Page 15 of Irresistibly Wild

Sliding behind the wheel of my car, I send the motel manager a text.

Me:

I just sent you my rent money for this week and last week via email.

His response comes within seconds.

Text from Slumlord:

Hope you’re not expecting a fucking thank you. It’s still LATE.

I roll my eyes and pull onto the road. When I’m halfway home, Penelope’s name crosses my screen.

“Yeah, Crown?” I answer. “Something wrong?”

“Yes and no,” she says. “I think I tripped the lights again. Can you walk me through resetting the breaker box?”

“Of course. Grab a flashlight and head outside.”

I wait until she’s reached the side of the house before giving her instructions. When I’m finished, she asks me to walk her through unclogging a water pipe.

“Anything else?” I ask.

“Tatiana Brave got a perfect score at the West Coast Expo today.” The words rush out of her mouth. “A. Perfect. Score. Do you have any idea what that means?”

“I have a feeling you’re about to tell me.”

“People are starting to wonderwhenand notifshe’ll be the new number one.”

“Penelope…”

“Don’t you dare give me the ‘Focus on yourself’ speech’ today,” she interrupts. “Just let me vent about this tragedy, okay?”

“Okay.”

“First of all, she’s not that pretty and her skating is—”

I hit mute and toss my phone onto the passenger seat.

Predicting the exact same words I’ve heard countless times before, I drive all the way back to my motel before picking up the phone again.

“—I couldn’t find a single flaw in her routine.” She sounds near tears, like this is a catastrophic event. “It may have been an omen that my registration fee didn’t clear in time. I hope you yelled at your bank’s manager for screwing up the wire transfer.”

I couldn’t afford the transfer…or the fee…

A pang of guilt hits my chest.

“Are you there, Travis?” she asks. “Travis?”

“Yeah, sorry. I’m here, Crown.”

“I was beginning to wonder.” There’s a smile in her voice. “Anyway, feel free to stop calling me that nickname whenever you’re ready.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because it makes me feel like I’m still seven years old.”

“Mom and Dad called you that all the time and you never complained.” I step out of the car. “I doubt it bothers you in the slightest.”

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