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Lily stares Julian down for a few seconds before focusing back on me. “Anyway, during high school, a few people from my class spent the night there on a dare.”
“And?”
Rafa and Julian share a look from across the table.
Lily ignores them. “Supposedly one of them still sleeps with the lights on to this day. The other one moved away and became a priest.”
My eyes widen. “You’re joking.”
“Nope. His mother begged for the town to demolish thehouse so her son could move back, but obviously that didn’t happen.”
Julian’s eyes shine brighter than a neon warning sign. “Perhaps we should make the town happy and tear it down.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in ghosts.” My molars grind together.
“Maybe I can be convinced after all.”
Asshole.I stomp on his foot. At the speed of a viper, his hand wraps around my thigh and squeezes hard enough to have me choking on my breath.
“Are you okay?” Mom asks.
“Yup. Got a piece of steak in my throat.”
“Here.” Julian’s hand abandons my thigh before shoving my glass of water toward my good hand.
I take a slow sip while staring him down. Once I’m done, I trace my bottom lip with the tip of my tongue to wipe away any remaining droplets.
He breaks eye contact, although the way he thickly swallows gives him away.
Men.
Lily’s eyes ping-pong between us before landing on me. “You can ask anyone in town about the house, and they’ll all have a different story to tell.”
I turn to face the nonbeliever. “Do you think it’s Gerald?”
“No. It’s probably old plumbing, outdated electrical wiring, and materials rubbing together at night while the house cools.”
Lily’s eyes roll. “Of course you’d say that.”
“Either way, I’ve dealt with a haunted property or two in San Francisco, so I’m not afraid of a few ghosts,” I say.
She laughs. “What are you going to do? Hire a priest or something?”
“Or something.”
Julian peeks over at me through his thick lashes. “What are you planning?”
“Nothing you need to worry yourself with.”Yet.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Dahlia
After one lengthy game of Monopoly that ended before a winner could be crowned, Rafa and Nico say goodbye. Josefina and Julian follow their lead five minutes later, so I decide to head out with them and ask Josefina to drop me off at the library.
“Where are you going?” my mom asks as I’m struggling to put on my sneakers.
“I want to stop by the library before they close.”
