The motel room smelled like old coffee and gun oil, and the storm outside kept rattling the window like it wanted in. You sat cross-legged on the bed with a lore book open on your lap, the pages littered with sticky notes and hurried underlines. You were trying to look unbothered, but the way you kept chewing the inside of your cheek gave you away.

Sam leaned against the doorframe, boots still on, watching you like you were the evening’s entertainment. “So,” he said, dragging the word out, “you’re telling me you didn’t read the part where the spirit uses mirrors to lure people in?”

You didn’t look up. “I was busy patching you up.”

Sam’s grin turned wicked. “Aw. Hers truly is a heart of gold.” He pushed off the frame and strolled closer, hands in his pockets. “But it’s cute. You get all focused, like you’re the only one who can save the world with highlighters.”

You finally lifted your eyes, unimpressed. “You’re distracting.”

“I’m helping.” Sam tipped his head toward the book. “If you’re gonna stare at that thing any harder, it’s gonna start staring back.”

“Sam.”

He reached over, tapped the edge of the page, and pulled his hand back fast like it burned him. “Ow. See? It’s already biting.”

You tried to hold your glare, but your mouth twitched. Sam caught it instantly, like he’d been waiting for the crack in your armor. “There it is,” he murmured, pleased. “You’re human after all.”

Outside, thunder rolled. The lamp flickered once, then steadied. Sam’s teasing softened into something watchful as he sat on the end of the bed, closer than necessary. “Hey,” he said, quieter now, “you’re doing great. Just… maybe don’t get yourself possessed to prove it.”

You huffed. “And you’ll behave?”

Sam’s smile came back, bright and shameless. “Nope. It’s my job to make sure you don’t take all this doom-and-gloom too seriously.” He nudged your knee with his. “Besides, you’d miss me.”

You snapped the book shut with a decisive thump. “You’re impossible.”

“And you like it,” Sam said, standing, already reaching for the salt. “C’mon. Let’s go ruin a ghost’s night.”

You just smiled and nodded along.