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Shame swells in my chest. I shake my head, though he can’t see me. “No, that was all.”
“Have a nice day, Ms. Ortega.”
He ends the call before I have the chance to. Slowly, I lower the phone down from my ear.
“What did he say?” Mara asks, and I jump, turning around to see all of my housemates standing in the doorway, watching me nervously. Maybe they’re scared I’m losing it, too. If the situation were reversed, I probably would be.
I lick my lips, shoving my phone in my pocket and trying to act as if nothing’s wrong. “Nothing. They aren’t going to do anything unless one of the supposed owners calls and reports it. Otherwise, they’re pretty much saying the case is closed.”
“Even though you told them there are two different people claiming to live there?” Memphis asks.
“Well, they’re kind of right,” Logan says, opening a small closet upstairs and pulling out the broom, then carefully sweeping the hallway as he speaks. “I mean, whatever’s going on with the house, it’s not like it affects us. At least we know no one died. That’s the most important thing, right?”
“It’s still really weird,” Paulette says, twisting her foot in place.
“Yeah, totally,” he agrees, sweeping the small pile of dust into a dustpan. He disappears into the hallway bathroom and returns a moment later, connecting the dustpan to the broom and placing it back inside the closet.
My housemates’ eyes scan the space, landing everywhere but on me. No one seems to know what to say.
“Maybe I should just go home. I’m sorry. I know I’m not being much fun this weekend.” I rest my chin against my chest, feeling new tears stinging my eyes.
“You can’t go home,” Mara says. “Girl, please. Don’t let whatever’s going on next door ruin this weekend. We’re still here to have fun. Just…I don’t know, just think of it like a mystery. That’s what we like best, isn’t it?” She claps her hands together and puffs out her bottom lip. “Please? You wouldn’t leave your very best friend, would you? It’s our last chance to see each other for who knows how long. Besides, we’re strong, capable women, and I will kick anyone’s ass who tries to mess with you.” She wags a finger at the men. “And that goes for you guys, too.”
“She’s right,” Austin says, stepping forward. “You have to stay. Come on. It’s our last night. Let’s make the best of it.”
I look at Memphis, who’s being strangely quiet, seemingly lost in thought.
“Look, we probably can’t get flights out tonight anyway,” Paulette says. “We’re leaving tomorrow. Less than twenty-four hours. Why spend the next few hours in the stress of trying to change flights and get a ride to the airport—wondering if you’ll make it in time—if you don’t have to? Just hang out with us and have fun. We don’t want you to go.”
Austin pulls out his phone. “It’s true. I mean, the chance of getting a flight out tonight is slim. We could maybe get a hotel or something, if you wanted to try that just so we didn’t have to stay here, but it seems kind of drastic when nothing’s happened to any of us. Whatever you saw, the woman is clearly fine.” The corner of his mouth tips up with a grin. “Maybe it was some weird sex thing.”
“Do you want to leave, Lena? No one is going to stop you,” Memphis says firmly, and that one sentence becomes a challenge. Because he’s right. I could leave if I wanted to. But if I do, I give up on everything I wanted this weekend to be.
“Hey, guys,” Austin says, wagging his phone in the air. “You’re not going to want to leave now. Look who’s coming after all.”
On his screen is a message from Ethan.
You still up for some company? Flying in tonight. I’ll be there around seven.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
The news that Ethan is on his way has everyone in better spirits, myself included. To pass the time and keep ourselves occupied, we gather in the living room with a board game we’ve found in one of the cabinets in the house.
Quite fittingly, the game is Clue, a murder mystery game that was one of my favorites as a child.
Paulette brings in a box of spiked seltzer. “Last night, guys. Drink up. You have the choice between mango and lime, and there’s only one right answer.” She plops down on the ground, cracking open a can of the mango-flavored drink.
“So, next time”—Austin moves his purple game piece across the board before grabbing a lime seltzer from the box—“I vote we visit a beach.”
“Us two and three!” Paulette cries, lifting Logan’s hand with hers. She moves so quickly she bumps into the game board, sending pieces flying. “Oops. Sorry.”
“Oh no!” Mara cries.
Everyone moves quickly to reset the board, trying to remember where their pieces had been last.
Once everything looks like we think it should, we take turns each choosing a seltzer from the box.
“Oh, I’m obsessed with this lime! How can you possibly think mango is better?” Mara asks, kissing the side of the can before cracking it open.
