7
MATILDA
“What do you mean you want to drop the story?” Bill yells into the phone. “You told me that you found her.”
I turn to see if Ellis heard him, but he’s busy finishing up the tilework in the atrium. Gran was a little too cryptic when she asked me not to give her identity away. I still wasn’t sure if that included her grandson—my boyfriend.
The level at which Bill is still yelling should be giving me anxiety right now. But it’s weird how quickly something you think is so important that it nearly takes over your life and be replaced with something infinitely better.
“I said IthoughtI found her,” I remind him, but he’s not interested in semantics. “I can’t find anyone who can lead me to Madame Zodiac’s true identity.”
“Mattie, I’ve never known you to give up without overturning every rock. You’ve only been there forty-eight hours. You haven’t turned over every rock. Turn. Over. Every. Rock.”
“I’m sorry, Bill,” I say, but not meaning an ounce of the apology. “It’s just not possible.”
“If you don’t do this and you screw me over. I will make sure that you are next on the chopping block.”
“I’m okay with that,” I say, feeling confident. “It was going to happen anyway. Goodbye, Bill.”
“Wha—” he starts to say, but I push the end button.
I can’t believe I just did that. I’m most definitely going to freak out later about this, but I know that I’m making the right call. Who wouldn’t trade a crappy job for a chance at true love? Especially if they are written in the stars.
“Everything okay?” Ellis asks, looping his arms around me and pulling me against him.
Turning my head, I find his lips waiting for me. I answer him with a kiss that we both feel all the way to our toes.
“I’m better now,” I say.
My phone pings in my hand. I half expect to see it’s from Bill, but I see that it’s from Paige.
