Page 50 of In Case You Didn't Know
I blink. “The actress?”
“She’s healing from burnout. I’m her breathing consultant. She flew me in from California.”
“On a private jet?” I raise an eyebrow, thinking about what animal that would impact.
He nods solemnly. “Obviously that’s not ideal, environmentally speaking, but healing burnout is sacred work.” He gives me a pained look. “My carbon guilt is part of her karmic release.”
Right. I nod, checking my watch again. Maud’s seen me here. That should be enough to get word around. Or at least to Asher.
“Have you tried breathwork?” Reed asks, glancing at my chest. I instantly regret my dress.
“Um, no?”
“You’re tense. Breathe in.” He hovers his hand over my chest. “Let the oxygen burn away the tension.”
“Oh, I’m not tense. I’m fine.”
“Francie?” Maud calls, holding out a white landline handset. “Can you come to the phone?”
I jump up. “Sorry about this,” I tell Reed.
“Those things are poisonous,” he mutters. “The rays are bad for the atmosphere.”
Maud ushers me behind the bar. “Are you okay?” she half-whispers. “Who is that guy?”
“I’m fine,” I promise.
“I called Skyler. She wants to talk to you.”
I take the handset. Behind me, Reed is lifting his arms in the air like he’s about to summon a weather system.
“Hey,” I say, letting out a breath.
“Maud says you’ve got a man bun situation. Are you joining a cult?” Skyler asks.
I laugh. “He doesn’t have a man bun. But he does have toe shoes.”
“The barefoot ones? Ew.”
“Right?”
Another voice murmurs in the background.
“Hudson says if he starts chanting, you have to run.” She pauses for a beat. “Asher’s here too.”
My stomach tightens. Of course he is. This is good, right. Now he’ll know I’m not a liar. Even if I am.
I clear my throat. “I should get back to my boyfriend.” I whisper it so Reed can’t hear. He probably already thinks I’m a psycho.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Skyler asks, sounding genuinely concerned.
I raise my voice a notch too high. “I’m good.”
More murmuring.
“Asher wants to talk to you.”
“No,” I say. Too fast, too sharp. “I have to get back. Tell him I’m busy.” Because yes, I’m doing this pantomime to get him off my case, but the man isn’t stupid. A couple of pointed questions and he’ll see right through me.
