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Then Angie said, “Is he hot?”

Laurie choked on her coffee.

Pamela shut her eyes.

Sybil stared at the phone. “I’m hanging up.”

“That wasn’t a no.”

“I was arrested last night.”

“I know, which is why I’m asking useful questions while also trying not to lose my mind.”

Sybil’s gaze met mine across the table. Color had appeared high in her cheeks.

I kept my expression mostly neutral.

Angie continued, “Seriously, tell me what you need. I can come over. Frankie can handle the kids for a while. I don’t care what time it is.”

“I know.” Sybil’s voice softened. “I’ll call you later. I promise. Right now I need to get through the meeting and figure out whether I still have an event.”

“You still have me.”

Sybil swallowed.

“I know that too.”

The call ended a minute later after Angie extracted another promise that Sybil would answer her phone.

Sybil picked up her coffee and stared into it.

Pamela touched her shoulder as she passed.

No one filled the silence with reassurance she hadn’t asked for.

I liked that about them.

Eventually Sybil stood. “I need my route binder.”

She crossed to the worktable and pulled a thick black binder from beneath a stack of vendor folders.

I pushed back my chair.

“Then we should go.”

She looked at me. “You’re going to make me ride with you again.”

“Yes.”

“And if I tell you I want to drive myself?”

“I’ll explain why I think that’s a bad idea.”

“And if I disagree?”

“Then we talk about it.”

She paused.