Page 37 of Purrfectly Haunted

I blush. A snack?

Shirley frowns, and she’s about to say something when the others join us outside. Lana twirls, drunk and beautiful, followed by Emma, Noah, and Luigi.

Lana throws an arm around James’ shoulders, snorting about something Emma said, and he finally lets me go.

As we start walking, Shirley slows the pace until we have put some distance between us and the others.

“Are you in trouble?” she whispers.

My smile drops. “Aye, terribly. James is... dangerously seductive. But—”

“But he was clear, he’s not looking for anything romantic, and you’re afraid he’s going to hurt you.”

I swallow thickly and nod. “How did you—”

“Ewan, you’re extremely easy to read. I could see the pained look on your face this morning when he said he doesn’t date.”

I sigh and hang my head. “Aye.”

I’m putty in James’ hands. He has the power to hold my shape or flatten me mercilessly.

“Do you need my help?” she asks, squeezing my arm.

I shake my head. “It’s okay. I can’t avoid him, he’s my teammate. I’ll just have to keep my heart on a leash. We’re out having fun, I don’t have to take everything always so seriously.”

She looks up at me. “Are you sure?”

“I’ll be fine. You should enjoy your night. There’s someone who’s really interested in you.”

We both watch Luigi, who’s talking excitedly with Lana while throwing glances at us.

Shirley cackles. “He is, isn’t he? You know what he just asked me?” When I shake my head, she says, “He wanted to know if I needed his help to get you in bed. I think he’s hoping for a threesome.”

I groan. “Spare me...”

She laughs. “You’re extremely popular, Ewan.”

“I don’t know how that happened. Until college I wasn’t really...”

She drops her head on my arm. “That’s the way of the world, Ewan. When we’re young, we think that the small tank we’ve been swimming in for the first years of our lives is all there is. School, family... But then we become adults, and we’re dropped into the vast ocean. It’s scary, but more fun, right?”

I laugh. “So we’re fish?”

“Yeah!” She giggles. “I’m such a poet when I’m drunk. You used to be a goldfish in a bowl, and now you’re a dolphin. So enjoy, Ewan. Be yourself.”

I throw my arm around her small frame and pull her closer. "Dolphins aren't fish, Shirley. They're mammals."

She giggles.

I like her a lot, but not in a romantic way. I think we’re really becoming friends.

“When this is all over, and you’ve properly exorcised the ghosts in the hostel, will you still come and visit us?” she asks, grabbing my hand and kissing it.

We’re drunk and affectionate. I kind of love it.

“That would be lovely,” I say.

Even if this thing with James crashes and burns like it probably will, I’ll come out of this adventure with something: new friends in Edinburgh.