed. “You can’t jump scare me then tell me to shh!”

“Come to the library.” I glided past him, already moving down the corridor.

“That’s not my favourite place.” His feet remained planted firmly on the ground.

I stopped. Turned. Floated back to him.

“I meant what I said, Charlie. I won’t let anything in this house hurt you.” If I can help it.

Charlie raised a sceptical eyebrow but started walking. He kept side-eyeing me as we moved through the corridors.

“What?”

“Sorry. It’s… it’s the um, floating. It’s sort of cool? But mainly creepy.”