Page 50 of The Romantic Agenda

“Do you ever wonder why horror movies take place at night?”

The incline begins to kick in. Joy has to pace herself, focusing on deep breaths in and out. “Because it’s scarier.”

“Right, and it’s also a cop-out. It’s easier to build tension with the unknown if you can’t see it. The sun is a timer. Once it sets allbets are off. Gotta make it home before dark, you know?” She’s taking deep breaths too, but she’s not sweating like Joy is. “But things in the light can terrorize you just as well as things in the dark.”

“That’s a good point.”

At the top of the hill, the trail makes a sharp right, leading to a semi-circle clearing overlooking a long stretch of the woods below. The sun is climbing steadily toward high noon.

“Wow.” Summer’s mouth is hanging open. “It’s so beautiful.”

It really is. Joy climbed a mountain! Sure, it was really a hill with a steep incline, but Grace wouldn’t know that! She sits down on a bench, happy for a chance to catch her breath. She’s (hopefully) not infected with any residual ghost energy, but the walkdidhelp her mood a little. Summer sits next to her, unclipping the water bottle from her belt and offering it to Joy first. She tilts her head back, pouring the water without touching the rim. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Summer takes a drink too. “I’m sorry about last night.”

“Water under the bridge.”

“Is it really? You’re not mad? Malcolm said you were.”

“He’s not wrong. But I made the choice to not be.” Joy leans over and picks up a dandelion. “It puts me in a difficult position when you talk like you know me. It honestly makes me feel weird. There isn’t anything we can do about it so no point in dwelling on it.”

Joy hasn’t decided how much she’s willing to trust Summer, how many faces she has, what her motives are. But it costs her nothing to be nice to her for the time being. And it could cost her everything if she doesn’t try.

“Here.” Joy offers the dandelion to Summer.

“What’s this for?”

“I’m not making you a crown. That’s as good as it gets from me.”

Summer laughs and takes the flower. “I see. Thank you.”

Joy stands up, stretching her legs and arms. “We should head back before Malcolm sends a search party to come find us.”

Fourteen

Joy spends the entire drive to Fable’s Barnyard Animal Sanctuary in surly silence.

At one point, she feels the eyes of every single person in the car drift her way. Summer keeps trying to bring her into the conversation. Malcolm asks her if she has enough legroom and if he needs to roll up his window. Even Fox attempts to cheer her up by making a horrendously wonderful pun about elevators and stairs.

Misery beat them all, decisively winning Joy’s company.

It’s too early in the morning to feel so many emotions at once. Too numb to feel sad. Too disappointed to feel angry. Too shocked to feel hurt. Actually, no. There’s never a good time to be this conflicted about anything.

Joy promised herself she would quietly step aside.

Past Joy was clearly an overly optimistic fool who believed in her own righteousness a little too much.

What did Fox say about her? That she’s honorably devoted? Well. No time like the present to prove it.

After checking them in, their assigned instructor, Savannah, leads the group to a stable near the trail they’ll be taking. She’s white, tall, has long brown hair, and exudes big horse person energy. The bridge of her nose is red and freckled from a healing sunburn and contrasts with her otherwise pale skin.

Before heading in, Joy pulls Fox to the side. “Did you really have your heart set on horseback riding today?”

“I wouldn’t phrase it like that, no.” His amused and questioning grin warms her heart. Instantly, she feels exactly how she did earlier that morning in the kitchen. Warm. Compelled. Eager.

“I kind of want to sit this one out. Stay with me?”

“Yeah. Sure.” Fox nods. “Everything okay?”