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Mellie looks up and smiles “Me,” she says And I hear a softly whispered, “Me,” froht beside my ear

Matt

It’s around seven in the evening whena tattoo on a client at Reed’s so I can’t answer it Friday walks over and et that?” she asks

I lift et in my pocket “Please,” I say

“Better be careful or Paul’s going to get jealous,” she teases as she fishes around my pocket

Paul et her in his pockets for as long as I can rereen with envy,” I say loudly

“If green is the new red,” she tosses back She pulls my phone out and puts it to her ear We didn’t carry phones for a long time because we siht us all new phones, since he hasbetter to do with it He said ere too hard to keep up ithout the than his

“Matt’s phone,” she chirps “Hey, Seth,” she says, her face scrunching up “Yeah, he’s here, hang on” She presses the “speaker” button on the phone

“What’s up, Seth?” I ask

“Matt?” Seth asks, and he sound a little breathless

“What’s wrong, Seth?” I ask I set loves

“Have you talked to Aunt Sky today?” he asks

“No,” I reply, the hair on the back ofup “Why?”

“Today was the first day she was supposed to pick up the girls, and I just got ho late, is all”

“I haven’t talked to her,” I say “Do you wantover with my client

“Call us if you need us,” Paul says to lance over my shoulder, I wave at him, and he nods

“Did you call her phone?” I ask

“Yeah, but it’s going directly to voice mail And the texts I sent say delivered but not read”

“Her battery is probably dead, Seth,” I say I’m not worried at all Well, maybe a little

“She should have called to tellhis hair in frustration