For the first time since Ollie has stormed into my life, he smiles. “She already knows the answer.”
With that, he disappears, leaving me standing shaken in his mother’s dining room.
Garrett was here.
“DO YOU PLANto invade my space all night?”
Corinne has her Nike-covered feet propped up on my coffee table, and she’s lying back on the space typically reserved for Ava.
She makes some noise that sounds like something between a grunt and a groan, but doesn’t use her words, which might be a first.
“If you insist on staying, want something to eat?” I ask.
She nods.
“What do you want?”
She shrugs.
“Have you lost your voice?”
“I’m tired,” she snaps, and I have to refrain from chucking my throw pillow at her head.
“You carried some boxes and you’re acting like you ran a marathon.”
Her head flops toward me like a broken bobblehead. “They were heavy, and that’s not what’s happening here.”
“Please... enlighten me.”
Before she has a chance to explain whatishappening, the doorbell rings. I don’t move, because I’m not sure my legs work at this point.
“You gonna get that?” Corinne whines after the third chime.
“Nope.”
If my past few weeks is any indication that luck has left me in the dust, it’s likely Nick, coming with a host of doctors to carry me away.
After Ollie went on to the afterlife, Corinne and I hightailed it to the door, with Nick on our heels asking an assortment of questions.
Thankfully, Mrs.Craft came to our aid and shooed him back to his yard work, allowing us to make our escape. It’s only a matter of time before Nick comes knocking, demanding answers.
“It’s a little late for a salesman.”
I glance up at the wall clock and realize it’s ten after eight. It is a bit late on a Sunday, but that wouldn’t deter someone like Nick West.
A disheveled-looking Lanie rushes into the room, blowing out a labored breath when she sees me. “Call off the squad. She’s here,” she says into her cell phone, before hitting End and throwing it into her oversized knock-off Louis.
“I should’ve known it was you,” I say.
“Nina and I have been worried sick.” Her steps falter when she gets a look at my unwanted guest. “Corinne? What are you doing here?” She looks back and forth between us, waiting for someone to explain.
I sigh. “That, my friend, is a long story.”
She crosses her arms over her chest, signaling she expects me to spill every last detail.
“Good thing I have all night.”
I take a deep breath and turn to Corinne. “You wanna tell her?”
