Page 164 of Faking Cinderella
I wait a minute, then I follow.
No one notices me.
Which is so strange.
Because I feel like I’m a giant neon sign flashingHot Mess in Distress.
I suck in a big breath, blink back all of my emotions, and get to work.
I’m mistaken. Rhys isn’t falling for me. He knows what this is.
And I need to remember it too.
26
DOWN BADDER AND BADDER
Rhys
We make it through Thursday,and then Friday morning, with much of the same as there was Wednesday.
With one notable exception.
Every last one of the GrippaPeen creators has been leaving massive tips for the housekeepers on a daily basis.
They clearly know they’re wreaking havoc, and they’re paying the staff well to compensate for their troubles.
“The money so totally makes up for having to see so many penises,” Zelda’s saying to Margie over lunch on Friday. They’re at the table. I’m leaning against the counter, pretending I’m scrolling my phone while I eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which is honestly one of life’s underappreciated culinary delights.
“I’m still in shock that they’re this generous,” is Margot’s very measured answer.
Zelda’s face scrunches. “Hey, how bad are you hurting for money?”
Margot looks up from the sandwich I packed her this morning. “I always get by. Why?”
Zelda nods toward me. “I was just thinking we should share with all of the staff.”
Margot smiles. “I wasn’t going to suggest it in case you needed the money, but yes. I’m in. Here. Take mine and figure out the best way to split it all.” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out several hundred-dollar bills, then a few more, and then a few more.
She reaches deeper into her pocket, and— “Oops. One more. I think that’s it now.”
Zelda looks at me again. “I don’t know what your situation is either, but those guys might have a point about you trying this for a few months.”
“I’m good,” I say.
Margot’s smile turns me inside out.
Every fucking time.
Something shifted in the garden shed, and if I thought I was down bad before, that’s nothing compared to now.
I open my eyes, I think about her.
I brush my teeth, I think about her.
I see a flower, I think of her.
I see the wind blow through the yellow aspens, I think about her.
