Page 206 of Ewan

She tips her chin in agreement.

“We start early for the kids. The adults are expected at seven o’clock.”

I find Colley’s eyes pinned on me when I look down.

“He wanted to make sure you’d say yes,” Elisa comments.

“Is anyone else coming?”

Her smile broadens.

“Plenty of people.”

“I mean from school. Any coworkers of mine?”

“Not that I know of. Colley was very particular about who he wanted to invite to his party.”

I bite my lip, my eyebrows moving up.

“Is that a yes?” Elisa pushes out.

There’s no way I can say no, is there?

“Yes. It’s a yes.”

“Yay,” Colley exclaims. “It worked.”

Elisa pulls him into her, almost sliding her hand over this mouth.

What worked?

“Good,” Elisa says. “We’ll see you tomorrow night then. Have a good evening.”

“Of course. Thank you. Have a good night.”

Smoothly, they turn around and walk down the hallway while I remain standing, pondering that weird‘it worked.’

I can’t make much of it, so I turn around and bump into Maria.

“Nice kid,” she says.

“As if that’s news,” I say, smiling before making myself scarce.

SCARLETT

I maybe slepta couple of hours last night, and now that I look in the mirror, I regret it with a passion.

I should’ve drunk a chamomile tea last night, walked some extra miles, or done something about it.

It’s not like I’m sleepy.

Quite the opposite.

I’m wired up. It’s like I had six cups of coffee.

I brush my hair one more time and look in the mirror.

My soft wool dress looks smooth on my body.

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