Page 89 of Ghost
“What in the hell?” Bryce’s incensed voice sounded directly behind me. “What in the world are you doing to this poor girl?”
His anger was so unexpected I spun around to face him. I opened my mouth to protest, but my words were cut off from surprise.
Bryce was closer than I thought, and as soon as I faced him he grabbed my wrist. Without another word, he pulled my arm out in front of me, further exposing the bruising to that area.
My ire fled as his touch caused fear to cloak over me. I couldn’t even be angry, even though he deserved it. In an instant, he had transformed from my safe arch-nemesis to a flesh-and-blood threat.
“I saw marks on your lower arm yesterday.” Bryce’s eyes flashed. “But I had no idea it was this bad. If I had known, I’d have given you no choice.”
Two wars raged inside me. I wanted to argue, to ask him why he thought he could tell me what to do. But instead, my throat closed. Bryce moved closer, his hand grasping my shoulder, intending to force me to turn.
I was such a coward.
A moment later, Miles sprang to life beside me. One second Bryce’s fingers were on my skin, and the next it was Miles pressed against my back. Bryce thrown to the ground in front of us.
Miles held me to him, his forearm against my chest. He was warmer than I expected, and standing like this, the top of my head barely touched the hollow of his throat. He had wrapped my sweater around me. And the touch of his skin against mine was a balm to the panic that had been bubbling inside.
“Don’t put your hands on her.” Miles’ voice was an echo of when he snapped at Finn on my phone.
Bryce rolled to his feet. “Who are you to tell me—”
“Youscaredher. Some people are afraid of touch, you cannot grab her like that,” Miles seethed. “I know you’re oblivious, but pay some attention.”
“What are you…” Bryce narrowed his eyes at Miles. But then, his gaze drifted back to me. I wasn’t sure what he saw, but understanding dawned in his eyes. His focus snapped back to Miles. “Why isn’t she scared of you then?”
“That’s none of your business, but we’re her friends. We’d never hurt her.” Miles’ tone was curt, and he held me even more tightly against him. “You have no right to interfere.”
Bryce was glancing between Miles and me, his face a mixture of disbelief. “What are you—”
“Drop it.” Miles’ tone left no room for argument. “We need to leave. Meanwhile, it’s your job to findhimand to do your job.”
My panic had completely receded at this point, and I glanced at Miles curiously.
I wanted to ask what he meant, but Miles watched Bryce with a stony expression. Willing him to let the subject go.
But Bryce wouldn’t back down so easily. “But—”
“No.” Miles wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “We’ll reconvene tomorrow.”
And before I could make sense of this, Miles had already led me from the room.
The ride back to Professor Hamway’s house was blessedly short. Miles spent the majority of time blushing and looking out of the window. Meanwhile, I nervously picked at the hem of my sweater. Which Miles had, as soon as we exited the locker room, told me to put back on.
I felt like Miles wanted to say something, but was resisting.
I didn’t have long to ponder what it might be, before Maria pulled open the passenger door and offered me her hand. “I heard what happened—glad to see you’re in one piece. No thanks to Miles’ epic failure.”
I stared at her hand, unsure. She was criticizing Miles, and I didn’t like that. But at the same time we were supposed to become bosom-buddies.
Miles, in the meantime, didn’t seem offended. He grabbed our bags and turned to the house. “Come on, Maria.”
“Absolutely.” She reached forward, closing the distance between our hands. “I’ve been looking forward to this all day.”
I glanced back at Miles—he didn’t look upset. So I dutifully let Maria help me out of the car.
Miles glanced back at Maria. “Where’s Damen? Why are you outside? Is the house locked?”
“Damen’s here?” I hadn’t seen his car when we pulled up, but it was possible. But no one was supposed to be inside alone, we had rules! Anyone was a potential target of the ghost.
