She hung up, tossing her phone aside and lying back, her head pounding. She’d kept the heavy blinds down, the room illuminated by the only lamp with tolerable light in the whole place. Still, the sunlight was peeking in from outside now. Glancing at the clock, she realized she would need to rush downstairs if she wanted something to eat before Stuart showed up in a little less than an hour. It all seemed far too complicated and annoying, and she closed her eyes. She would take a short nap.

Startled awake by loud knocking, she sat up almost screaming, clutching her chest. Her mouth was dry, and she was disoriented. It took her several seconds to remember where she was. She spied the clock then. It was after nine. It must be Stuart.

She climbed unsteadily to her feet, stretched briefly, and then walked over to open the door.

“Taking a nap, were we?” Stuart said.

She let him come inside without a word. He handed her a wrapped muffin and a large mug of steaming coffee.

“These are from downstairs,” he explained. “Ethel was worried that you didn’t come down for breakfast, so she sent this mug and a German muffin.”

“What’s a German muffin?”

He laughed. “You got me.” He stood still, taking in the decorations, and then turned back to her, suppressing laughter. “So how do you like the room?”

“You’re an asshole.”

He laughed again and steered her back to the bed, the two of them sitting down at the foot.

She took a sip of her coffee and wrinkled her nose. “You were supposed to bring me coffee. Real coffee.”

“And you’ll have it. Maddie is coming with your double espresso.”

She couldn’t help but pout a little, but she unwrapped the muffin and sniffed before nibbling at it, grimacing when she finally recognized the ham.

“Do you want this?” she asked.

“Still off the swine?”

“They’re intelligent animals.”

He laughed. “You don’t give a shit about animals, and you know it.” He started eating it, cramming in large bites. He’d always been a voracious, messy eater, but she’d forgotten. She couldn’t help but smile as she watched him shovel the rest of it in, and when his cheeks were totally stuffed, he asked, “What?” mouth still full, crumbs flying out.

“Nasty!” She pushed his shoulder. “Swallow first.”

He did, with some difficulty, looking like he might choke. He finally managed to get it down, clearly trying not to laugh.

“That’s what he said.”

“Did you seriously almost choke to death so you could make that joke?”

He snorted, and she pushed him again. He retaliated, and before long they had devolved into a wrestling match, which then turned into a pillow fight. Neither of them heard the knock at the door, so when Maddie came in, they were still distracted and engaged.