Page 111 of The Haunting Plot

“No. Don’t talk. You’ll only make me angry, and I need to get this out before my head explodes or I punch something.”

The crack in the concrete floor catches my eye, and I stare at it. I can’t look at him, or I won’t be able to concentrate.

“I knew RJ put you up to the stupid Tic Tac prank, but I couldn’t figure out why. I thought he was getting back at me for messing with him and Summer. What didn’t make sense was why you went along with it.”

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself so I can identify all the emotions coursing through me. Anger. Sadness. Confusion. Hurt. Betrayal. Embarrassment.

“When I asked you to stop, you agreed. But stuff kept happening in the house. You were so quick to blame it on ghosts, but I knew there was a logical explanation. Clearly, it wasn’t you in the window with the mask, so someone was helping you.”

It feels like ants are crawling all over my scalp, and I run my hands through my hair, trying to soothe myself, but it does little to stop the anxious thoughts screaming in my head.

“All of this was manufactured. The pranks were all a setup to… what? Scare me? Torture me? Punish me? You already deceived me by reading my books to trick me into liking you. And against my better judgment, I gave you a second chance. Then you do this? What was the point?”

I wrap my arms around my waist, squeezing as hard as I can. I want this to be done. But something Jonah said picks at the back of my brain. “Jonah wanted to scare me so I’d hug you. Was he in on this too?”

I finally glare up at him, keeping my focus on his mouth so his eyes can’t sparkle at me.

“I didn’t have anything to do with it, I swear, not after the first prank. I told RJ I suck with women, and he suggested I try reading romance and gave me a book to read. I didn’t know it was yours at first. And when Jonah scared you the other night, that’s what tipped me off that he might be involved. I was confronting RJ when you came down and overheard us.”

“None of this was real. It was just some stupid plot.” My voice is soft, my fight nearly gone.

“All of it was real. It was real to me. I swear I didn’t know what was going on. RJ told me you loved pranks, and it would impress you, so I did it. As soon as you told me to stop, I did. I had no clue all the hauntings were some plot to get us together. And sure, it did create some great moments between us, and I’ll cherish those memories with you forever, but how I felt about you has always been real. I was drawn to you before the pranks started ramping up. You’ve got to believe me.”

“But you didn’t tell me. You knew what was happening, and you kept it from me. You lied to me.”

“I didn’t know until RJ handed me the mask, and even then I wasn’t certain.” He takes a step toward me, his palms out like he’s about to hug me, and I step back. “I heard Bella talking about scary movies in the kitchen, and I realized that all the hauntings were scenes from horror movies. I was convinced she was helping, and RJ confirmed it.”

“Why would Bella help with this?”

“Because I asked your mom friends for advice after we first met.”

“You what?”

“I really liked you, and I didn’t want to blow my chance. They offered to help.”

“So everyone was behind this?”

He tugs on the back of his neck. “Yeah?”

“I feel so stupid.”

“You’re not stupid. And I get how this looks⁠—”

“How this looks? Everyone in my life was plotting against me. Playing prank after prank, trying to force me into a situation I had no control over.”

My head is pounding, the intrusive thoughts screaming loudly, drowning out all of the logic and reason. Every fiber of my being is on edge. It feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest. My head feels like a balloon that could float away at any minute. And every hair is standing on end like I’m being electrocuted. I’m on the verge of a meltdown, and none of my tools are working to calm it.

I slip my hands through my hair, massaging my scalp, when the walled-off corner of the basement catches my eye. “What’s that?”

Sawyer tugs on the back of his neck. “That was Jonah’s surprise. Along with McKenna’s bed and your office, I made him a sensory room so he could have a safe space to calm his emotions.”

A small spark of hope flickers in my chest. Nope. I won’t let him fool me again. I take a big breath, exhaling slowly as I roll my neck. “Okay. Here’s what’s going to happen. We’re going to go up to the party and pretend everything is okay. You’ll act like everything is fine, and once the party is over, you’ll leave.”

“Raven.” His voice breaks, but I shake my head, refusing to look at him.

“I need space and time to process how I feel about everything.”

“Are you ending this?”