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“Is this a bad time?” I asked.
“I’m sorry. I was distracted. Still finishing up work.”
There were clicking sounds, as if he were sitting in front of his computer, and then papers rustling.
“Oh, well, I won’t keep you long. I just wanted to say I was going to stay at Jeannie’s tonight. I didn’t want you to worry about me if I missed your call.”
There was more clicking and rustling, but no response.
“Johnny?”
“Oh, yeah, sorry. Not a problem. I have a lot still on my plate right now. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he said.
“Sure. Love—”
The phone beeped, signaling he’d ended the call. He’d gotten a promotion a couple of weeks prior. He was going to be distracted. If my life wasn’t falling apart, I wouldn’t have thought anything of this. It was just becauseIwas in a crazy way. As soon as I got this situation fixed, everything would be normal.
I dialed my mother next, but she didn’t answer.Thatwas completely expected, as she was probably passed out on the couch.
I dropped onto the cot, staring at the brooms lining the walls, the smell of bleach making me nauseated. The room was going to have to get aired out before I fell asleep.
Maybe I should go try to find a muffin, or even a cracker. It was better than lying here, staring at the walls.
The others were all lounging around still as I walked past again, heading to the kitchen area that was right next door.
“These reservation people never work out,” Dice said, not even attempting to keep his voice down.
“How would you know? We’ve never had a reservation person,” Connor said.
“Okay, you’re telling me this is working out?” he asked.
This. I wasn’t even ashe.
I grabbed a muffin from a platter and walked to where I could watch them while they discussed me, instead of only hearing every word.
“It’s a little rocky, but I might be willing to take that bet,” Connor said, and then gave me a wink, like he was on Team Billie. If he was with me, he’d help me get the hell out of this situation.
All three of them perked up, as if a magic word had been uttered.
“Get the book,” Dice said.
“You think I won’t?” Connor got to his feet. “You thought wrong.”
“I’ll take some of that action,” Cookie said.
“You’re going to bet on me?” I stopped, staring at them, muffin crumbs dropping onto my shirt. “Do you realize I’m a person who is basically stuck here against her will? That all I want to do is go home but am too terrified of being in agony and dying?”
All eyes were on me for a few seconds, as if they were shocked the subject of their bet was speaking, as if the insane person was about to start spitting or throwing feces.
The silence didn’t last long.
“Somebody’s a real killjoy,” Connor mumbled, clearly jumping off Team Billie at the first rough wave.
“Are you getting the book or not?” Dice asked. “Or are you chickening out because she looks like she’s cracking?”
“I’m not chickening out on anything,” Connor said.
I turned, planning on heading back to the kitchen. Talking to these people merely encouraged them.
