Page 98 of Rex

“No dessert. You just missed Lucy. Goodbye,” I say in a snarky tone.

“Kind of rude, Aria. I stopped by to check on you and see if you’re doing okay with all that happened, and you’re nearly shoving me out the door. No worries, I’ll leave. Love you,” Drew says as he starts for the door.

“Drew. I’m sorry. I’m doing good, really, and I love you too,” I state in a soft voice, regret for being rude to him pinging in my stomach.

“I know, but I really do have to go. Les went grocery shopping today, and you know he always buys those big bags of M&Ms. Bye! See ya, Rex,” Drew says before he hustles out the door.

“Why do I feel like that roast was just an appetizer for him?” I mutter before starting to clean up the dishes.

“I’ll order us dinner. Chicken parm?”

I nod but caution Rex to wait until we know my brother is far from my neighborhood.

It’s Sunday, and I’ve already explained to Rex that Lisa and I have to be at the clubhouse early. He shakes his head but grins at me.

“Is this going to get my ass beat?” he asks.

“It shouldn’t. It’s me doing it, not you.”

“As long as you’re enjoying this prank, I’m fine with getting in the ring if needed,” he murmurs before pulling me in for a kiss.

Lisa arrives, and we get into my car, framed pictures already packed carefully in the back, and we drive to the clubhouse. Walking in, it seems odd to be here when it’s so quiet.

“Kind of spooky without the usual noise,” Lisa says, mimicking my exact thoughts.

“Are you sure we won’t get into trouble if we enter the room they use for Church? It seems almost sacrilegious. Like our normalness will taint the room or something,” I ask, nervous now that we’re here.

“What’cha doing?” says a voice, and Lisa and I both scream a little and whirl, looking for the person.

Seeing none, I look at Lisa in confusion.

“That gave me chills,” she says in a quiet voice.

“Let’s just get it done and get out of here until other people arrive. We can go hang out at one of their homes,” I suggest.

We cross the room but get interrupted before we reach our destination.

“God will be angry.”

Whirling again, I search the room but find no one. Looking at Lisa, I can tell she’s close to leaving me here alone.

“Who’s here?” I ask.

No answer.

“Is this place haunted?” Lisa whispers, and a laugh echoes around the room.

“I’m going into that room, and you can’t stop me,” I say in what I’m hoping is a confident, unafraid voice.

I nearly come out of my skin when a glass falls from behind the bar and shatters on the floor.

“Lucy must be here if shit’s breaking for no reason,” Lisa says.

“That wasn’t her voice,” I respond.

“Peek-a-boo.”

I jerk my head toward the direction I think the voice came from, but again, nothing.

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