Ward doesn’t respond, just keeps eating pickles.
Right.
“Here’s the first of your seasonal flights,” the waiter says.
I hardly pay attention to the expert way he sets the perfectly poured flights on the table.
“You aren’t saying you actually believe in the ghost stories around here,” I finally ask Ward, not sure if he’s joking or not.He’s hard to get a read on, but surely he’s joking.
“Seeing is believing,” Ward answers cryptically.
Which clears absolutely nothing up.
Unless he’s saying he’s seen a ghost, in which case, he really should get his carbon monoxide levels tested in his house.
“I’ve told you about all the weird shit that happens up at Em’s hotel,” Jack says.
“Yeah, but…” I trail off, trying to suss them out.They’ve gotta be pranking me.
Instead of playing into their hands, I eat another bacon, green onion and cheese covered potato skin.
16
Sylvie
Tara and Em basically pull me into one of the bathrooms, and then Tara flips the lock while Em knocks on the stall doors.
“Clear,” Em announces.
Prudence sticks her head out of my purse.“You can’t just talk about witch stuff everywhere,” she tells me.
“Oh.Shit.The talking cat.”Em’s green eyes are huge in her face.
“Yeah,” I say, exhausted.“It’s been a weird few days.”
It’s been one day, actually, but it feels like about a year has happened.
“I have a possessed doll,” Em tells me brightly.
I stare at her.“That sounds horrible.”
“Oh, it is,” she agrees cheerfully.“You just kind of get used to it.The jump scares don’t really stop, but maybe all that adrenaline is secretly good for me.”
“It’s not.That doll should be exorcised,” Prudence weighs in.
I set her on the floor because, small as she is, my purse isn’t built to be a talking cat’s conveyance.
“I don’t know if you’re allowed to have cats in here, rebel.I dig it,” Em tells me.
“I got your text,” Tara tells me.“Let’s break it down real fast for Em.”
“Okay.Ghosts attacked me because I am an idiot and forgot to clean the store or whatever.Thankfully they waited until Colton left.”
“I love Colton,” Em enthuses.“He did my hotel reno.”
“He’s great,” I agree.“I really like his whole vibe, you know?He knows what to do but doesn’t make me feel stupid when I am absolutely clueless.”
“Yes, that’s exactly how I feel?—”
