Page 99 of Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places
“Hopefully not. I haven’t checked yet.” She sank onto the bed, covering her eyes with her hand. “We need to talk.”
“Uh-oh. That sounds serious.” His nervous chuckle caught her off guard. “What could’ve possibly happened in two hours?”
Xander decided to make my dream come true and ruin my life all in the same breath.“We—I—” She clutched her stomach, doubling over. “I need to focus on Hennessee. I’msoclose to figuring out its secrets—I can’t spend time with you right now.”
A loudthudtemporarily jolted Lucky out of her misery. Hermason jar of purple flowers had fallen to the ground. Fortunately, it didn’t shatter.
“Right now, as in today?”
The hope in his voice made her so lightheaded she felt faint. Her nearly full jar began to roll across the floor, leaving a trail of flowers as if it were bleeding.
“Right now, as in until I’m done. No more overnights or day trips or anything.” She refused to call him adistraction. But until she finished her work there was only room for one central figure.
“Two weeks?”
“Or longer. Xander wants to expand the scope of the show. He’s funding my research.”
“So, I don’t get to see you until you figure out—what? Why Hennessee House exists? That’s ridiculous.”
“I know. But this is mydream, Maverick. All my plans are out in the openandXander is onboard. This ishugefor me. I can’t just walk away.”
“You can. Finish your thirty days and leave. The job is to live in the house and walk away at the end. You’re choosing to make it more than that.”
“Because I can do this. I know I can. I’m not making this decision lightly,” she said. “We’re not breaking up. We’re not even taking a break. It’ll be like a long-distance relationship. We’ll talk every day, just like before. Every morning—that doesn’t have to change.”
Maverick remained silent for several heartbeats. “What about nights?”
“That’s when Hennessee is most active.” She paused. “It’s been showing me specters.”
His harsh, stunned laughter slashed through her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to worry, because I’m not afraid. That’s a large part of why we’re expanding. The specters serve a specific purpose. I don’t know what it is yet, but I’m going to find out.”
“Setting aside not being able to see you, what about the risks? You’ll be there alone. No one to back you up.”
She shook her head as if he could see it. “I’ve worked and trained for this, exactly like that—on my own.”
“What if something happens? What if you get in over your head or the house tricks you? Thathouseput Eunice in the hospital, Lucky.”
“Those are risks I’m willing to take.”
That laughter again, undercut by fear and anxiety this time.
“Ibelievein myself. Maverick,please—I need you to believe in me too.”
“I hate this,” he said. “We’re supposed to make decisions together and you’re deciding for us. I don’t agree with any of this. I believe in you, but I don’t agree.”
After their call Lucky ended up curled in the fetal position on her bed, simultaneously feeling elation and despair. Wallowing at its finest. She lay in that position so long, her hip began to hurt. Reluctantly, she rolled onto her other side and ended up facing the window. The sky had begun to transition to dark blue with clouds barely reflecting the light. Burnt oranges, deep reds, and brilliant yellow stacked together in a neat block as the sun began to set.
Hennessee’s specters were coming.
One thought sliced through her wallowing—not him.
Not him. Not Maverick.
If Hennessee showed people the worst parts of their mind, if itreallywanted to make her suffer, she knew in her heart it’d be Maverick now. It’d make him say all the terrible things she’d heard before from others. Because deep down, she knew she’d been waiting for him to say them too. Because eventually, everyone always did.
Abject fear gripped her instantly like icy fingers around her spine. If he…even knowing it wasn’t real…it wouldruinher.
