When Victoria brought them to the next leg of their journey, John debated how to tell her that this was a terrible idea. They were quickly approaching the entrance of McLean’s Haunted Warehouse, a Farmingdale attraction that he hadn’t visited since he was in high school. Sixteen-year-old John had liked the idea of impressing Kimberly Yates, but had left her near a bloody corpse midway through as he’d dashed towards the exit. Thirty-eight-year-old John was secure enough in his masculinity to admit that this wasn’t his idea of fun. As soon as he’d set eyes upon the cardboard zombie cutouts, his heart rate had accelerated.

Before he could voice his concerns, Victoria paused beside him. “Are you okay?”

He took a deep breath and nodded vigorously. “Yeah, sure. I’m cool,” he lied.

She narrowed her eyes and smiled. “Are you sure?” She held up their joined hands. “Because your grip just got tighter and sweatier.”

“I don’t do haunted houses,” John admitted. He glanced at the entrance again, reminded of the breakneck speed he’d run when Kimberly had screamed. “When I was a teenager, I got scared and left a girl in there.”

“That happens,” she said in a serious voice, no trace of irony or humor. “But you’re an adult now. You’re also a lot braver than I am.”

He scoffed even though her observation made him straighten up. “How do you figure?”

The warmth in her smile matched her voice. “You’re a man who takes chances. I like that about you, John. I think I take more chances when I’m with you.”

He was momentarily speechless in his surprise. John had no idea that Victoria regarded him in that way. “Is that a fact?”

“Besides I don’t think it will be as terrifying as you remember. I hate to say it, but these are a bunch of theater majors hamming it up and competing for the limelight,” Victoria said easily. “You remember the theater kids from high school, right?”

He did. They were an exuberant crowd. John rubbed his sweaty palms against his jeans and scanned the ticket line. “A little thrill isn’t a bad thing, I guess.”

“A little thrill is a great thing.” She laughed. “I love scary stuff. Halloween frights are my favorite.”