Page 27 of Death By Llama
“That would be great.”Maybe the cobbler came with ice cream.“I’ll be right back.”
I left the dining room, but not before I heard the blonde snickering at the jingling of my elf shoes.
“Someone doesn’t want to give up their role today.”
I didn’t look at who made the low comment.I already knew it was Nick.
Another giggle hit my ears like another piercing and discordant shriek of a child’s recorder.
The blonde’s laugh was definitely irritating.And not mildly.
Once in the hallway, I let out a long breath that I didn’t even know I held.
Ack, what an evening.What a day.
I glanced up and down the hallway.I’d been in the inn several times since Cameron bought the place and Oliver started working here, but I still needed to get my orientation.
From within the dining room, I could hear some soft chatter, another laugh from the blonde—also known as nails on a chalkboard—and the clinking of silverware on dishes.
At least things seemed calm enough for now.
I debated using the public restroom on the first floor, but then decided to go my parents’ room.I needed a minute.
As I climbed the stairs, I kept repeating to myself not to let my aggravation with Cameron get the better of me.I knew who Cameron was.We’d been dating for a few months, so I liked to think we knew each other fairly well.I knew because of his career he was used to being a take-charge kind of guy.He made decisions and got things done.That was what he did.So, I was certain he didn’t actually mean to exclude me from the planning of the weekend.
But as my shoes jingled and my mother’s pants slipped down on my hips, I couldn’t quite squash my annoyance.How could he not tell me any details about the event today?Did we really talk that little?
I could even understand him keeping my parents’ visit a secret.It was meant as a surprise, after all.But to be excluded from the plans while my parents were here?These were all things he should have run by me too.I wanted to keep justifying his behavior, but in truth, it really irked me.
I stepped inside the beautiful and serene room, closed the door behind me, and let out another sigh.It was good to have a moment of quiet.
I wandered over to the bed and collapsed onto the edge of the soft mattress.I had to admit, Cameron really had spared no expense getting The Captain’s Inn ready for the opening.
I fell back against the thick, luxurious bedding, my arms spread wide, staring at the ceiling.I was tired.Maybe I should chalk up my reaction right now to needing a good night’s sleep.I could fall asleep right here.So maybe fatigue muddled my thinking.
Heck, it would have been hard to think straight today even if I’d slept for a week beforehand.I mean, a man died.Peanut—I didn’t know his last name—a local celebrity had fallen to his death.That was a lot.
Except I’d been here a year, and I’d never heard of Peanut.Not to say that made his death any less awful.But I had no idea who he was and that he was the designated local Santa.What was the story with him anyway?Maybe I’d ask Jimmy.Not that I’d probably get much information there.
So, I couldn’t overthink Cameron’s behavior this weekend.I laid there for a moment, then reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone.I tapped the screen and opened my text app.I went right to Dean’s short messages.Then I read it again.
Oh dear lord, I was turning into Brandy.That woman could get a text that simply said hello, and she could come up with dozens of possible meanings behind it.
Still, I read it again.Then I shut the app completely.I was definitely overthinking everything.But that didn’t explain why just seeing Dean’s name and reading the very innocuous message he wrote caused my pulse to race.
I dropped the phone and let my eyes drift shut.Just stop all this nonsensical thinking.
There was one other thing that kept nagging at me, and I knew even my friends would find it ridiculous.But I was still upset that people were saying Jack could be a killer.My sweet, adorable, and definitely not homicidal llama would not have pushed Peanut over the edge of a cliff.
I mean, okay.Not intentionally.No.He wouldn’t have done it at all.He wouldn’t hurt a fly.The only thing he did was spit, and spit had never killed anybody.
Unless maybe he spit in Peanut’s face, and Peanut stumbled backward and fell over the cliff.My eyes popped open.
Oh, no.
I pulled in a calming breath.No.Jack didn’t do it.But I needed to let it go.Everything.
My eyes just fluttered closed again, when I heard something in the hallway.
