I was hoping he would excuse himself at the comment, but he didn’t seem to get the hint. He just bobbed his head. “A lot of people feel that way,” he said.

The animosity I felt toward him was unfair. He’d been kind to William, and had to put up with working for Tibby Walbridge. I should’ve been on his side, but his obvious interest in Lonnie put me off in a way Carlow’s and James’s didn’t. I may not have found her first, but I sure as hell found her before he did.

Lonnie came in then, the screen door slapping behind her. She quickly set down her stack of books when she saw Alex.

“He brought us more groceries,” I said in explanation.

“Thank you,” Lonnie said, greeting him with a kiss on the cheek.

“William’s asleep,” I said.

“He should stay for a drink,” she looked at me. “Right?”

“I brought some stuff,” he said.

What could I do but nod?

We cut the pizzas into equal parts and Lonnie poured gin and tonics. She’d packed the big bottle of gin in her suitcase. “Mother’s ruin,” she said, holding up her glass. I took a sip, but it made me feel a little sick, made me remember my sleeplessness the night before.

“Oh!” Lonnie said, jumping up from the table after only a few bites. “Look what I found in this house!” She ran to a built-in cupboard next to the table and pulled out a Ouija board. “We have to play! All we’ve been doing is trading tips on curling our hair and painting each other’s nails. Do you want to turn this into a real teenage sleepover?”

Though Lonnie and I hadn’t actually traded any beauty advice, unless you counted my borrowing her dress, I nodded, pleased by the lie she’d wrapped our experience up in, even if it was just for Alex’s sake.

“How do I know I can trust you two?” Alex said. “Doesn’t someone just always move the pointer?”

“It’s called a planchette,” Lonnie said.

“Every time I’ve played nothing has happened,” I said. “I guess I’ve never played in a haunted location.”

“Or with people who took it seriously.” Lonnie nodded. “You have to respect the board.”

Alex glanced at the animal sculptures above the mantel. “This house is definitely haunted, but I still think you’re just going to fuck with me,” he said.

Lonnie glanced at me sideways. “Let’s do a test of trust then,” she said.