Page 78 of The Haunting Plot

She spins on her heels, clenching her fists at her sides. “That’s the only logical explanation. How else would it end up back in my room?”

“Gho—”

“Don’t you dare fucking finish that word. And I found the one you hid in my purse when we were painting.”

“I swear, it wasn’t me. I’m not fucking with you.”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “I think you should go. I have a deadline.”

“If that’s what you want.” I pull my keys out of my pocket, stalling to give her a chance to change her mind. Something flashes across her face briefly before she schools her features and nods toward my truck. “I’ll be back tomorrow at ten for the party.”

My feet are lead weights as I trudge to my vehicle and climb in the cab. Raven’s already gone when I look back at the house.

CHAPTER 19

RAVEN

Just when I think I’m making progress with this man, finally ready to let him in, he plays another fucking prank. They’re getting better. I can’t figure out how he did this most recent one, but I don’t have time to focus on that. Not when I have a house full of preteen girls.

The doorbell rings, and Summer lifts a hand to tell me she’s got it right as McKenna bounds into the kitchen.

“Hey, birthday girl. Are you excited?” I open my arms in invitation, and she hugs me in response.

“I’m so excited. Super-duper excited. Thanks for letting me do this, Mom!”

McKenna runs off right as Summer walks into the kitchen with Jane and her mom. I wipe my hands on my thighs, trying to dispel my nervous energy.

“Thank you for letting Jane come. McKenna is thrilled she could make it,” I say as the girls excitedly run off together.

Jocelyn waves a dismissive hand, and something about the gesture irritates me. Like I’m a fly she’s swatting off.

“I’m Raven, by the way. I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced.”

Right as I extend my arm, Jocelyn thrusts hers toward me, but not in the typical handshake way. Nope. She’s holding out her hand like she wants me to kiss the back of it. I grab it awkwardly, attempting to shake it. Instead of looking at me or offering a greeting in return, she looks around as if she’s inspecting the house. Being on the spectrum, I know how hard eye contact can be. It’s not that I avoid it. I’m just awkward about it. Never knowing how long to look or where to look. It always ends up feeling unnatural. But that’s not what she’s doing. Her avoidance feels like a dismissal.

“So this is where Sawyer’s been spending all of his time.”

“Yup.” I don’t offer more. My intuition is never wrong, and I don’t like the vibes I’m picking up from her.

“Eh, maybe people can change.”

Okay, fuck this woman. If I had earrings, I’d be taking them off right now. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Anytime he did a project around the house when we were married, he’d leave a mess behind him. It took so many reminders to get him to pick it up.”

“That’s how object permanence works. Out of sight, out of mind.”

“Where I’m from, we call that laziness.”

Maybe you should go back to where you’re from, I think, but don’t say.

“Does anyone want a cookie?” Bella asks, lifting a tray between us.

I look down, thankful she made appropriate cookies this time.

Summer motions me over. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

Relieved, I follow her into the laundry room with Bella, who shuts the door behind us.