Page 24 of Trick or Stalk

She laughs. “This one’s new.”

“What happened to the old one?”

She hesitates.

I immediately start laughing.

“We have a lot in common.”

She gives me a sheepish smile. “This machine is temperamental.”

“Uh-huh.”

“It is.”

She wipes up the mess.

Perfect segue into my news. “I got a call this morning.”

She looks over her shoulder. “Good or bad?”

“Good.”

“That’s promising.”

Maybe not for you.

“The Crooked Spine offered me a job.”

Gracie stops… then slowly turns around. “And?”

I brace myself. “And I’m going to take it.”

She stares at me for three seconds, then smiles. “Good for you, Presley. Seriously.”

My shoulders unknot. I blow out a sigh of relief.

“At least my espresso machine will be safe.” She winks at me.

“From me. Not from you.”

Gracie hands me my coffee. “Good. Then it won’t be experiencing trauma from both of us.”

“I’m leaving,” I say, laughing.

“You just got here.”

“I feel judged.”

“You are being judged.”

Penny sits beside me, looking between us. Walter lies beside her, licking his paw.

“See?” I point at her. “Even Penny thinks you’re mean.”

Gracie comes around the counter and squats down, petting her. Penny immediately tries to climb into her lap.

I shake my head. “Unbelievable.”