Page 47 of Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places
Xander’s jaw tensed as he stared at Lucky. He crossed his arms and audibly huffed through his nose before looking away.
“That means he’s in,” Georgia explained, sounding impressed.
“Stephen?”
“Yes, Lucky?” He was already grinning.
“I need you to be the new sleeper—a mock caretaker number five on their first night. I want to see what happens.”
“Okay.”
“No, not okay,Stephen.” Georgia glared at him before turning back to Lucky. “Why? Explain it.”
“So far, I’ve been the only caretaker who’s had a vastly different experience,” Lucky said, happy to oblige. “My first night I followed the rules, stayed in the suite, and Hennessee gave me a flower—it’s still giving me flowers. That alone is a clear deviation from its usual MO, most likely because of its previous failures. Everyone kept leaving too quickly. I think it hoped I would see it as friendly, which I have, and although I haven’t left, I didn’t write my name on the wall. It still hasn’t gotten what it really wants. Another failure.”
Because the house still very much wanted Lucky in the attic. The compulsion was subtle, but she felt it continuously. Even now.
“You’re thinking it’ll try something else again?” Stephen asked. “Still okay, by the way. I’ve been rooting for you since day one.”
Lucky laughed. “The house adapts and changes based on its experiences. If its core value is fear, I believe it will return to being silent and unfriendly. You won’t get a gift tonight.”
Maverick said, “Lucky, you also claimed ‘almost nothing’ scares you while in the house. Repeatedly. That could’ve been what triggered it to try a different approach instead of randomly deciding to be friendly. Your confidence changed its mind.”
Lucky held Maverick’s gaze. In that moment, she knew he wasn’t only talking about Hennessee House. “That’s very possible.”
Except one fear in particular would be right up Hennessee’s haunted alley. Her guess was the house hadn’t found it yet because her memory palace was too massive, and she kept that fear hidden for her own protection. It might also explain why she continued to sleep so deeply beyond the first night, unlike the other caretakers. Hennessee was still having the time of its life in her head.
Rebel added, “When it looked in your brain, it thought,Oh no! She was telling the truth!My grandma says all girls deserve pretty flowers. Maybe the house thinks that too.”
“I don’t think the house cares about gender, Shortcake. I believe the flowers hold personal meaning for Hennessee and it tried to share that with me,” Lucky said.
“How did you come to that conclusion?” Xander asked suddenly.
“Educated guess.” She grinned. Interesting how that was the only topic he deigned to comment on so far. “My experiment also requires a third person. I’d like to see what happens when someone is here at night, on their first night, but doesnotsleep. I believe the house will do everything it can to lure them into doing so, thereby solidifying sleep assessment as the vital first step. It’ll also provide a contrasting set of data to pair with the sleeper.”
And Eunice.
“Oh, I see,” Georgia said. “And just who exactly are you thinking could be lucky number three?”
Lucky faltered under Georgia’s smug stare, changing course to ask, “Any volunteers?”
“Respectfully, no fucking way.” Georgia held up her hands, and then conceded, “I’m in favor of the experiment, though. It just might solve our production problems.”
Chase said, “I’ll end up falling asleep. Hennessee will start whispering sweet nothings and I’ll be out like a light. Unless I swap with Stephen? He can stay awake, and I’ll be the sleeper?”
Lucky bit her lip while pretending to consider his offer. “Well.” She held her breath, trying to not look hopeful. She’d wanted Maverick there from the moment she’d thought of the plan. She wanted to do this with him backing her up for real. They locked eyes again.
“I’ll do it,” Maverick said immediately, as if he’d been waiting for her.
“Of course you will,” Georgia muttered.
“We’re spending the night?!” Rebel’s jaw dropped.
“No, I am,” Maverick said. “You’re staying at Uncle Max’s house.”
16
Georgia refused to be physically present for experiment night but found an ingenious way to contribute. Matching pajama sets. For everyone.
