The music changes and the mood shifts. At first I don’t recognize the song, but the group starts catcalling like they’ve been waiting for it all night. The tune is cheesy, but at the same time I understand why they like it.
“Who even sings this?” I ask. I remember my mother cranking up the song once or twice in the car when it came on the classic-rock station, but I have no idea who the artist is.
“Who the hell knows anymore,” Joshua says like it’s not important. “It’s totally eighties, and to Tanya, that’s totally awesome.” He smiles at her, but she’s already on her feet, swaying to the music.
The chorus begins, and Tanya starts singing, softly at first. I look around at the others, not sure how to react, and they start cheering—telling her to go for it. Then suddenly Tanya clutches her shirt and stretches her other hand toward us, belting out the lyrics.
We all start laughing, and Tanya goes on, rounding the circle of people to offer each of us a partial serenade. She’s committed, singing the ballad like it’s meant to be sung. At one point she fists her hair and drops to her knees. It’s freaking magical.
Eventually the song drifts off into a softer voice, and Tanya, out of breath, climbs to her feet. She bows, looking triumphant. The crowd erupts in cheers, and Joshua puts his fingers between his lips and whistles.
“It never gets old,” one girl says sincerely.
“Thank you,” Tanya says, and collapses next to Lourdes. “I just love that song.”
“I prefer Billie Holiday,” Joshua says, grabbing a new drink. “Or, you know, someone with talent.”
“Music snob,” Tanya says. She leans over and pecks him on the lips, and he licks his lips in response. I’m suddenly and completely confused. Are they the couple? I lift my bottle to take another sip, but find I’ve finished my drink. Have I been here that long?
“Do you need another?” Lourdes asks when I set down my bottle with a clink.
“I’m good,” I say. The song changes again, and it’s the same one I heard in the ballroom at the party. Same one I heard in the night. Again I can’t quite place it. I close my eyes and try to block out everything else, but I can’t understand the lyrics. The melody sounds too slow.
“Hey,” Lourdes says, drawing me out of my daze. When I look at her, she’s electric, pulsing with energy. “Want to see some ghosts?” she whispers.
I’m suddenly and completely sure that I don’t, not when it feels like fingers are crawling up my spine. But Joshua overhears, and he’s already grinning madly. “I don’t know,” I say, not wanting to sound like a total chickenshit.
“Come on, Audrey,” Joshua says. “You’re only here for a few days. Make the most of it. This is the best part.” A few others have caught on to the conversation and are already buzzing with excitement. Even though I don’t believe in ghosts, not really, the Ruby might just be able to convince me. I don’t want to be convinced. I like being a skeptic.
“She’s scared,” Tanya laughs out. “You can’t seriously be scared.”
My cheeks warm with embarrassment, peer pressure at its best, and I glance back to Lourdes. She raises her eyebrows to ask if I’m in. The eerie feeling has subsided, and the excited expressions surrounding me have piqued my curiosity.
“Do you ever really see ghosts?” I ask the housekeeper quietly. Lourdes’s red lips pull into a wide grin.
“All the time.”
“Fuck,” I mutter, earning a laugh. I glance around the rooftop to the other staff members beyond our group. They’re continuing on in their conversations, their laughter, oblivious to this plan to—
“It’s called Wake the Dead,” Lourdes says. “And we only play when someone new hangs out with us. Really,” she says teasingly, “it’s for you. So you can’t say no.”
“I can,” I correct her. “But I won’t this time. As long as you promise to save me if I get possessed or something.”
“Doesn’t work that way.” She gives her head a quick shake, and Joshua reaches out his hand to help Lourdes up. Tanya and two others grab their things to join us.
My stomach coils with dread, like it does with the slow ticking of a climbing roller coaster. The few drinks I’ve had set me spinning momentarily when I stand, but then I’m fine, and following behind Lourdes and Joshua, who has the cooler. On the way across the roof Lourdes pauses at the guy in the army jacket, leaning in close to whisper into his ear. He pulls back to smile at her longingly. She walks on, and the guy offers me a nod, telling me to have fun, as if the roller coaster is about to drop. At the door I glance back over the roof and then at Lourdes, who smiles, and takes my hand to pull me along.