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“Hearth and Honey.”

I know the place. It’s a restaurant on the edge of downtown Hollow Creek. Cute. Busy. Good sandwiches. Ridiculously expensive desserts that somehow always end up in front of me.

“When?”

“Three-thirty.”

I check the time again. “I can make that.”

“No.”

I slowly turn my head. Roman doesn't look at me.

“I'll see you soon, Violet.”

“Thank you.”

“Don't thank me yet. I might kill her.”

Roman mutters, “Get in line.”

I smile.

“Love you.”

“Love you too.” I hang up.

“No,” Roman says again.

I look at him. “You don't even know what you're saying no to.”

“You're going somewhere.”

“Yes. To work.”

“You were working at home.”

“Now I'm working somewhere else.”

“No.”

I stare at him. He keeps driving.

“Are we back to this?”

“No.”

“Sounds suspiciously like we're back to this.”

His jaw flexes. “Callie.”

“Roman.”

Smoke sighs dramatically behind us. “I should've stayed at the garage.”

Roman looks at him in the rearview mirror. “Yeah, and end up like your customer.”

I gasp and smack Roman’s arm. “Stop it.”