Elsie
Chapter Twenty-Two
Iknew it was morning before I opened my eyes because my mouth was dry and my body felt sore and uncomfortable the way it sometimes did when I fell asleep writing on the floor.
My brain wasn’t alert enough to process why I wasn’t snuggled up under my quilt, resting soundly in my bed, but the morning light streaming in let me know that wherever I was, I hadn’t shut the curtains either.
I couldn’t bring myself to open my eyes to investigate the situation further, so all I could manage was a pathetic groan.
“Elsie?”
Will?
Yup, that had my eyes snapping wide open.
“Oh my God,” I screeched, “did we fall asleep?”
By the way he rubbed his eyes, I could tell that if he’d woken up before me, it was only be mere moments.
“That’s kind of a stupid question,” he said, running a hand over his face. “Considering it’s morning.”
I’d never seen Will right when he woke up. He looked sort of cute. A lot grumpier than usual (which was saying something), but somehow less fearsome with tousled hair and bleary eyes.
“Okay, okay,” I said, gathering my notebook, pens, and laptop spread out across the table. “Let’s not panic.”
“I’m not panicking,” he said. “I own the place.”
“Yes, but this looks bad.”
“Bad, how?”
“We spent the night together!”
“How would anyone know that?”
“Why are you not bothered by this?” I asked, incredulous. “You’re uptight about everything.”
“Am not.” He scoffed.
“Are too.”
“I mean, I don’t love the fact that I’m waking up in my place of employment, but I don’t see anything I can do about it now.”
“How very realistic of you,” I muttered, running a frantic hand through my hair.
It was no use, and I knew it. One look at me and you could tell I’d just rolled out of bed—or, a sturdy café chair, but semantics.
“I have to go—” I started before I heard bells jingle as the door pushed open.
No way would there be customers here this early.
Will and I turned to see who was showing up at such an ungodly hour, when the sight of Ava made me freeze.
“What are you doing here?” She pinned me with her glare. Then, looking between Will and me with piercingly analytical eyes, came to her own conclusion.
Wrong as it might be, I didn’t think explaining myself would make the situation any better.
In fact, any situation I got myself into regarding the two other people in the room only paved the way toward chaos.
Which meant it was better if I left. As soon as possible.
“I gotta go,” I said, throwing my satchel over my shoulder with less care than its contents required. “Thanks for the coffee, Will.”
And before anyone could utter another word, I was long gone.