I tried again. "In the beginning, I wasn't even sure you'd last. But here you are."
"Here I am," he agreed, looking less than agreeable.
I gestured toward the paperwork. "So, I'm just saying…we should probably make it official."
He dropped his arms and sauntered forward until he was within easy reach of the forms. His hand hovered above the papers before slowly returning to his side. With a shake of his head, he told me, "Forget it."
"Why?"
"Because there's no need."
"To fill out the forms? Of course they're needed, unless…" I bit my lip. "You're not saying…you want cash instead?" I considered the risks. "I can see why you would – no taxes and all – but I don't want to get in trouble, legally I mean."
"Me neither."
"So…you're saying, what exactly?"
"That I don't want it."
I squinted in confusion. "You don't want money?"
His jaw flexed. "If I wanted money, I'd have said so."
"But I can't let you work for free."
The more I talked, the less happy he looked. "We just covered this."
"Yeah, but it makes no sense." I tried to laugh. "You're not, like…in witness protection or anything?"
His voice grew flat. "Witness protection."
"It was a joke."Or at least, I was pretty sure it was a joke. "But seriously," I persisted, "I don't even have your full name."
"Yeah? And I don't have yours. Not a big deal."
"But that's not true," I protested. "My last name's Pickett – just like it says on the sign." To drive the point home, I pointed to the lettering on my own shirt. "See? Pickett's Pedals – which makesmeMaisie Pickett."
He shrugged. "Yeah, well, not everyone wears their name on their chest."
"What kind of answer is that?"
He said nothing. But his look said it all.It's the only answer you're gonna get.
I couldn't help but groan. "Oh, my God. Youarein hiding, aren't you?"
32
Cash Not Accepted
Griff
I wasn't in hiding.I was lying low, that's all.
I said nothing while Maisie Pickett stared like she'd just spotted Bigfoot making off with a bike.
I stared back.No moving. No blinking. No glancing away.
Finally, it was Maisie who broke the silence. "Well?"
