I fire off a quick text. Dots start bouncing in reply immediately.
Henri:
About time. I’m fucking starved.
Me:
I met someone.
Henri:
Oh?
Me:
She’s coming back to the house with me. It’s a little complicated.
Please… just be well behaved, would ya?
The bubble on screen flurries as he types his reply as soon as I’ve hit send.
Henri:
Ohh. Watch out, he’s down bad already.
Letting out a heavy exhale, I can already hear the mischief in his voice. This might just put the brakes on things for Mia, but I can only hope that she won’t go running off into the mountains. If anything,he’sthe charming, suave one. Knowing him, she’ll probably take one look and ask if we can swap places in the role of acting as boyfriend-for-hire for a couple of days.
Me:
She’s shy.
Don’t scare her off.
Henri:
When am I ever anything but an angel?
Me:
Every goddamn day of my life.
CHAPTER FOUR
Me:
If I turn up on national news, here’s my last known location.
I don’t have a legal will, but consider this my formal notice that I leave you my book collection.
Don’t you dare dog-ear a single page, or I will HAUNT you.
Keri:
GO GO GO.
Do it.
Live a little, Mia. You fucking deserve to have some no-strings-attached fun this Christmas.
