They Never Picked Up My Calls, So I Made Dolls That Answer novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: Ten Seconds

I opened the door as far as the chain.

"It's three in the morning," I said.

"I know." Gracie's voice was a scratch. "Can I come in?"

"No. Fletcher's asleep."

She looked past me at the dark room, at the shape of him on the bed, at the henley I was wearing.

Something moved across her face.

Not jealousy.

Something more tired than that.

"Then come out here. Please. Two minutes."

I took the chain off and stepped into the hall and pulled the door almost shut behind me.

The carpet was cold under my feet.

Hers too.

Her toes were red.

"Where are your shoes?"

"Upstairs. I didn't want Colby to hear me leave." She laughed a little. "He sleeps with one ear open. In case I'm doing something off brand."

"How did you find my room?"

"Drew." She hugged the phone tighter. "He's still sitting on Mom's sofa. He hasn't moved since you left. Mom went to bed. He just told me the number like he was reading it off a wall."

We stood under a hotel painting of a sailboat.

"What do you want, Gracie?"

She held up her phone.

"Listen."

She pressed play.

A room full of noise.

Glasses.

Men laughing.

Then Colby's voice, close to the phone, warm and pleased.

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