“You gonna go onGood Morning Americanow?” Willie Wayne asks.
“Slow your roll, Double Dub,” Phoebe says, earning a high-pitched chuckle from Willie Wayne at the nickname. “One viral video doesn’t make a man famous. It makes him prone to ego problems when the world forgets him in five minutes.”
Estelle eyeballs me. “We already have ego problems.”
“Gigi,be human. Monsters don’t go to heaven.”
“Phoebe is so mouthy,” Lola murmurs to me.
The three out-of-towners are gawking.
One’s holding her phone like she’s trying to subtly record this.
I make theI need to get out of this boothgesture at Lola.
Tavi’s still not here.
She posted the video, but she’s not here. “I gotta get to work.”
And check my TikTok account. And—
Hell.
I missed calls from my mom and Hannah. Hannah’s mom. One of my uncles and two of my aunts. My kindergarten teacher, whose showerheads I replaced last week.
But not Tavi.
She has my number, and I know she has a phone.
But she’s missing this morning.
Lola doesn’t budge. “You look like you could use a massage. I amso goodat finding the best massage therapists in any city. It’s a gift. I’m happy to put my talents to good use for you.”
“Yeah, I’m late for a job, so ...”
I scoot closer to her again.
She still doesn’t take the hint.
“Lola, let the man out of the booth,” Phoebe orders. “He knows where to find you if he’s interested.”
“Are you sure she’s done the work she needs to do to get to heaven?” Lola says to Gigi.
“I have grave doubts about everyone here this morning,” Estelle replies.
“Oh, hey, is that my brother?” Teague squints out the window.
Lola shoots up out of the booth like her butt’s spring-loaded. “Jonah’s here? What? Where?”
“Ah, hell, I forgot. He’s not back yet. Must’ve been wishful seeing.”
I flash Teague a thumbs-up as I scoot out of the booth.
He gives me theI hate outsiderslook in response.
Estelle rises too. She comes up to my chin, which means she’s wearing heels today. “We are not done, Mr.Wright.”
I slip her a card. “Sorry, Estelle. Call my answering service. I have a broken shower knob and a persnickety sink that’ve already waited a week longer than they should’ve.”
