I touched my fingers to my mouth, suppressing the giggle that was desperately attempting to bubble to the surface. I hadn’t giggled in a very long time.

Chapter Ten

The hair dryer made a high-pitched whine loud enough to cover the sounds of Kirby letting herself in. When I saw her standing in the bathroom doorway, I yelped.

She lifted her leg and cowered, her hair and hands covering her face. Once she recovered, she stood up, her fingers balled into fists at her sides. “Why are you screaming at me?”

I switched off the hair dryer. “Why are you sneaking into my bathroom?”

She rolled her eyes, smoothing her hair back. “I knocked.”

“What are you doing here?” I said, exasperated.

She pointed to her apron. “I just got off work. I came to check on you.”

“Phaedra checked on me half an hour ago. I’m fine,” I said, turning to brush out the tangles in my hair. From the mirror, I watched her cross her arms, pouting.

“Gunnar’s late again. You don’t think he’s messing around, do you?”

I turned to her, the brush still in my hand. “No. No way. He worships you.”

She leaned against the doorjamb. “I know, but we all have our moments. And he’s a guy.” Her eyes widened with her last word.

“That’s no excuse. But Gunnar doesn’t need one. He’s not cheating.”

She looked at me from under her brow, accepting what she already knew. “Then why doesn’t he call? Why doesn’t he answer his phone?”

“Because he’s driving.”

“He can’t even text?”

“No! Do you want him to come home, alive? You’re being ridiculous,” I said, turning back to the mirror. “When does he get his truck back?”

“Tomorrow.”

“It’s about time.”

Kirby eyed my small makeup bag. “You going out?”

“I don’t know. Taylor’s brother is in town, and he wants me to go to Cowboys to meet them.”

Her eyes lit up. “That’s a good sign! I guess today went well then?”

“Mostly. We saw your mom at the top. She was picking up Kostas.”

Kirby made a face. “He is obsessed with that trail. He thinks he’s going to Macho Pikachu or whatever in Peru.”

“Machu Picchu?” I asked.

She nodded.

“Maybe he will,” I said.

“He needs to climb something bigger than Pikes Peak.”

“Machu Picchu is almost half the size of Pikes Peak, Kirby.”

“Stop acting like Phaedra! Did Mom give you a lift into town?”

“To the trail head. Taylor’s truck was there. She doesn’t like him.”

“He’s a hotshot. Of course not.”

“She Greeked at me.”

“Oh. She must have really not liked him.”

“Why do you like him?” I asked.