“Yeah.”
The character who had rung the bell didn’t look like the one who’d left the house the day before. Was that only yesterday? It felt like a lifetime.
“What time is it?” she asked.
“Five.”
Her eyes slid over him. He must be wearing a wig because he now had long, light brown hair caught in a ponytail in the back. He had on a ratty green T-shirt and jeans with holes at the knees, and his sneakers looked like they’d been dragged through mudflats. When she looked at them, he kicked them off onto the porch.
Her gaze rose again. Somehow, he’d changed the shape of his face. Maybe he’d put something in his mouth to pad it out. And his nose was larger and redder.
“I wouldn’t recognize you.”
“That was the idea. Now we’ll see what we can do about you.” As he spoke, he hefted the gym bag he was carrying.
“What’s that?”
“The outfit you’re going to wear.”
“Okay.”
He gave her a speculative look and asked, “Did it work?”
She didn’t have to ask what he meant, and she couldn’t prevent heat from creeping into her face. “Yes.”
“How did you do it?”
She felt her flush deepen.
Her reaction brought a bit of color to his complexion as well. “Okay, sorry I asked.”
Needing to change the subject, she looked out the door and saw a beat-up, ten-year-old Chevy that went with the character he’d transformed himself into.
Her gaze must have turned skeptical because he said, “It’s got a powerful engine under the rusted hood.”
“Okay.”
Still feeling awkward, she stepped aside to let him in. She might have taken him to the couch, except that a picture of herself and Travis in sexual ecstasy sprang to her mind, and she had to pivot quickly away. Glad her back was still turned, she headed for the kitchen and glanced around as though she were seeing the familiar room for the first time.
“Uh, coffee?” she asked.
“If you’re having some.”
“I am.” She didn’t really need any caffeine, but getting the fixings gave her something to do besides awkwardly confronting him.
“I’ve got lots of pods. What do you want?”
“No fancy flavors.”
“Kona okay?”
“Sure.”
As she and Gabe talked, she was vividly aware of Travis observing the interaction in amusement.
I’m not gonna brag about our exploits, if you don’t.
Gabe’s casual answer was a nice counterpoint to her awkwardness.
