Ellie waited.
There was still glitter in her hair from the mermaid party.
A yellow thread circled her wrist.
She looked exactly like the woman I had woken beside that morning.
I had no idea how to explain why I now felt like a stranger standing in front of her.
“Rachel wants me to leave.”
“Of course she does.”
“I told her no.”
“For how long?”
“One hour.”
Ellie nodded.
“Generous.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
“What did you mean?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Her jaw tightened.
“Right.”
We reached Reef Rascal.
Captain Pancake slept beneath the counter.
Hank stood beside the register, peeling the silver star from his shirt.
He looked from Ellie to me.
Then at my phone.
“Trouble?”
“Yes,” Ellie said.
“No,” I said at the same time.
Hank considered us.
“Resolved?”
Neither of us answered.
He nodded toward the back.
“Office is empty.”
