“Declan?” Emery elbows me in the ribs.
“Huh? Sorry.” I nudge her forward. “Lucy, this is Emery. Emery, myfriend, Lucy.”
Lucy squints at Emery. “You look familiar.”
“Emery has a YouTube channel,” I explain since Emery seems tongue-tied. “She does videos about ghost stories, folklore, stuff like that.”
Lucy’s eyebrows shoot up. “Ghost stories? You?” She turns her sharp gaze back to me. “That’s…unexpected.”
“I don’t sensationalize things,” Emery says quickly, straightening her shoulders. “I try to find the truth behind the legends.”
“Truth,” Lucy repeats, tasting the word like it’s sour. “You’re one of those people who shows up to ‘prove’ nothing’s real, right?”
Emery fidgets. “Well, no.”
In the short amount of time I’ve known Emery, I haven’t seen her flustered. She always seems eager to prattle on about her channel. Or crows. Is she off-balance because Lucy’s my friend? Or is she still jealous?
“You’re just a skeptic, right?” Lucy sneers.
“Lucy,” I warn quietly.
“Not really.” Emery seems to shake off her unease. “I prefer to debunk stories and reveal the truth. In a respectful way.”
“Her investigations are solid,” I say, feeling compelled to defend Emery.
Emery cranes her neck to stare up at me with wide, surprised eyes.
Lucy flicks her gaze to the ceiling but doesn’t back down. “You know what happens when outsiders start snooping around here, D. They stir up trouble. Then it’s on you to fix it again.”
Emery blinks. “Fix it?”
“Lucy.” I put a hand on the counter, my tone sharper. “Enough.”
Her jaw tightens, but she finally looks away. “You know I’m right,” she mutters.
Emery’s gaze bounces between us. “What’s she talking about?”
“Nothing you need to worry about,” I say, maybe a little too fast. “Lucy’s protective of me, that’s all.”
“Protective?” Lucy snorts. “Try realistic. You barely keep the curse quiet as it is. Now you’re cozying up to someone whose whole career is built on exposing hoaxes.” She turns to Emery, voice dry as sandpaper. “No offense.”
Emery holds Lucy’s gaze. “Lots taken.”
“Enough,” I sigh.
Lucy matches my sigh, but she nods. “Fine. I’m going to unpack that sterilizer.” She throws one more stink eye Emery’s way then heads down the hallway.
Emery scowls in Lucy’s direction. “So, she knows?”
“She knows enough,” I admit. “It’s hard to live here your whole life andnotsee things.”
“And she’s worried I’ll bring you unwanted attention?”
“Probably.” I rub the back of my neck. “She’s protective.”
A slight smirk twists Emery’s lips. “Protective? Of you?” She waves her hands in the air in front of me. “You’re…you’re like a perfect specimen of masculinity and strength.”
“Barf!” Lucy gags and pretends to choke from somewhere down the hall.
