"Mystory has holes?" I sputtered. "What aboutyourstory?"
"What story's that?"
"Correction," I said. "Yourlackof story. I mean, seriously, you and I have spent the last few days together – and nights, too. And that whole time, you never once mentioned running into Maisie and Griff. Don't you think that's a little odd?"
"Not as odd as sleeping at a coffee shop, which, for the record,younever mentioned either."
That did it."You know what? I'm done with this conversation."
"Too bad," he said with just a hint of sarcasm. "It was just getting good."
I couldn't even tell if he was joking. But it didn't matter. By now, I'd lost all sense of humor.
Obviously, he was angry. But if anyone should be angry, it was me.
When we hung up a few moments later, I was regretting calling him at all. And judging from his tone as he'd said goodbye, the feeling was more than mutual – which really sucked.
And that was putting it mildly.
84
Questions Encouraged
Tessa
My jaw hung loose as I stared at the handwritten sign. It was taped to the rear door of the coffee shop, scribbled in thick red ink on plain white paper – just like that sign from Skip.
Butthissign wasn't a Skip production.It couldn't be.I felt a slow smile spread across my face as I read it for the umpteenth time.
JACKASS INSIDE.
Apology Waiting.
Questions Encouraged.
If the sign was true, it would be a huge balm to my battered soul. After last night's arguments – first with Maisie and then with Ryder – I'd spent far too many hours wallowing in despair.
I hadn't talked to either one of them since things had gone sideways. Even though Maisie and I had slept under the same roof, we hadn't spent a single moment together in the same room – while Ryder had made himself just as scarce.
I'd felt more alone than I had in ages.
But now, looking at that sign?I felt some of the loneliness lift, wondering if maybe all of us just needed some time to cool off.
It was a comforting thought, and I leaned into it while I studied the scribbled message.It was hilarious, but impossible.
There was no way Ryder could be anywhere inside the coffee shop. It wasn't even open yet, and Skip always arrived late.
But then, in a flash, I recalled Ryder's offhand comment about picking locks, and my pulse gave a little kick. Slowly, I reached for the door handle, expecting resistance, but hoping for the opposite.
My breath caught.No resistance.
I flung the door open wide and rushed into the back room, not knowing what I'd see.
I saw…nothing.
Or at least nothing out of the ordinary.
But Ididhear something.Snoring?
