Page 68 of Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places
Georgia’s scoff ended in an affectionate laugh. “Instead of doing all that, you could’ve asked me. I used ‘ghosts’ as shorthand. The legend itself isn’t real but that didn’t stop an entire town from repeating the story, passing it down for generations, testing it, keeping it alive. Our belief in the legend made it real. It’s not ghosts, but it’s definitely…something.”
“Oh, shit. I didn’t think of that. Why didn’t I think of that?” She turned to Maverick as if he had an answer.
“Not gonna lie, I assumed you did. That’s why I didn’t bring it up.”
“And you’re sure about this?” Lucky asked Georgia.
“I’ve done the walk. It’s not fake.”
Lucky gasped. “Did you pass?”
“If you must know”—Georgia pursed her lips—“no, I didn’t. They scared me so bad a patch of my hair turned white and we broke up a week later. Anyway, as long as Rebel stays off the path while a couple is walking it, they won’t mess with her.”
Lucky nodded, trying to temper her growing discomfort. “Who’s on what team?”
“Well.” Georgia dragged out the word as if she were stalling. “If it’s me and Maverick, the incest alarms will start blaring immediately. We’re practically family at this point. Lucky, you and me, we could go but it’s not thebestidea. It has to be you and Maverick.”
“Even I knew that,” Rebel whispered.
“What happened to no such thing as silly questions, Shortcake? Don’t betray me like this.”
Georgia placed her hands on Lucky’s shoulders. “Be cheesy. Keep it cute. Make it sexy. It doesn’t matter as long as they believe it and you follow the rules. This isn’t like Hennessee House.” The fierce look in her eyes killed Lucky’s objections before she could even think of them.
“How so?”
“Because if you see something uncanny, no, you didn’t,” Georgia began with unquestionable authority. “If you hear something strange, no, you didn’t. Don’t listen to it, don’t look at it, don’t look back. Stay calm and please do not run unless you are positive you have to because it will chase you. Keep moving forward at a nice, steady pace. Okay?”
And with that, Georgia had stomped her way into Lucky’s heart. “Okay.”
“Promiseme.”
“I promise.”
Georgia turned to Maverick. “You. Eyes forward and focused. Keep her on the path—you know how she gets.”
“On my honor.”
“Trackers on. Timers set,” Georgia commanded, looking at her watch. “One hour at my mark. We meet back here. No exceptions. Safe word: lifehouse.”
“Ready,” they all said in unison.
Maverick kneeled in front of Rebel. “Remember what we talked about? Let’s run through it. Who’s in charge?”
“Georgia,” Rebel answered.
“What do you do if you get scared?”
“Don’t move, count to ten, and if I’m still scared, I can quit.”
“What do you do if you want to quit? Do you run away?”
“No, I tell Georgia.”
“What if you get separated? What do you do?”
“We don’t get separated. I have to hold Georgia’s hand the entire time.”
“What if there’s an emergency and you have to let go of her hand?”
