"Angry. Like I want to prove myself my own way."
I pull into an open spot in front of the restaurant. Turning to Jessie, I say, "Do me a favor?"
"What's that?"
I lean forward and smile at her. "Give them hell."
She grins. “I intend to."
"Ughhhhh,"Jessie says, a hand to her stomach. "I forgot how rich French food can be."
I laugh at her. "You ate as much as me."
"I know," she wails, "don't remind me. Maybe I'll just take a nap in the trunk while you drive us home." She turns to look at the back seat. "Never mind. Why does it look like everything you own is in your trunk?"
"Because everything I own that's currently in Sierra Grande is in my trunk."
She faces the front again. "Why?"
"The Sierra has termites. I've been kicked out, along with every other guest."
“What?” She gapes at me. “How was that not a topic of conversation at dinner?"
"Pest infestations isn't good dinner conversation."
"Agreed. Where are you going to stay?"
I flip back through my conversation with the person at the hotel I called, trying to recall the name. It was a little kitschy, and very on the nose. "Sleep Easy? Rest Here? Something like that. Everything else was full."
"Sleep Here?" Jessie screeches. "Nope. Absolutely not. You'll trade termites for bedbugs. And then I will want nothing to do with you for approximately ninety days."
"Is that how long it takes to get rid of bedbugs?"
"I don't know. It was a random number."
I laugh. "You're funny."
"You're going to be sorry if you stay there." She snaps her fingers. "You can stay with me. Problem solved."
"Right. Your dad would love that."
"He already thinks we slept together. Who cares? And this way, you can spend time with Colt. Dakota said she asked you to meet with just her and Colt and help him."
Jessie makes a good point. Dakota called me yesterday and asked, telling me she'd pay me to work with him. I have no intention of accepting payment from her, and every intention of helping the little guy out as much as I can.
"See?" Jessie sits back, smiling contentedly. "You're considering it."
"It makes sense. Especially because I can work from anywhere." I’d rented office space because working from the hotel room was depressing. But working from Jessie’s cabin? Sounds like paradise.
"Is that your way of saying yes?"
I look over at her. Her eyes are open wide, anticipating my response.
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes."
