Page 116 of The Overtime Persuasive

Tripp laughs. “Snyder’s Sorry Subscription. First month free with code ILETYOUDOWN.”

“Very helpful,” I mutter.

Lucy tilts her head. “You could put an alarm clock in it.”

“A map to the studio,” Tripp adds.

Owen looks up at me. “A phone with Eva’s number already entered.”

“My phone has her number.”

“Then why are you up a tree instead of talking to her?” Owen says with fake sincerity.

“Because she isn’t answering.”

“Right.” He gives the ladder a hard shake.

I grab the tree trunk. “Do that again and you’re going home with this box permanently attached to your head.”

“He’s threatening the captaincy group already,” Tripp says. “The power has gone straight to him.”

“Alternate captaincy,” Lucy corrects. “And it would help if one of you had a useful apology-box suggestion.”

“I was joking,” Owen says.

Lucy’s gaze moves to the box in my hands. “Actually, it’s not the worst idea.”

“It’s a terrible idea,” I say. “I can’t put a few things in a box and expect Eva to forgive me.”

“No,” she agrees. “But you could put in that chai she likes. The one in the purple tin.”

“And those sour candies she hides behind the register,” Tripp says.

“How do you know about those?”

“She gave me some when I signed the lease.”

“She’s never given me any.”

Tripp smiles. “Must be my natural charm.”

Lucy ignores us. “You’d need something for Mitch, or he’ll sit in the box and refuse to let her touch anything else. Maybe one of those ridiculous fish toys he likes.”

“The blue ones,” I say. “He won’t play with the orange ones.”

Three sets of eyes turn toward me.

“What?”

Owen’s mouth twitches. “Nothing.”

Lucy looks far too pleased. “Then you add the coffee she orders when she lets herself have something other than chai. That cinnamon stuff she pretends isn’t too sweet.”

“And music,” I say before I can stop myself. “Not a record. She’ll already own it. Maybe a playlist.”

Tripp folds his arms. “This apology box is becoming alarmingly sincere.”

“You also need an actual apology,” Lucy says. “Right on top, where she can’t miss it.”