Page 17 of A Haunting at Keystone Manor

I don’t say much as he leads me along the trail. He chatters about the various trails, the lakes hidden throughout the property, some of the trouble he’s gotten into out here. I soak up the sound of his voice, not caring what he’s talking about, but not wanting him to stop. I realize I haven’t dropped his hand. It feels warm in mine, despite his small size. I love the way my hand envelopes his, yet I’m the one pulling strength from him.

“You probably don’t need me to tell you all of this, your family owns this place,” he says with a shake of his head. I’d lost track of what he was saying.

“My father owns the place. I haven’t been here much, and I’ve never had the time to explore properly. I’ve never cared to, I guess. The times I’d been here in the past, I’d been running from my father. I’d spend days hiding in my room, and luckily Kayla would cover for me when my father came looking for me. She’s saved my ass more than once. I don’t think she even realizes it.”

He squeezes my hand and pulls me to a stop, turning to look up at me. I feel so exposed under his assessing gaze. “You’re nothing like I thought you’d be, you know. The first night I saw you, I thought you would be just another vapid rich boy. A really hot one.”

I smirk at that. “I’m sorry for deceiving you. I can’t imagine what a disappointment I must be to you right now.”

“Pfft, not even close, Jake. Not even close. You’re not a vapid rich boy, I can tell.”

I take a step towards him. “Oh yeah, what do you think you know about me?”

“Um.” His cheeks flush, and I can tell I’ve flustered him. “I think you’re very… tall.” He gulps and drags his gaze down my body. I’d be freaked out by anyone else studying me so closely, but I strangely like his eyes on me. I like that he respects me enough to back off when I ask him to.

I feel safe with this boy.

It’s a startling revelation. I like the way it feels.

“What else?”

“Your hair looks really soft, like if I ran my fingers through it, they wouldn’t get stuck.” That makes me chuckle.

“My father always says my hair makes me look like a woman. That men should be tough, and strong, and that having long hair is a sign of weakness. He tried to make me shave it off, but I grew it longer as a fuck you to him. It made me happy knowing that it pissed him off so badly. It was the only thing I felt like I could rebel on for a long time.”

“I love your hair,” he whispers. I wish I could let him run his slim fingers through it. I can imagine sitting on the floor with him behind me, running a brush through my hair, or braiding it. I’d give anything for someone to touch me so delicately.

“I can tell you have a good heart. You don’t like to show it, because you’ve been taught not to, but I think I see it.”

“Thank you. These compliments are really going to my head, so feel free to continue.”

“I don’t want to inflate your ego too much,” he laughs. “Though, I bet you’re a good kisser.”

My breath hitches at that. “You won’t be finding out any time soon, brat.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m still working out how to properly woo you. Don’t think I’ve forgotten.”

I lean in close, and he holds his ground against me. “Oh yeah? Well, you’d better make it good. I have high standards. Rich boy, after all.”

“Don’t you worry about that, Jake. I’m gonna make you mine,” he says, tone teasing. But I can’t help but wonder what it might be like, to be his.

“Can I have a hug? Not a weird one, I just… miss human connection, you know?” He looks embarrassed by his declaration, and I know I can’t say no to that. I wrap my arms around him and pull him to me, and he wraps his arms around my waist. It feels good. Right.

“Thank you,” he murmurs.

Chapter eleven

Cornered

Jake

The next day Seth comes back to the hotel, and I decide it’s now or never to get my memory back. We’re back in Alex’s room, and he sits on the couch next to me for support, holding onto my hand. Brandon is helping Seth set everything back up.

I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to see the worst moments of my life playing out before my eyes like a movie. But I have to do this. I need to know what happened to me. Once everything is set up, Seth sits in front of me and starts his incantation. All of a sudden the scene before me changes. I’m in a room, but it’s not Seth in front of me.

It’s like watching a VHS tape that’s been played a few too many times. The picture is fuzzy and I try to focus on what I’m seeing. I’m in my room with Andrei, who has all my attention at the moment. I've tried my best to stay away from my father's bullshit, away from him, but they always seem to draw me back into their orbit.

Trying to convey a confidence I don’t feel, I say, “I'm not going back home, I already told him that. I'm sorry you wasted your time coming out here, but I just want to be left alone. I want no part of any of this. Your business is with him, not me.” My hands are shaking but I stand my ground, doing my best to not drop my gaze to the floor.