Page 48 of Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places
“Since you wanna be test subjects so bad, you can dress like them too,” she said, passing them out. “All the same design but different neon colors so it’ll be easier to spot each other at night if anything goes down since we know Hennessee likes to play with the lighting.”
“How thoughtful,” Xander said, masterfully blurring that line between genuine and sardonic.
Georgia pointed at him and threatened, “You better wear them. I’ll know if you don’t.”
Xander generously gave her a lazy smile. “Then what will happen?”
“It’ll hurt my feelings.” She switched it up on him so quick it almost gave Lucky whiplash. “I’ll cry.”
“Well, I wouldn’t want you to do that.” He leaned down slightly, head bowed. “I will wear them. You have my word.”
Sibling vibes sparkled between them, so vibrant Lucky felt like she could touch it if she tried. Interesting.
After dinner and sundown, they decided to separate immediately to give the house as much time alone with them as possible. Xander took the room directly across from Lucky, with Maverick and Stephen shacking up in opposite rooms at the end of the hall. Each person had a camera set up to continuously film the room and a second for self-tapes, if they chose to do so.
Gengar silently judged Lucky as she did everything and anything to burn off the anticipation anxiety keeping her awake. Jumping jacks, dancing, push-ups, wall-sits, handstands, yoga—for literal hours.
Around midnight, after a third failed attempt to walk out of a back bend, she asked, “Do you want to go outside? I haven’t tried that yet.”
Gengar jumped from the bed and sat by the door, staring at the doorknob.
“Do you understand me? Blink once for yes,” she joked.
Outsidewas one of Gengar’s words. He also recognizedhungry,snackies, andRebel. That last one often sent him running for his favorite hiding spot. According to Maverick, he knew Lucky’s name too.
Gengar entered the hall ahead of her, trotting toward the stairs at a quick pace. Overall, he seemed to be adjusting well to being a house cat, but Lucky didn’t think he’d ever want to give up roaming around the orchard, climbing the trees, and chasing the rodents to his kitty heart’s content.
“Lucky. Hey.”
“Maverick.” They met at the top of the staircase in their matching pajamas as if they planned it. She leaned against the banister, pathetically happy to see him. “Still awake. Well done.”
“Barely.” He held up a mug of what smelled like coffee. “I tried everything else. If I start reading, I’ll fall asleep. If I try writing, I’ll fall asleep. If I listen to music or watch a movie, I’m definitely going to sleep.”
“But we talk every night for hours. I figured you were a night owl.”
“Only for you.”
“Stop. You have not been staying up just to talk to me.”
That indulgent grin looked so good on him. “Was I allowed to call you tonight?”
“Technically, no.”
“Thought so.” He nodded. “I made coffee to keep me awake because otherwise I. Will. Fall. Asleep.”
Lucky’s cheeks began to warm. She realized she was always the one to hang up first. She always accidentally fell asleep before him. She always teased him if he called even five minutes later than normal.
He’d really been staying awake for her the whole time.
Gengar yowled at her from the bottom of the stairs.
She laughed, grateful for the reprieve. “Go on. I’ll catch up.”
Gengar paused for a second more before dashing off for his newly installed kitty door.
Maverick asked, “What are you two up to?”
“A midnight stroll around the orchard. I can’t sleep.”
