"Yeah." I was almost embarrassed to say it. "You know…like a sandwich."
She just looked at me.
Quickly, I added, "And a bike."
She tilted her head, frowning like she'd misheard. "So…he's working for a bike and a sandwich?"
"Not justonesandwich," I clarified. "Multiple sandwiches." I reached up to rub the back of my neck before finishing in a rush. "And the bike's a loaner, not for keepsies."
By now, the look of relief was long-gone. "So heisworking for free."
I gave a resigned sigh. "Okay, fine. Sure, he's not getting an actual paycheck, but Iamgiving him something."
I turned and continued into the kitchen, flipping on the lights and eyeballing my cupboards. I didn't need to open them to know they weren't exactly overflowing.
Tessa asked, "But why would he work for so little?"
That was the million-dollar question, wasn't it?I'd been asking it myself all day, and I had yet to find an answer. Maybe I didn'twantto find it – because if Griff was helping me out of pity, what did that say about me for letting him?
It wouldn't say anything good, that's for sure.
For my own benefit as much as Tessa's, I said, "It's not like I twisted his arm."
"I never said you did."
"Yeah, but I'm just saying…it was his idea, not mine."
I turned and opened the fridge. To nobody's surprise, the contents were pathetic – half a jar of olives, a single yogurt, and one sad-looking tomato.No lunchmeat, no bread, no lettuce either.
I frowned. The island's only grocery store was already closed, which meant that I would need to get creative – or ambitious. I shut the fridge and turned back to Tessa.
Apparently, this was her cue to ask, "But why? I mean…nobody works for sandwiches."
"Don't forget the bike," I reminded her. "That totally counts."
"But not for keeps," she remindedme. "So, no. It doesn't."
Oh, for crying out loud.
Who was Tessa to decide what counted and what didn't?Biting back annoyance, I said, "Look, I appreciate your concern. I really do, but I can't afford to be picky, okay?" I gave her a pleading look. "I was drowning. You know that. So excuse me if I grab the first decent lifeline that comes along."
Her tone sharpened. "Well, excusemeif I'm concerned." But then she paused, and her hands flew to her mouth. "Oh, my God."
I glanced around. "What?"
Through splayed fingers, she said, "I sound just like my mom."
Oddly enough, I had met Tessa's mom. She and I had never hit it off, probably because Tessa's mom had never been the warm and fuzzy type, especially with Delaney, who was definitely not the golden girl.
And now I didn't know what to say.
Tessa dropped her hands. "I'm really sorry. I know it's none of my business. Just forget I said anything, okay?"
For some reason, this wasn't what I wanted to hear. Unlike Delaney, I'd never had a big sister. And just now, even though I'd been incredibly annoyed, it had been kind of nice to see that she cared.
And allI'ddone was snap at her for it. "No,I'msorry. I didn't mean to bite your head off. You're being…weirdly nice, and I guess I panicked."
She stared at me. "Weirdlynice?"
