57
He's Been Sleeping Where?
Maisie
The front door jingled, and Franny breezed in, looking absolutely delighted, like she'd just caught a whiff of juicy gossip and couldn't wait to sniff it out.
I wasn't in the mood.Last night, Tessa had remained in her bedroom, I'd slept like crap on the couch, and Griff had remained utterly dark.
We hadn't texted. We hadn't called. And as far as I could tell, he'd quit the shop with no notice – even if hehadsent a replacement.
It was incredibly thoughtful – and beyond annoying, because, well…the guy wasn't Griff.
The replacement was Ryder, who'd shown up first thing this morning like he'd been working here for weeks. And then, he'd refused to leave – even after I'd told him as nicely as I could that while I appreciated the offer, I could manage on my own.
That was four hours ago, and I was still trying to make sense of it.
Franny's eyes twinkled as she marched straight to the counter and announced, "I heard you've got a new one."
"A new what?" I knew what she meant, of course. But I was too despondent to play along.
She pointed toward the nearby window, where just outside, my new employee was chatting it up with two senior ladies who'd come in to rent bikes.
My stomach clenched as I silently watched. The women were giggling like schoolgirls while Ryder adjusted the seats andsomehow managed to turn the basic process into a show of its own, complete with cocky grins and enough charm to power the island.
From inside the shop, I couldn't actually hear them, but I could see plenty. And it got me thinking.Griff wasn't charming. He was something better – at least for me.
Except he wasn't mine anymore.
More likely, he neverhadbeen.
I pulled my gaze from the window and looked back to Franny, who was still staring through the glass. She looked absolutely mesmerized, like Magic Mike had come to Mackinac and was dry humping a bike.
In a dreamy voice, she asked, "Where do you find these guys, anyway?"
The answer was too complicated for words. I hadn't found Griff at all. He'd foundmewhen he'd proposed that outrageous work-for-food arrangement. And then, he'd found a new guy to take his place.
I couldn't help but sigh. "Heck if I know." But swapping one guy for another had wreaked havoc on my plans.
This morning, I'd woken up determined to take Tessa's advice and simply ask Griff where he'd been on that fateful night.
But I couldn't ask him if he wasn't here.
Yes, Ididrealize we both had cell phones, but some things required a conversation face-to-face.
Across from me, Franny looked away from the window and asked, "So why areyouso glum? Two is better than one, right?"
I was still thinking of Griff. Absently, I asked, "What do you mean?"
"Well…you've got the one working the night shift andthatone…" She pointed to Ryder. "…working the day."
I tensed.The night shift?
So, she knew that Griff and I had been staying late at the shop?I tried not to blush.Not just late.Reallylate.
There were times we hadn't left the shop until after 3 a.m., skulking out through the back door like thieves in the night.
On the upside, Franny hadn't mentionedwhatwe'd been doing so late.
