The odd behavior was one of the reasons why I was okay with waiting until I got home to see what he was about. Surely, if he was coven, he would have bolted after the failed mini coup at the hotel. The radio silence would have told him all he needed to know about whether Melissa emerged victorious.
Once I nudged Asa out into the hall, a little disappointed he let me, I changed and did the hygiene thing.
Since he said we had time, I packed my bag too. Everything smelled like smoke, but at least it was clean.
When I joined the others, all on their laptops at the table, I noticed Colby was paying her screen extra attention. That made me realize she hadn’t asked how I was feeling or otherwise acknowledged me since I woke.
Not gonna lie.
It hurt.
But I had a good idea why she was acting like I was invisible, and I decided to let it go.
For now.
“I’m going to step out on the balcony.” I hooked my thumb toward the door. “I need to make a call.”
Asa watched me go, but Clay frowned at Colby, who pretended hard not to hear me.
Outside, I slid the glass door shut behind me and leaned over the railing as I dialed Arden. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself.” A giddy quality in her voice made me pause. “What’s up?”
“I just wanted to let you know I’m heading home.” I was twitchy to go just thinking about it. “How are things?”
“We’re right on schedule, boss. The shop looks better now than it did for our first grand opening.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” I wrinkled my nose when the wind shifted, blowing smoke toward me. “Anything else to report? How are you and Camber?”
“Now that the AC is repaired, we might have to start wearing cardigans to work.”
“Or you could just turn down the thermostat and save me money on the cooling bill.”
“It’s like you don’t know me at all.”
“Keep it above seventy, please.”
“Oh,” she gushed, totally ignoring me, as usual. “We could get the shop logo embroidered on a few.”
Dollar signs danced behind my eyes. “I don’t know if—”
“Mrs. Talbot-Gray has a fancy embroidery machine. She makes a killing stitching names on cheerleaders’ bloomers for the local schools. She did ours when we were in pee-wee cheer squad. It won’t cost us but a few dollars each. Maybe we could even have some polos done? Oh! Or shirts we could sell in the store?”
“Let’s get through the grand reopening first.” I rubbed my forehead. “We’ll talk merch after that.”
“See you tomorrow,” she said, sounding certain she had argued and won her case. “Safe travels.”
When I started coughing, I trudged in, my mind a million miles away. The guys were MIA, and Colby had a deer in the headlights look, as if they had vanished into thin air, and she had no idea how it happened.
“I’m going to read.” I waved. “I have a snake shifter and mouse shifter romance calling my name.”
Before I could shut the door to my room, Colby cleared her throat. “Rue?”
“Hmm?” I flopped onto the mattress on my stomach and reached for my book. “What’s on your mind?”
Using her butt, she pushed the door closed then landed on the mattress beside me. “Are you mad?”
“Why would I be?” I rested my chin on my fist. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”