She winked. "You don’t want to know. You’ll run screaming to the nearest treadmill."
"Ignorance is bliss!"
I munched on the donut Danish as I drove back to the office.
After everything Garrett had done, I felt bad that I didn’t have his favorite straw. It seemed like such a small thing, but it always made him happy. I checked online, but the stores were all out of stock.
"Why can’t they make a nonplastic straw that’s like plastic? Oh!" I exclaimed, a pumpkin-spice latte–induced epiphany hitting me.
I drove back to the old Victorian house and half jogged around to the back, where Morticia and Lilith had their workshop.
"Is something on fire? I don't think I’ve ever seen you run that fast," Morticia said mildly.
"Ha ha, and just for that, you don’t get a donut Danish."
"We don't eat donut Danishes. They're puffy and cute," Lilith sniffed.
"This is a blackberry chocolate donut Danish." I took it out of the bag.
Morticia's eyes widened. "It’s black like my soul. I need it." She held out her hand. I sighed and handed her the treat.
She bit into it. "Inspirational."
"I need a favor," I said. "I need that straw you made for Garrett’s brothers."
"We have several. The little Svenssons are trying to mass-produce them." She and Lilith gave each other knowing looks. "The poor children. They try so hard."
"They’re, like, ten years old. Give them a break."
"We have high standards," Morticia said as she handed me a couple of the straws. "I don’t know how many more there will be, though. We were not paid to make them."
"So you did it because they were cute?"
The twins scowled.
"Oh my god! I knew it! You love children."
Morticia sniffed and took another dainty bite of the donut Danish.
I stuck one of the straws into my coffee and took a sip. "It’s pretty good. Has a nice mouthfeel. Garrett will appreciate that."
"Gross."
* * *
I parkedthe car in Garrett's spot and skipped into the building. I couldn’t wait to show him the straw and see what he thought.
"Garrett! You wouldn’t believe it! Geez, how could I be so dumb. The answer was right in front of me—"
But Garrett wasn’t in his office.
I checked his calendar; he wasn’t supposed to be in a meeting. Sticking the straw in his iced coffee, I wandered around the office, looking for him. I found him in an out-of-the-way conference room. Several of his brothers were there as well. None of the Svenssons seemed happy. I wondered if I should interrupt them.
Garrett looked up at me, his face a cold mask, eyes unreadable.
I turned to leave and almost ran into Bronwyn.
"There you are," she sneered. "I guess I arrived just in time for the grand finale, when Garrett finally boots you out and I pick up the pieces. He’s going to see how terrible you are, and I’ll be the kind, sweet, marriageable girl who exposed your lies."
