I replied with a finger emoji – you know the one. And then, I set the phone aside and shook out the beach towel. Length-wise, it was still nearly a foot shy, but I was in no position to be picky.
I spread it out on the mattress and added the second bath towel for good measure. Then I yanked on my hoodie and lay back on the bed.
Tomorrow, I would need to wash the beddingandthe towels, plus the hoodie, but the way I saw it, it was a fair trade for a decent night's sleep.
Notfullydecent, of course.
The mattress was still lumpier than a sack of doorknobs.
But at least I'd have a layer between me and the biohazard.
So, I'd be able to getsomesleep.
Probably.
And for breakfast tomorrow?
You guessed it. Pastries.
With plenty of cranberries.
I let out a sigh.Only twenty-nine more days to go.
16
The Hit Man Hypothesis
Maisie
"Oh, please," I laughed. "He's not a hit man."
Standing at the kitchen table, Tessa paused in the middle of pouring flour into a glass measuring cup. "I didn't say he was."
"But Franny did?"
"She didn't say for sure," Tessa admitted. "It was just one of her theories."
I had to give Tessa credit. I'd insisted on taking a shower before talking, and by the time I'd gotten dressed, she'd already pulled out the bread machine and had the ingredients all lined up like she actually knew what she was doing.
She'd also left something sneaky on the table – a tiny bottle of pineapple-flavored booze – a leftover from last night's therapy session. Whether it was a kindness or something to loosen my tongue, I'd been pleased as punch to see it.
Between tiny sips, I'd already given her the full rundown, including how Griff had come to my rescue earlier today with Chad.
In return, she had toldmehow Franny had swept into the coffee shop like a one-woman news alert, hoping to spread a little gossip and collect some in return – not that Franny had gotten any.
Howcouldshe? After all, Tessa had known nothing of Griff.
Naturally, I had to ask, "What were herothertheories?"
Tessa lifted her eyebrows. "Get this. She's seen him twice, right?"
I shrugged. "How wouldIknow?"
"Well, that's what she said at the coffee shop. But anyway, she swears that he looked different today compared to yesterday, like he's in disguise or something."
It was vintage Franny, and I had to laugh.It's not like he'd slapped on a monocle and fake mustache."He was dressed more casually, that's all."
Tessa paused in the middle of pouring salt into a teaspoon. "Wait…so you met this guy yesterday, too?"
