Page 25

“Maybe.”

“Stay on the phone with me,” she said. “And tell me what’s in his medicine cabinet. Oh, and look underneath the bathroom sink.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Just do it,” she commanded.

“Bossy.” I climbed off the bed and padded to the bathroom and immediately opened the cabinet under the sink. “Toilet paper, thing of mouthwash, an unopened box of jumbo-sized⁠—”

“Jumbo? I’m so happy for you.”

I snorted. “Tell me why you wanted me to look under the sink.”

“No tampon boxes?”

“Nope.”

“Then he really is single.”

“Oh,” I said quietly.

I closed the cabinet door and sank down onto the floor and leaned against the wall.

“So, you talked to Ethan, yes?”

“Yeah.” I gave her a quick update and then fell silent.

“How are you feeling about all of it?”

“Okay, I think.”

“Not sad?”

“Pissed. But not sad,” I said.

“Pissed at Ethan?”

“No. At myself. For begging for scraps for so long. Anyway, it’s over now. I’m focusing on the future.”

“And the jumbo-sized box of condoms?”

A key in the door alerted me to Stratton’s return.

“Gotta go. Talk soon.”

I scrambled off the floor of the bathroom just as Stratton entered the cabin, carrying brown takeout bags.

He smiled when he saw me. “You’re awake.”

“Yeah.” I smiled sheepishly. “Sorry I passed out.”

“All good.” He raised the bags. “I got barbecue. Hope that’s okay?”

“Better than okay.”

I followed him to the kitchen and started opening cabinets in search of plates. When I found them, I grabbed two and turned around to find him watching me again.

“You’re making yourself at home,” he said softly. “I like that.”