The Perfect Hope Part 38

"You've made an appointment for s.e.x." On a pitying look, Avery let out a sigh. "Only you."

"There are logistics involved," Hope pointed out. "We don't have any bookings Tuesday night. I can't have s.e.x when I have guests."

"Why not? You have an apartment with a door and a lock on it. I suspect, call me crazy, some of your guests have s.e.x behind their own closed doors."

"True, but I don't want to risk it the first time. We could have another group who wants to party until one in the morning. I'd like more privacy."

"Are you planning to raise the roof?"

"It's been over a year," she reminded her friend. "The roof may be raised. I need to buy some new underwear. s.e.xy underwear. I haven't bought s.e.xy underwear in a year either, which is a sad, sad thing. This requires new, doesn't it?"

"Absolutely. Not that Ryder's going to pay much attention to that before he yanks it off you."

"I didn't say I was having s.e.x with Ryder."

"I read the subtext." Avery carried dough pans to the under-counter cooler, stirred the sauce already simmering on the stove. "Are you going out first, like dinner or a movie, or just jumping?"

"I suggested we order in, which got his approval. Then I'll jump him."

"That's so sweet." Avery beamed at her. "Why don't I make you something, a grown-up meal? One of the entrees from MacT's."

"You don't have to do that. Pasta's fine."

"Vesta's pasta's more than fine, but why not b.u.mp it up a level? It'll be my contribution to the Hope Finally Gets Laid Event."

"We thank you for your support."

"Leave that to me. You can pay me by calling or texting at the first possible moment to confirm liftoff."

"Done. Should I be worried about complications with this? With Ryder."

"Ryder's not a complicated guy. Him man, you woman. I'm pretty sure he'll be okay with that. I know some of the women he's dated in the past."

"What are they like? Come on," Hope added, "who wouldn't want to know?"

"Hope, he's been dating-and I a.s.sume 'dating'"-she gave the word air quotes-"since he was in his teens. It's a variety pack. But I can say he manages to keep it friendly after the 'dating'"-more air quotes-"stops."

"That's all I want. Uncomplicated, friendly s.e.x with a man I like-which is a surprise-and am attracted to, which really isn't. Okay." She swiped her hands in the air. "Settled. Now for the rest of the story. I fell into bed about twelve thirty last night. And woke up just after two, due to the screaming from downstairs."

"Oh my G.o.d." Avery stopped stocking her toppings dish. "What happened?"

"Let me tell you," Hope said, and did.

At the point in the telling Avery doubled over with laughter, Hope shook her head. "I should've known you'd think it was funny. You and Lizzy have a lot in common."

"She did it on purpose. You know she did. Lizzy likes us, and The Pill was treating you like a mentally challenged servant instead of her gracious and cla.s.sy host. She deserved a good scare."

"She got one. Everybody's packed into the second-floor hall, in their underwear, robes, or skimpy nightclothes-including me-and she's screaming like somebody jabbed her in the eye with an ice pick. I feel guilty not telling her she actually did see something-or someone, but-"

"She'd have been more freaked."

"Exactly. Judgment call. I did tell Jake and Casey. He'd kind of seen Lizzy earlier on the porch. He's into ghosts, but doesn't seem weird about it. I'm absolutely sure he's going to be wandering around tonight, trying to get her to make another appearance. Anyway, two cups of whiskey-laced tea, and we got Lola settled down again. But in T&O. Jake and Casey switched with them, which, of course, meant I had to change the sheets and towels in both rooms, but it was worth it for the peace."

"What time did you get back to bed?"

"It was going on four."

"G.o.d, you must be dead on your feet."

"Caffeine." She held up the c.o.ke. "It's my best friend today-besides you. But that's not the end of the story. I saw her."

"The Pill?"

"Lizzy. Eliza. I was talking to her while I got ready to go back to bed. I do that sometimes, thinking it may ease her into communicating. Boy, did it work."

"She was in your apartment?"

"It's not the first time, but it's the first time she let me see her. Or I could see her. And, Avery, she talked to me."

Eyes wide, Avery reached over to grab Hope's hand. "What did she say? Did you ask her about Billy?"

"The first thing, which showed admirable control and presence of mind, by the way."

"Kudos. What did she tell you?"

"I wrote it all down. I think I got it word for word, so I can share it with Owen. Everybody, but Owen especially." She pulled out the note she'd folded into her pocket, and read it to Avery.

"What's it got to do with Ryder?"

"I don't know. My take is she's got that romantic streak, and she sees me and Ryder matched up."

"She'll be very pleased Tuesday night."

"Maybe so, but we're going to disappoint her with this love angle."

"Maybe not." Avery lifted her shoulders and her hands for peace. "Just saying. It fades-she fades. That's awful. Poor Lizzy. It sounds like she can't remember, or pull it all out. It comes and goes. Do you think that's it? Fades in and out, like she does?"

"I think that might be it."

"It really might. I told you how I got her vibe, smelled her, when I snuck in the building when I was a teenager. And Beckett got that sense of her when they started work on the inn. He'd do walkthroughs at night when he lived over here, talk to her. He named her-that's probably powerful, right? The naming."

"And maybe more so because the name was basically the right one."

"Which just goes to show you."

"What?" Hope asked.

"Something woo-woo." Avery wiggled her fingers at her ears as if that made her point. "Anyway, it-she-seemed to get stronger as they brought the place back."