Love, Like Ghosts: A Bay City Paranormal Investigations Story

even physics-geek frat parties, are definitely not my thing.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
A leaf drifted over to settle on Adrian’s right thigh. Greg brushed it off, his hand lingering just long enough to send Adrian’s temperature shooting up several degrees. “Why not?”
Adrian licked his dry lips. “It was loud. It was crowded. I hate crowds. I had to make small talk with a bunch of people I don’t know, and I’m terrible at that. And some guy I’d just met wanted to do perverted things to me with noodles.”
Greg snorted with laughter. “Okay, you can’t just say shit like that and not tell me more.”
Heat flooded Adrian’s face at the thought of repeating Scotty’s words to Greg. “I am not telling you any more than that.”
“Fine then, I guess I’ll just have to imagine what exactly he wanted to do.” Lifting his head, Greg grinned. “And believe me, I have a really good imagination.”
Part of Adrian was glad to see the wicked gleam return to Greg’s eyes, since it meant he’d recovered somewhat from the attack. A larger part didn’t much like being on the receiving end of Greg’s teasing. He scowled. “Leave it alone, Greg.”
In an instant, Greg’s smile vanished. He grasped Adrian’s hand in a grip just short of painful and pinned him with a hard stare. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that, especially after everything you’ve done for me tonight. It’s just…I do that, you know, I flirt and joke around and all, Mom says it’s my coping mechanism, not that that’s an excuse or anything, but…” Greg looked away, studying the play of light and shadow from the car headlights on the surrounding stone. “I’m sorry.”
Greg looked young and lost, and Adrian’s heart went out to him. “It’s okay. You’ve had a pretty rough night. I’m sorry I’m so prickly about things.”
The relief in Greg’s face was clear when he turned to meet Adrian’s gaze. “No big deal. I guess most people would probably agree with you about being teased like that.”
Adrian doubted it, but he didn’t say so. He saw no point in starting a petty argument when Greg was attempting to make peace between them.
Silence fell once more. The quiet felt companionable, though. When Greg leaned sideways, Adrian allowed their heads to rest together without much thought on the matter. Greg obviously needed the comfort of gentle human contact right now, and Adrian liked to think he wasn’t a big enough bastard to deny such a need. He preferred not to dwell on the hot glow currently pulsing deep in his groin or the undeniable fact that the warmth of Greg’s body and the clean scent of his hair lay at the root of it.
Adrian had no idea how many more minutes passed before Greg stirred, sighed and drew away. All he knew was he wished the tranquility they’d experienced between them tonight didn’t have to end. He had a feeling it wouldn’t be easy to get it back.
“Harrison ought to have given up on me by now,” Greg said, sitting back and raking his fingers through his hair. “It should be safe for me to go back to the dorm.”
“Harrison?” Adrian frowned. “Is that the guy who hit you?”
“Yeah.” One corner of Greg’s mouth tipped up in a bitter half-smile. “That sort of shit’s why I broke up with him in the first place.”
Adrian had no idea what to say to that. Pushing to his feet, he grasped both of Greg’s hands and helped him stand. “All right. Which dorm are you in?”
“Winston.”
Greg didn’t try to hang on when Adrian let go of his hands, but he looked as though he wanted to. They climbed the steps and crossed the road in silence. Greg chose to cut behind the theater and through the old cemetery. Adrian wondered why, when there would surely have been a shorter route, but he didn’t argue. Maybe Greg simply appreciated the peacefulness of the place. Or maybe he wanted to prolong the walk, in case Harrison hadn’t given up yet after all. The thought made Adrian draw closer to Greg and cast uneasy glances at the dense shadows shrouding the trees and the taller headstones.
Adrian breathed easier once they reached the light and bustle of South Road. Even at near midnight on a Tuesday, students wandered the sidewalks in pairs and groups, and cars passed with enough frequency to lend an air of liveliness to the area.
“Do you see him anywhere?” Adrian asked as he and Greg strode down the sidewalk. “Harrison, I mean.”
Greg glanced around. “No, I don’t. Hopefully