“Nope.”
“Take a seat. I’m ordering food first.”
An hour later, I’ve told Lanie everything and she has barely said two words through it all. I’m not sure if she’s ready to laugh or bolt. Either is a possibility with my less-than-predictable best friend.
“Say something,” I encourage, hoping to get her take.
She blinks several times, full lips pressed into a line.
“Wait... do you not believe me?” I ask incredulously. “Because that would be some twist, considering you’re the one who introduced this crazy into my life.”
She places her hand over her heart, mouth agape in an overexaggerated fashion. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Oh, stop playing innocent. You’ve been coming to me for over a year.” Corinne waltzes back in the room just in time to come to my aid. For once. “It was you who scheduled the appointment,” Corinne says, making herself comfy on my couch once more.
I bob my head in solidarity.
Lanie’s hands lift, palms out. “Moving on. Where’s this ghost now?”
“He’s been oddly absent since Ollie left.” I rub at my chin. “Do you think he could’ve moved on too?” I can’t contain the hope welling in my chest at the thought.
Corinne frowns. “Unlikely.”
We all sit in silence for a few minutes, Corinne and I likely running through the events of the night, while Lanie determines whether we need psychiatric evaluations.
“I spent three nights at your house because of this. You went through that book with me. I told you Billy was messing with me at yoga. How are you acting surprised?”
“I thought we were having fun.” Her voice pitches up, wobbling slightly.
“You’re right. My fear was all for fun,” I say, growing more annoyed by the minute. “Being made to look crazy at your studio wassomuch fun.”
“That part was not fun. I told you to get your shit together. Remember that?” She throws her hands in the air.
“Oh, I remember. You berated me on the sidewalk in the middle of town. And right before I broke into tears, you changed the subject to food. A typical Lanie move, by the way.”
“I thought you were having a breakdown. I was trying to be supportive.” She huffs. “One ghost I could deal with, but now it’s multiple ghosts? How am I supposed to handle that?” She turns her attention to Corinne, who’s glued to her phone, not seeming to care about our argument.
My head shakes back and forth, exhaustion slinking in. “You’re supposed to be the supportive friend in this department. I’d expect this reaction from Nina, but you?” I let the thought trail off. I’m too tired to fight. Besides, I can’t blame her for being skeptical.
How can I expect someone who hasn’t experienced the things I have to blindly trust me? Would I?
Unlikely.
After several minutes, Lanie breaks the silence.
“Okay, let’s say I believe all of it. What’s your next move?”
Not a confirmation she believes, but a step in the right direction. If only Billy would make an appearance and prove I’m sane.
“I’ll answer that.” Corinne leans forward, catching my eye. “We have an appointment with my mother. Wednesday at nine.”
My eyebrows lift into my hairline. “Wednesday? Why so long?”
“Trust me when I say you shouldn’t be in a hurry to meet with her.”
“Umm... should I be worried?”
She ignores my trepidation. “I’ll meet you after I close up shop.”
