He was already watching me, his expression unreadable as usual. But then, the corner of his mouth tipped up. Just slightly.
It wasn’t the uncomfortable sort of moment we might’ve had yesterday. It felt different. Lighter. Like he and I were in on a joke.
I found myself smiling back before I could think better of it, and then I just…played along...
“Beefcake was eighty-sixed,” I said, deadpan. “Unfortunately.”
“That’s because…” Ed half stood out of his seat, sort of…pounding his chest. “I’m already spoken for.”
Eddie yanked him down and then swatted at him like a cat. “Reoowww,”
Holy ravioli. That image was going to haunt me more than Room 401.
The laughter started up again, and while everyone’s attention shifted to something Josie was showing on her phone, I snuck another glance toward Noah.
He was leaning back in his seat now, arms crossed, legs stretched into the aisle. Still watching me, but with a quiet curiosity, like he hadn’t quite figured me out.
And, okay, maybe my chest fluttered a little.
Or maybe I’d had too much coffee. Hard to say.
“Did you sleep okay?” I finally asked, needing to break this oddly intimate silence.
“Yeah, what about you? No more ghosts, I hope?”
“Haha,” I said flatly.
“Just checking.” He leaned back in his seat again.
Meanwhile, Josie was passing her phone around so that all of us could get a good look at her pictures from the night before. With a quick glance, Noah handed it off to his mother.
“You know,” Mrs. Grady’s voice cut through the murmurs around us. “Orbs are just dust particles reflecting light.” She might just as well have thrown cold water on those women. Both Josie and Marla, who’d twisted around in their seats, exchanged a look.
“Oh, come on, Christine,” Patty said finally. “Don’t ruin our fun.” Her tone was light but also pointed.
Oblivious to the awkwardness she’d caused, or maybe she just didn’t care, Mrs. Grady shook her head and doubled down. “I’m just saying. If you’re going to call it paranormal, rule out the obvious first.”
Babs—peacekeeper Babs—leaned across me with a warm smile. “Christine does have a point, but who’s to say dust can’t be a little spooky too?” Her teasing tone was oddly calming.
I reached over and gave Babs’s arm a quick, grateful squeeze.
As far as seatmates went, I could have done worse, to be sure.
When we boarded, Babs had offered me the window seat today—but I’d seen the fun she had taking pictures. According to the WonderWorld Tours itinerary, we’d be driving along Trail Ridge Road today, the highest paved road in the entire freaking world.
She was here by choice. I was here by accident.
And honestly? With Joey behind the wheel, not looking out might be the better option.
Because we were going up. Up, up, up.
As the bus began its ascent, the engine growled and downshifted to manage the climb. I kept my eyes on the seat in front of me, only occasionally sneaking a glance at the window.
Not that I was missing much.
The clouds had dropped low over the mountains, softening everything in a wash of gray.
For all I knew, we were climbing straight into the sky.
