Page 37 of Break My Fall

I can’t leave the office because I don’t have a car. And I don’t need an escort home.

To Mo:

Whatever.

To Dad:

Should I plan to come over tonight?

To Gray:

Oh joy.

It wasn’t professional or impersonal, but what was she supposed to say?

Her dad responded first.

Your mother’s making chicken and dumplings.

She replied as fast as her fingers could type.

I’ll be there.

Mo responded while she was typing.

Not kidding. Mom’s making chicken and dumplings. Dinner with them?

She replied.

Yes to dinner. Still not grounded. You’re not the boss of me.

Cal responded next.

Your car is headed back to you now. Chad’s driving my truck home so I’ll need a ride. Can you pick me up at 5?

She replied.

Sneaky. Underhanded.

Cal responded.

You say sneaky, I say effective. See you at 5.

Gray responded.

Left your keys with Lucy. Car’s in your spot. Tracker still in place. We need to talk.

Meredith considered the merits of destroying her phone. If she threw it hard enough at the wall, it might break. Maybe. Water would be better. But no. It would be a nuisance to have to replace it.

She replied to Gray.

Tomorrow? I have dinner plans tonight.

Gray responded.

See you at dinner. We’ll talk tonight.

She did throw her phone after she saw that. She couldn’t help it. The blasted thing bounced off the wall and lay on the floor. She imagined it was judging her for her temper.

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