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“Pretty razor-thin deadline,” Wil said. Her leg muscles were shaking, even as she tried to joke.
“Sure,” Sam said. “Welcome aboard.”
“Good on Beanie for figuring out how to get you here,” Cord said. “I like a toothy mother.”
“She is the toothiest,” Wil agreed.
But she wondered what would happen to the conversation at the table if she told them the person who’d made her come today was Katie Price. Or what Katie had done over FaceTime to offer Wil anincentive.
The barista interrupted with what Wil assumed was going to be her coffee but was actually a warmed-up cinnamon roll for Mike, and the conversation slid away from her future to Mike’s sweet tooth and Sam’s nephew, who Wil gathered was some kind of debate powerhouse whose rapid-fire wins had turned all of the attorneys at the table into high school debate nerds.
By the time Wil’s coffee and cookies showed up, Mary had already left, and Sam kept checking his watch. “I need to run to the high school.” He dug around in his wallet until he found a businesscard and handed it to Wil. “It was great to meet you. That’s my cell number on the back. If you do want dinner and to meet Robin, give me a call or text anytime. I promise not to make it weird.”
“I’m fine with weird,” Wil said. “I’m actually really good at weird.”
He laughed and talked to Mike and Cord for a minute, and then they were all standing up to go, so Wil asked for a paper cup to put her coffee in. It was almost three. She texted Katie.
Just done at Kettle’s, too late to get anything done if I go back to work
Okay if I come over?
The three dots popped up, then were replaced with Katie’s response.
Yes! but to pick me up bc i’m restless
need chocolate covered almonds and want to go to costco
i have a whole system wont be recognized
youve got it omw
Wil slid her phone into her pocket and pointed the Bronco toward the Prices’ neighborhood.
She sipped her coffee and thought about how it could get addictive, driving to pick up Katie. Wil liked how it layered over the way it used to be with how it was now, the high-end neighborhood and the long driveway and Katie coming out of the house in a huge, puffy winter coat, boots, and a dark wig.
Wil leaned over and pulled the handle and shoved the door open for Katie to climb in. Her entire body was singing, just because Katie was getting into her truck.
“Wil!” Katie hopped on the bench. Immediately, she slipped out of the coat and wrestled it into the wheel well. “Why are coats? I try, but I can’t. Why?”
Wil put the Bronco into gear. “Probably because it’s thirty degrees?”
“Not enough degrees, but I feel like there should be a solution. Like an implant that creates a microclimate around my body. Wait! Stop the Bronco.”
Wil put the truck in park at the end of the Prices’ drive. “I’m stopped. Do you need me to go back?”
“No. I need us to touch.” Katie smiled, but it wasn’t her flirting or enjoying the moment, or even relishing a little drama. “Needwas the wrong word. May we? Or we can pretend I didn’t make you stop the truck and ask for a pet like a cat at three a.m.”
“How?”
Katie had the same flannel shirt on that she’d been wearing on FaceTime, which made it difficult for Wil to think about anything except what had happened on FaceTime, and how the flannel had slid over Katie’s bare shoulder, revealing her collarbone, then a glimpse of bare skin and Katie’s unadorned body that had made Wil feel like she couldn’t catch her breath.
Katie’s wig, under a plain stocking cap, was a very convincing brown bob. She’d done something with her makeup Wil had never seen in any picture of her that made her age undefinable. The coat, close up, had been around the block, and the boots had driedsalt soaked into the bond between the sole and the quilted purple nylon. Unless you were studying herandwere some kind of a superfan, you’d think Katie was a young Green Bay mom, or—at the most glamorous—a stay-at-home spouse.
“Let me back up,” Katie said. “A hug. May I have a hug? Maybe a little over-the-clothes?” She scootched closer.
Wil laughed. “A hug would be really nice, thank you.”
Katie opened her arms, and Wil reached for her. Katie wrapped her arms around Wil’s shoulders but snaked a hand up through the back of her hair, giving Wil pleasant shivers.