When I looked at Beth, I noticed her watching Austin, who was waiting for Mary.
Austin rested against the back of the booth, staring at his phone.
Only his screen was blank.
Is he listening to us?
No way was our conversation worth eavesdropping on.
“Well, if you change your mind, let Mary know.”
I nodded, knowing I’d never ask Mary to do that. “I doubt he’ll come back.”
While we prepped for the afternoon, Beth entertained me with stories about Chase and his playground girlfriends.
To be eight again.
“I can’t even imagine what it’ll be like when he’s a teenager,” Beth sighed. “Thank God Doug will be there to help.”
Mary covered her surprise at seeing Austin quickly, but not quickly enough.
Beth and I shamelessly watched the interaction.
“Austin!” Mary hugged him. “To what do I owe this honor?”
“I felt bad for being an ass to Nina, so I came to apologize.”
“That’s nice. Did she accept?” Mary asked, looking at me.
I nodded as he said, “Thankfully, yes. Can I talk to you for a second outside?”
She agreed, which killed our ability to hear them.
Outside, Austin did most of the talking. Mary nodded a lot, and at one point turned to look at me. Or maybe Beth. But probably me because of what had happened between Austin and Dirk.
Austin lifted his hand in a half wave-half salute through the window after hugging Mary goodbye.
Mary didn’t mince words when she came back in.
“I’m banning Dirk. Any objections?”
Beth smiled.
I tugged on the dangling cherry earring in my left ear.
Chapter 14
Austin
“How’d it go?” Gibson asked after making himself at home in my hotel room.
My look said it all.
“That well, huh?”
“We got interrupted before I got anywhere.” My irritation oozed out in a most uncharacteristic way. That was happening a lot during this case—me acting out of character.
“Do tell.”
