Page 23 of The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth

“Uh.” Her stomach growled and protested in two different directions. “Oatmeal with bananas, if they have them. Whole-grain toast with butter and jam. A good-size pot of tea with lots of sugar and milk.” She paused, feeling into her body for anything else. “And Marmite.” Rubbing her thigh in a circular motion, she added, “And whatever you want.”

“I’m not that hungry,” Veronica said. “I’ll just have some tea and toast.”

“Dude, we haven’t had a meal in twelve hours. Don’t be shy. Eat.” She pulled an ottoman over to prop up her leg. “Your meals are covered, and you can’t be weird about it.”

“I’m not being weird,” Veronica said, and frowned. She looked over the menu. “Just feels like a lot.”

“What looks really good?”

“Brioche french toast, honestly.”

“Order that.”

“No, that’s too much food. We’ve been sitting for two days. I’ll feel bloated.”

Mariah shrugged and opened her phone, trying to distract herself from the ache in her leg and hip. The hip hadn’t been damaged in the original incident, but it had been really touchy with all the unevenness in her walk. She tried to walk steadily, but there was nearly an inch difference in the lengths of her legs, so it wasn’t easy. It seemed like a lot, and at first she’d been horrified, but then a plainspoken nurse said, “They saved your leg, sweetheart. That wasn’t a given.”

Veronica picked up the phone and ordered oatmeal for two, and toast, and tea, and bananas. Mariah called out, “And bacon! Two orders!” After Veronica gave the order, Mariah said, “They have the best bacon in England. Just wait.”

“While we wait, I’ll get unpacked. I mean, if we’re going to be in this hotel for a bit.”

She was way more type A than people Mariah knew. Irritation slithered through her veins, snapped against her forehead, and she carefully didn’t look at Veronica. “A week at least, I think. Maybe two. You can check the schedule I gave you.”

“Right.” Veronica gestured between the two rooms. “Should I choose, or do you want to look?”

Mariah had been about to click a TikTok with a cake pour, and the interruption tweaked another thread of irritation. “Fuck, man. I don’t care. Just pick one.”

Veronica stood where she was, her cheeks going red. She looked so suburban with that little swingy haircut and her tidy cargo pants and tucked-in blouse. She was a cliché of a soccer mom. How would Mariah spendthree or four weekswith this person?

But instead of saying anything, Veronica grabbed her suitcase and opened the door on the left side of the room. Mariah ignored her, hearing drawers open and close. Zippers shutting. The noises themselves aggravated her and she—

Took a breath. She really would not be able to do this without help, and if she pissed off Veronica first thing, it would be a problem.

Mariah’s worst character trait was her impatience and abruptness. A lot of people on the circuit and in the media disliked her because of it. She’d been working on it for years without showing a lot of progress. They called her Snape on the slopes for her irritability.

But it could be a long trip if they didn’t get along. She struggled to her feet and limped to the doorway. “Look,” she said, “I’m kind of known for being a dick, and I’m sorry. I’m not feeling great, and I’m starving, and I’m meaner than hell when I’m hungry, so it’s nothing personal.” She took in the room. “Wow, this is nice.”

“It is,” Veronica agreed. “But it is personal when you swear at me. Please don’t do that.”

A blister of annoyance broke over the top of Mariah’s eyebrows. She wanted to snap,Get a fucking life, lady,but forced herself to nod. “Sorry.”

“When I’m finished here, I’ll get your stuff in your room.”

“Cool. I mean, thank you. That would be great.”

Veronica gave her a half smile that looked forced. Mariah turned away to avoid snapping again.

What had she gotten herself into? Maybe they should just forget the whole thing and go home.

But first she had to get some rest.

Chapter Twelve

After they ate, Veronica called up a map on her phone using the Wi-Fi, saved it, and turned off her phone, which was well into the yellow on battery power. She’d charge it up when she got back, but the errand wouldn’t take long. The grocery store was only a few blocks away.

Mariah warned her that it was going to get dark early, but the rain had slowed, and it was only midafternoon. Veronica desperately wanted to stay awake a little longer. Mariah wasn’t even attempting it. She ate everything she’d ordered, poured down most of the pot of tea, and limped into her bedroom.

She didn’t even comment on the fact that she had the lesser of the two rooms and when Veronica would have helped her get situated, she waved her away. “I don’t really unpack,” she said.