I was in the hotel lobby waiting for Jack when a snippy female voice from somewhere behind me called out, "Have you found your book yet?"
Crap.I recognized the voice.
I turned to look. Sure enough, there she was – Darbie, along with the same brunette as before. They were striding toward me, wheeling fashionable suitcases behind them.
Darbie looked beyond satisfied, and maybe a little smug.
So Jackhadn'tkilled her.Go figure.
It was a joke, obviously, even if I didn't feel like laughing.And why?It was because I was all too aware that Jack had probably done theotherthing while retrieving the book – a book which hestillhadn't returned, by the way.
Jerk.
And that went double for the dynamic duo, who'd just stopped directly in front of me. From what I could tell, they were checking out of this very same hotel.
As far as Darbie's question, I wasn't quite sure how to answer. Obviously, she'd relinquished the book.But did she realize that Jack hadn't bothered to return it to me?
If not, Isodidn't want to be the one to enlighten her.After all, how humiliating was that?
Looking to reveal as little as possible, I stiffly replied, "Yeah. I saw it. So I guess you deserve a thanks."
From me?
I honestly didn't know. On top ofthat, I had no idea whatsheknew either. All in all, I was at a serious disadvantage.
Darbie and her friend exchanged a look. With an odd little smile, the brunette asked, "Are you being sarcastic?"
I felt my eyebrows furrow.Was I?
"No," I murmured. "I don't think so."
At this, both of them laughed like I'd just said something funny. Through her laughter, Darbie said, "What, you don't know?"
AllIknew was that my timing sucked. As part of my vow to be a better employee, I'd come down to the lobby fifteen minutes early so I'd be waiting when Jack arrived to leave for the airport.
Apparently, that had been a terrible mistake. Probably I should've waited in my room, or maybe even out on the sidewalk – anywhere the two girlsweren't.
With a sigh, I turned away, leaving them to think whatever they wanted.
But when I did, they sidled up beside me, suitcases and all.
Ihad no suitcases, not with me, anyway. A half-hour earlier, a bell hop had come up to my room and retrieved my luggage for delivery to the limo, telling me that Jack Ward had ordered the service personally.
The guy wouldn't even accept a tip, telling me that this, too, had been taken care of by Jack.
All in all, it was surprisingly thoughtful.
Who knows? Maybe I wasn't the only one trying to turn over a new leaf. Still, this whole leaf-turning business would've been a whole lot easier if only the girls had simply ignored me and kept on walking.
But they hadn't. And now, they were sidling even closer, as if they were determined to make me feel as uncomfortable as possible.
It was working, too. Still, I refused to run off like a coward.
As I stood in stubborn silence, the brunette turned to the blonde and said in an overly conversational tone, "Hey Darbie, by any chance, do you have some reading material that I could borrow?"
"Why yes," Darbie replied. "I have a bestseller right here in my carry-on."
Oh, for God's sake.They sounded like bad actresses in a late-night infomercial. I could practically see them appearing on my TV."Say Darbie, do you have a disgusting social disease? Well, I have just the cream to take care of it..."
