Page 60 of Life After You

“It could’ve been a bomb.”

Mac laughs, and I squeeze her hand before letting go to grab the plate she filled for me while the debate continues.

“Either way, we’ve got a lifetime ban in VC. But this Portland escape room sounds cool,” Chace says. “And if we’re gonna be in town, I wanna check out the Shanghai Tunnels.”

Mac perks up. “Oh yeah! Those are supposed to be super creepy.”

Trey immediately shakes his head. “Nope. Absolutely not.”

Chace smirks. “What’s wrong? Afraid of ghosts?”

“Ghosts?” Trey clucks his tongue. “I just don’t wanna be in a musty, dusty tunnel.”

Sam sneaks a hand behind Trey and taps his shoulder. Trey practically jumps out of his chair, damn near dropping his food. We all crack up.

“How about we check out some music? Some local talent?” Trey tries to steer the conversation elsewhere.

Chace grins. “Come on, Trey. Where’s your adventurous spirit? You can’t be that scared of the Shanghai Tunnels. Of the ghosts that haunt them.”

Trey points a warning finger. “Not ghosts. Demons. There’s a difference. Ghosts are just lost souls. Or echoes replaying some tragic shit. But demons? Demons will wreck your entire life.”

Sam sighs. “Trey…”

“Nah, man, I’ve seen things.” Trey leans forward, dead serious. “You don’t mess with that shit. One wrong step, and boom—possessed. Next thing you know, you’re crawling on the ceiling, spitting out Latin verses, and Logan has to call me back to my body with a Fender Stratocaster while a priest does his thing. And I still end up dying. Exorcisms are super fucking dangerous, man.”

I laugh. “I mean, you kinda sound past saving already.”

Trey glares. “Not funny.”

I shake my head, setting the full plate down before grabbing Mac by the waist and lifting her up onto the counter. She gasps, hands gripping my shoulders as she settles.

“Logan!”

I smirk, handing her the plate. “Eat.”

She rolls her eyes but takes a bite, humming in approval. I lean back against the counter next to her, drinking my coffee as the guys continue arguing about what’s more dangerous—a haunted underground tunnel or a dive bar in an area we aren’t expected or necessarily welcome.

Mac kicks her legs where she sits on the counter, her plate balanced on her lap as she digs into her food. Two thirds through my coffee, I consider downing the rest when my wrist is nabbed by Mac as she takes a slow, deliberate sip, watching me over the rim like she’s waiting for me to react.

I narrow my eyes. “Really?”

She hums in satisfaction. “Mmm. Perfect.”

I shake my head, fighting a grin as I turn back to my plate. “Keep it, thief.”

Trey, still grumbling about actual demons, sighs. “So, we do the Escape room then music, right?”

Chace scoffs. “How about winning team picks. You’re a mad genius and work better under pressure and all that, right?”

“The hell I am.” I fight back a laugh at Trey’s dip in confidence.

Mac sets down my stolen coffee, placing her hands in her lap. Then, with zero warning, she unleashes the look—wide eyes, lips slightly parted, head tilting ever so slightly to the side.

Trey tenses. “Oh, no. Nope. Not fair.”

She leans forward, blinking up at him. “Trey…”

His jaw locks.

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