Page 127 of Collect the Pieces

I step toward the stand holding the guest book. “I need to put this in the office.” I gesture toward the small, narrow door in the back corner of the viewing room. “There are cleaning supplies in there.” I give him a list of things to wipe down while I run down to my father’s office and take care of some paperwork.

A few minutes later, Jigsaw taps on the open door. “What’s next?”

“We can leave the chairs for now.” I close my eyes briefly, running over the list my father left me. “I think that’s it. I just need to lock the doors.”

Jigsaw leans into the hallway and gestures wildly toward the doors. “Lock those!”

“Got it!” Rooster shouts.

I shut the computer down and stand, stretching my arms over my head and yawning.

“Long day?”

“It was…a lot.” I don’t want to bring Daniel up again, but I think Jigsaw understands.

He holds out his hand. “Come on. Let’s get dinner.”

“Ugh.” I glance down at my stodgy outfit. “I need to change.”

Rooster’s waiting outside the office with Jigsaw. “You guys can come upstairs.” I glance up at Jigsaw. “Maybe Gretel would like to meet Rooster.”

Jigsaw chuckles. “Okay.”

Rooster frowns in confusion.

“Oh, you didn’t tell Rooster you hijacked my cat?” I tease as I head for the stairs.

“I didn’thijackher.” Jigsaw laughs. “She just has good taste in humans.”

Jigsaw

Rooster follows slowly behind me.

I turn and stare at him a few steps below. “I’m not gonna ask you to join us for a three-way, bro.”

He snaps his head up and frowns at me. “Maybe I don’t want her dad pissed if he finds usbothup here.”

“Dad really doesn’t venture up here that often,” Margot calls down. “As for any other concerns, Jigsaw’s already more than I can handle. Besides, I like Shelby way too much to invite you into my bedroom.”

Rooster’s eyebrows shoot up and he lets out a deep rumble of laughter. “Christ, you two are perfect for each other,” he mutters.

I hurry up the last few stairs and wrap my arms around Margot’s waist as she punches in the code to her apartment. “Am I too much for you?” I ask against her ear.

“I love every…” She lowers her gaze and her lips curve into a playful smile. “Second.”

We push into the apartment, and Rooster follows us inside.

“I made more cookies after you left.” Margot points to the kitchen. “And brought a plate up just for you. They’re in the fridge.”

In between tending to a busy service and dealing with her ex, she somehow found time to set aside cookies for me? “Thank you.”

“I’m going to change.” She squeezes my hand. “Help yourself to anything you want. There’s coffee in the cabinet above the coffee maker.”

“I got it.” I glance at Rooster and nod to one of the stools at the counter.

Margot hurries into her bedroom and I head into the kitchen in search of the cookies.

In the fridge, there’s a small black-and-white plate stacked with chocolate chip cookies and covered with plastic wrap.

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