8. The night is full of dangerous possibilities #2
I blush. “Hm, aye?”
“You know, I’m bisexual.” His hand comes to rest on my thigh, and I just stare at him like a deer caught in headlights.
What is happening right now?
And suddenly, James is standing by our side, appearing far taller than he actually is. He’s smiling down at us, but his eyes are murderous as he looks at Luigi.
“Time to go to the club,” he says calmly. “We’re going dancing.”
He offers me a hand and pulls me to my feet.
My face brushes his chest on the way up, as he leaves me barely any room to breathe, and his hand is warm in mine.
He doesn’t let go and leads me through the now dense crowd in the pub.
My heart melts, I’m so weak against his assertiveness.
The way he always takes the lead in any situation has me—
“Ewan,” Shirley says, appearing on my other side. She hooks her arm in mine just as we exit the pub and walk out into the cold night. “Ready to shake your booty?”
I laugh, sandwiched between her and James. “I’m not really a dancer.”
It’s like inviting an elephant in a china shop. I’m too big.
“You just have to stand there, looking like a snack, and you’ll be fine,” James says.
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.
Shirley laughs. “I think we’re turning some heads.”
James and Luigi are looking at us intently from the street corner, not even pretending to talk anymore. James looks a little annoyed, and Luigi looks hungry.
“Oh...”
“Which one do you want me to distract?” she asks.
I grin. “Both?”
“Hey now, I’m good, but not that good. And James is like a dog with a bone.”
I laugh. “Have your fun with Luigi. I can handle James.” I hope.
“Very well. I volunteer as tribute.” She slides out of my arms as we near the others and grabs Luigi instead. He looks absolutely delighted.
But James... James stands under the street light, dark hair gleaming and his intense eyes on me, and he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.
Nevermind. I really can’t handle him.
He opens his mouth to say something when Lana suddenly approaches.
“Boys!” she says, hooking both her arms around our elbows and walking with us. “I can’t thank you enough for your help with my ghosts. You’re my saviours.”
We walk by a park, and the wind whispers in the trees, shaking off the first autumn leaves from the branches.
“It’s our job,” James says. “We’re getting paid, don’t worry.”
She laughs, her unbound hair tickling my hand.
“I know, but still. They’re quite a piece of work.
It’s a crying shame we have to evict them, but my poor house is on her last leg.
” She snorts. “Wish that she could walk away like the house with chicken legs in that old fairytale. But no, she’s stuck here in Edinburgh, and I can feel her groan and shake at night.
The years weigh on her and she needs a little help facing the adversity. ”
We turn around a corner. The other four are walking in front of us, their laughter echoing down the quiet street we took as a shortcut to the busier part of New Town. The nights are turning cold as we enter autumn, but compared to winter, they’re almost balmy.
“You all talk as if the house is a person,” James says to Lana with a chuckle.
“Yes, because she kind of is. Haven’t you noticed?”
“What?” I say, just as James shakes his head in gentle disbelief. We’re all drunk, after all.
Lana sighs. “I didn’t want to tell you right away and spook you.
I thought you’d have figured it out by now.
You’re the experts!” She giggles. “Lynch house is sentient. She’s been for a while now, I dare say.
Or maybe all buildings have a soul, and it just takes a while before they wake fully.
I don’t know the mechanics of such magic.
But you’ll feel it mostly during the quiet hours.
She groans and whispers. Doors open and close, stairs gain or lose a few steps overnight.
She watches over us, and so I decided to watch over her too.
She’s mine and I’m hers. And we care about each other. ”
We both have stopped walking, interrupting Lana’s momentum.
“What?” James asks this time. “Are you being serious?”
Lana nods, giggling again. “Dead serious. Haven’t you realised my cats are special?”
James tenses. “The cats? What now?”
“They’ve become the house’s little helpers.
Her minions, if you prefer.” She’s grinning.
“Some of them were old when I inherited the house, but they got their energy back, and they seem almost immortal now.” She sighs.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to move out if I want to keep my cats.
Oh well, I love my house anyway, so that’s alright. ”
Shirley is waving at us from the end of the street, gesturing at the busy line outside the nightclub. Lana lets go of our arms and saunters away.
I exchange a glance with James, heavy with stupefaction.
“Sentient house...” he mumbles, grabbing my hand. “Of course. Our sober selves will deal with it tomorrow. Come along, the night is still young.” He drags me along, his touch branding my skin.