Page 58 of Rune
“Hammy.”
“What time is it?”
“Nine.”
“Nine? I slept in ’til nine?”
“Seems like you needed it.”
She exhaled hard. “I really did. Sorry if I drooled on you.”
“You slept like the dead. Your sister had an audition with orcs. Then lost the role to a goth Jen Aniston.”
“Not nearly as interesting as the time she got the job over a punk Brad Pitt.”
I made my way across the hall when Sof came back and Carmen went to take a shower.
That sinking feeling I felt only intensified as we all packed up our rooms then headed downstairs to grab breakfast.
“So, are you coming back to the house?” Sof asked.
“I’ve probably monopolized enough of Rune’s time.”
“Monopolized? That’s a weird way of putting it,” Sofia said.
Carmen’s eyes went round, remembering the cover story.
“Shooting aside, I’ve had a good time with you guys. But I really should be getting back.”
“Would you mind dropping Carmen home, though?” Sofia asked.
“What? Why?” Carmen’s brows pinched.
“I’m meeting the massage guy, remember? I don’t know him well enough to invite him to the house, so…”
“Ever ridden on a bike?”
“I have not,” Carmen said, glancing over at it. “Are they as dangerous as the medical TV shows claim?”
“Yep,” I said, nodding. “But it’s a short ride. And I’ll go slow.”
“All settled then. Go on. Get going. Carm has the Chicken Lady today.”
“The Chicken Lady?” I asked as Carmen and I walked to the parking lot.
“I have a client who has a house chicken.”
“A house chicken?”
“Yep. Her name is Paulatry. She has her own giant enclosure, but also runs around the house wearing a bird diaper.”
“You have strange clients, baby,” I said, grabbing the helmet.
“You only have one.”
“Yeah. Wasn’t planning on having anyone riding bitch.”
“Excuse me?” she asked, eyes narrowing.
