"Well…I was home earlier, but then…" I broke off as I realized something. "Hey, wait a minute…I asked you the same question, and you never answered. On that whiskey night, where were you?"
"I was at Griff's. So, where were you?"
Something about his tone wasn't sitting quite right. But fair was fair, so I just laid it out there. "I fell asleep at the coffee shop."
"Nope."
I frowned. "What do you meannope?"
"I met you right after work."
"So?"
"So it was right outside that back door. It didn't look like you were sleeping to me."
"Well,obviously," I said. "I meant later that night, I went back to make sure the store was locked, and—"
"Alone?" He sounded incredulous, like I'd just confessed to sleeping in a pit of vipers.
"Yes,alone.It wasn't a big deal."
"So you decided to do what? Camp there?"
"I wasn't camping," I said. "I fell asleep in Skip's stupid recliner."
Sounding unconvinced, he replied, "Right."
"What, you don't believe me?"
"I dunno. DoesMaisiebelieve you?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because of what you said." His voice tightened. "She thought you were with Griff."
"Well…she didn't say it outright, but she was definitely wondering."
"Huh."
"Huh, what?"
"It's a curious thing to wonder, don't you think?"
The memory still stung. "Yes, actually."
"So she thought the two of you were what? Getting busy at the coffee shop?"
I didn't like the way that sounded. "Are you accusing me of something?"
"Like what?"
As if he didn't know."Oh, come on. Let's cut to the chase. Surely, you don't think I was doing anything with Griff."If so, I didn't think my heart could take it.
"No. I don't. The truth is, it didn't even cross my mind." I let out a long sigh of relief, only to cut it short when he added, "I know Griff."
What the hell?"And you don't knowme?"
"I do. But your story has holes."
