Page 56 of Check the Halls
Madness: a Lucky
Madness: a Lucky! Lolllll Similar. Your names are similar.
What is happening right now? Why is she texting like she’s drunk at seven o’clock on aThursday?
Ben: Are you okay?
Madness: I’m perfect! How are you?
Ben: I’m good. Why are you looking for a hotel that lets you have cats?
Madness: Because the one I’m at now doesn’t but the bartender is super cool and said I could stay here until I find one but Cheshire is getting cranky and I’m sleepy
I’m putting my coat back on, grabbing my keys and moving towards my condo door while my fingers fly over the phone.
Ben: Where are you?
Madness: a hotel
Ben: Which hotel?
Madness: the big one with the beach bar
Beach bar? I wrack my brain as I ride the elevator back down to the ground level. There’s an upscale hotel with a restaurant called The Shore Club in it.
Ben: The Westin?
The text bubbles appear and disappear. They appear once more before stopping entirely.
I jog to my car, climb into the driver’s side and switch to hands free.
“Call Madness.” I say out loud.
“Calling Madness,”the robotic voice responds.
The phone rings for what feels like hours, then she finally picks up.
“Hey!” she says with a laugh that borders on hysterical. “Cheshire and I were just talking about you!”
“Oh yeah?” Why did Maddy bring her cat to a hotel? And why is she having a conversation with him?
“Yeah.” Her voice lowers to a whisper. “I think he misses you.”
Yup. She’s drunk.
“Well, tell him I’ll see him soon. I’m on my way to get you.”
“You are?!”
“I am. But I need you to listen to me, okay? Are you at The Westin?”
“Yessss. That’s the one. You’re so smart!”
“Okay, good. I’ll be there in five minutes. Maybe ten. Just stay put and don’t talk to anyone.”
“What about Killian?”
I grip the steering wheel tighter.
