"I'm sorry I dumped on you as soon as you got home. Whatever it is—"
"Not right now, okay? I can't talk about it now. Go eat your breakfast before it gets cold." I shook my head and focused on the coffee pouring slowly into my cup.
Cam gave my arm one more gentle squeeze before she went to sit back down at the counter and eat with her mom.
I knew I should talk to Colette and Cam. Make polite conversation. But I just didn't have it in me this morning.
I crossed my arms on the counter and bent at the waist to rest my forehead against them. I wasn't just physically tired. I was exhausted down to my soul.
As soon as the machine quit hissing and spitting out precious caffeine, I added sugar and creamer to my cup and carried it out of the kitchen with me.
After the coffee, if I was feeling better, I would work. Since I'd quit my job, I could put together plans and lists for Crave. Cam wanted to expand her business and if I could talk her into it, I'd be working with her. I knew she would want to pay me but that would mean a pay cut for herself. So, I needed to make sure that she wouldn't have to do that.
I put my coffee on the nightstand, gathered my hair into a messy bun on the top of my head, and stretched out on the bed with my laptop in front of me.
I needed to call Ben, but I was going to wait a little bit longer.
Mostly because I needed to gather my courage.
I would call him this afternoon, I decided. It would give me time to shore up my bravery.
I had no idea how long I'd worked, but at some point, I'd dozed off.
A soft knock on my door woke me.
"Come in," I called.
Cam stuck her head in the door and choked on a laugh. "You alive?" she asked.
"Barely," I mumbled into the comforter.
"Could I bribe you to look up something for me?" she asked. "I'll make you a cup of coffee."
"Only if it's a big one."
"That's what all the girls say."
I had to bite back a smile. "Shut up and tell me what you need. Then go make me some coffee."
Cam sat down on the bed next to my hip. "I got a letter from my mortgage company a few days ago saying that my loan had been sold. I didn't think much of it until I got another one today from the bank that carries my car loan. It's been sold as well. To the same company."
I lifted my head. That definitely smelled fishy. "Well, that's interesting."
"Think you can dig up some more information on who owns the company?" she asked.
I shot her a sideways glance. "Contrary to popular belief, I cannot hack into any and all systems. However, you could probably Google the company and find that out on their website. Or at least who the CEO and COO are."
"Gee, you're so helpful."
Actually, I was helpful. And if I thought it was necessary, I would do more than use Google and social media. But that was Plan B. Plan A was to utilize means that weren't illegal. "Give me a sec and I'll see."
I typed the name of the company into the search bar and started clicking through pages until I found a staff list, complete with pictures.
I turned my computer toward Cam and asked, "Recognize this guy?"
"Ronald Shelton? No, but—"
Interesting. Okay, so she didn't know him. I turned the computer back around and opened another tab, this time to Facebook. I was betting Ronald Shelton was a Facebook man. "Hmmm. Let's see what social media has to say about Mr. Shelton."
