Oleander House: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 1

discuss our dreams with the group.”
Andre sighed. “Probably. I don’t much want to have to think about them, to tell you the truth, but I guess it would be the best thing to do.”
“I think it would, yeah.” Sam took a deep breath before suggesting what he knew Andre wouldn’t want to hear. “I think we should discuss the things we’ve felt too.”
Andre gave him a sharp look. “Meaning what?”
“Meaning we should talk to the group about the possibility that we’re psychic.”
“I don’t know, Sam,” Andre said, looking uncertain.
“The idea kind of spooks me too,” Sam admitted, “but what better group to talk it over with? Especially for you. They all know you way better than they do me. Except Cecile. And I think she ought to be the most understanding of the bunch, considering.”
“I hear you.” Andre cracked his knuckles, gaze darting nervously around the room. “I just don’t like it. The idea of being psychic.”
“Neither do I. But it won’t make us any less psychic to pretend we’re not. If we have those kinds of abilities, we may as well learn to understand them, and use them. Right?”
“Yeah, okay. You’re right.” The corner of Andre’s mouth lifted in a wry smile. “Never thought I’d be one of those people, you know? The ones everybody calls crazy.”
“I know what you mean.” Sam shifted in his seat, curling his legs underneath him. “I hate the idea of people thinking I’m crazy when I know I’m not.”
“Says who?” David demanded, coming in at that moment. “Maybe you are.” He dropped next to Andre on the couch. “What are we talking about?”
“Sam and I,” Andre said pointedly, “were talking about the stuff that’s happened to us so far this week. You barged in uninvited, as usual.”
Andre’s grin took the sting out of his words. David grinned back at him. “Good thing I’m so lovable.”
Andre laughed. “Sure enough. Come give me a kiss, baby.”
David scuttled backward as Andre made a grab for him. “No!” David begged between giggles. “Stop it!”
Ignoring David’s pleas for mercy, Andre hauled the other man halfway onto his lap and planted a kiss right on his lips. David scrambled out of reach, wiping his mouth.
“Andre, man,” David gasped, laughing. “Ew. Just…ew.”
“What?” Andre laid a hand over his heart. “I’m hurt.”
“Sure you are,” David said, rolling his eyes. “Smart ass.”
David smacked Andre on the arm, provoking a light punch in the ribs from Andre. It devolved from there into a wrestling match on the sofa. Sam laughed.
“All right, boys,” Amy said, sweeping into the room with Bo and Cecile at her heels. “Quit groping each other. We’re having a meeting.”
Bo’s gaze cut from David and Andre to Sam’s face, and suddenly Sam didn’t feel like laughing anymore. The look in Bo’s eyes said quite clearly that he wanted to touch Sam in that free and playful way. Sam sympathized. He held the eye contact just long enough to let Bo know he felt the same. Bo quirked a tiny smile at him.
“So what’re we meeting about?” Andre asked, sitting up and straightening his shirt.
“I want us to talk as a group. See what everyone’s thoughts are at this point in the investigation.” Bo leaned against the table and crossed his arms. “Who wants to start?”
“I will,” Cecile said after a moment of silence. Bo smiled at her. “Okay. Go ahead.”
Cecile glanced nervously around the room. “I know that on the first couple of days, I said that I experienced things. Y’all already know that those things weren’t entirely true. But I have felt things, ever since I first set foot in this house. Weird things, like I haven’t felt anywhere else, ever.”
“Like there’s something alive and intelligent in here with us?” Sam spoke up. “Something we can’t see, because it’s not quite in our plane of existence?”
“Yes, exactly!” Cecile exclaimed. “Have you felt it too?”
“Yes.” Sam glanced at Andre. Andre answered the question in his eyes with a curt nod. “So has Andre.”
Amy sat on Andre’s lap and put an arm around his shoulders. “Honey, how come you didn’t say anything to me?”
“Sorry, babe.” Andre kissed her cheek. “I didn’t know what to think of it, or how to handle it. I was gonna tell you, when I felt ready.”
Amy smiled. “It’s okay. Was that what spooked you the first night?”
“Yeah,” Sam answered. “We both felt the same thing. Like there was