Page 67 of Hide and Sneak
Holly returns with a sheet. “It’s an old one. You can just keep it.”
“Thank you.” I accept it gratefully, tie two ends together, and drape it over my shoulder to wear it like a toga.
“No problem.”
What am I supposed to do now? I can’t go home. I don’t even have my phone. Lila better have a plan to get rid of Amos.
“Have a seat,” Holly offers, gesturing to the table. “Do you want a glass of wine?”
“I’d love one. What did I interrupt here?” I ask, glancing over the table full of craft supplies.
“We’re making decorations for the Happy Haven holiday parties.”
“Can I help?”
“Sure thing. Here. We’re making paper hats for the kids,” Holly says, sliding some supplies over to me. She turns the podcast they were listening to when I interrupted back on. “Hope you like true crime.”
It gets paused occasionally for them to discuss what the woman who got caught for killing her husband did wrong.
“Of course the cadaver dogs were going to find him,” Louise scoffs.
Rita nods in agreement as she cuts strips of paper. “You have to bury them deep, then bury an animal or something a few feet over them. The cops will find the animal, think that’s what the dog smelled, and quit digging.”
Holly’s phone buzzes and she picks it up.
I glance over at her. “If that’s Lila, tell her to come pick me up. I’m scared.”
Holly reads the message then refills my glass of wine. “She says Amos will be leaving soon and to stay put.”
And that’s how my date night ended with me making paper crowns with the neighbor ladies while wearing only a sheet.
CHAPTER 23
SUTTON
I’m temptedto stop by Lila’s building on my way home from work, but I resist the urge. I know that artist has been there with her today and I still hate it, but I almost blew things yesterday. I don’t want her to think I don’t trust her.
After my naked visit next door, half the neighborhood knows about Lila and me. It’s time to tell Amos. First, I’m going to ask Lila to be my girlfriend. Tonight. No more secret fuck buddy. And we can talk about how to tell Amos about us.
It’s later than usual when I get home, thanks to some mandatory overtime, and I’m surprised to smell weed when I walk in. Amos looks up from the couch. “Hey.” Something in his tone isn’t right.
“Hey. Is everything okay?”
He rubs the back of his neck. “Fine. They’re replacing broken machinery at work so I have the night off again.” That was what brought him home at such a horrible time last night.
“Cool. Do you want to text Lila and see what she wants for dinner? We can order something.”
“She won’t be here tonight.”
What? It’s everything I can do to keep my voice casual. “Did she move into her apartment?”
“Not yet. She went to shop for some equipment or something in Ohio with her friends.”
It feels like an opportunity is presenting itself. Lila is gone and Amos has the night free. We haven’t got to hang out without others in a long time. “Let’s go play pool or something,” I suggest. “Unless you have plans with your girl.” Maybe I can bring up me possibly dating his sister. Or hint around it. Kind of feel him out.
He considers it for a minute. “There’s that new bar on the west side. They have axe throwing.”
Having this conversation surrounded by sharpened hatchets wouldn’t have been my first choice, but okay.
