She takes a deep breath as I wait. I have another card but I can’t risk using it in case it’s frozen, too.

I have to first check the account online.

She taps her foot on the floor before finally giving me a big shrug and tossing her hair back.

“This happens sometimes with our customers,” she explains. “I will have to charge you a surcharge for paying in dollars.”

“Yes, of course.” I let out a sigh of relief.

For a second, I thought she might call the police and then I’d be in the middle of a real shit storm.

I pay an extra ten dollars for the courtesy and give her a big tip on top of that. But I forgo getting another drink because I don’t have much money left.

When I get upstairs, I log into the computer and realize that all of my accounts are frozen. I don’t have access to anything. I have this room until tomorrow night but after that, I don’t even know how I could afford to pay for a night’s stay.

The doorbell rings.

My heart jumps into my throat.

I make a fist and brace myself for what’s to come. Turning around, I look out of the window. I’m on the eighth floor and the drop is straight down. If those are the cops, the only way out of this place is directly through them.

“It’s me,” a quiet feminine voice says through the door. “Mallory.”

“Hi.” I swing the door open to the waitress from earlier tonight.

“I don’t normally do this…” she says, looking down at the floor.

“Come in, please.” I lock the door quickly behind her. “It’s nice to have more time with you. I wasn’t sure if I was coming on a bit too strong there…at your place of business.”

She wraps her hands around her shoulders and says nothing.

“I wasn’t sure if you were just flirting with me to get a bigger tip,” I joke.

“Not exactly.” She laughs. “Though I did appreciate it.”

“Well, I appreciate you helping me out. I am in quite a little jam right now.”

“Oh, you are?” she asks, raising her eyebrows.

I nod, trying to decide how much I should disclose.

On one hand, it’s probably best to keep her out of it, but on the other she’s the only person that I know in this town and she’s probably the only one I could borrow a few dollars from before I can figure something out.

But that’s not why I had offered her a drink and that’s not why I want her to stay.

She flips her hair from one side to another and tilts her head toward mine. It’s undeniable, Mallory is quite easy on the eyes.