Page 136 of In Case You Didn't Know

“Purple glitter. With stickers,” Jesse tells her.

Her expression softens and I can see in her eyes that whatever irritation she’s feeling is no match for her love for Ayda. Or her brother, for that matter. “Tell her I love them already,” she tells Jesse. “And that I love her. And I want a manicure when I get home.”

“You got it.” Jesse pauses. “Be careful, okay? I love you, sis.”

“Love you more.” She hangs up and blows out a breath, her expression still warm as she tucks her phone into the side pocket of her purse. “Okay, so my child is blissfully unaware that her stepmother is on a secret mission. But Jessie is apparently cracking under the pressure, and Hudson is playing dumb like it’s an Olympic sport.”

I pass her another coffee, because yes, we like to refill after we’ve emptied. “So what now, Thelma? Shall we turn left to the Grand Canyon?”

She lifts it to her mouth and takes a sip. “Not yet. But we need to know what’s waiting for us. I’m going to call Hudson and grill him until he starts to squeal. And if he comes clean on what’s happening, I might only mildly ruin his life.”

I grin. “You’re all heart.”

She pulls out Jesse’s phone, grimacing as she types the code in wrong twice before it unlocks. And I lean against the hood of her car and stare at the horizon like it might offer me a clue.

I hate that I don’t have a phone to check. That mine is currently hanging out in a Liberty Island plant pot, living it’s best Captain’s House-adjacent life.

I wish I hadn’t left it there. It’s like I left my heart behind.

Because if Asher has texted, I won’t know. If he’s called, left a message – it’s all the same.

Maybe he isn’t ignoring me.

But deep down, I know he is.

And I’m halfway across the state chasing a man who might not want to be caught.

Skyler pulls up Hudson’s contact and presses call, and we both look at each other as it connects.

“Jesse? Skyler?” He sounds almost frantic.

I smile grimly at that. Because I’m starting to feel the same way.

“It’s me,” Skyler says, her voice ominously low. “Where are you right now?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?” he asks, sounding annoyed.

Skyler lets out a laugh that sounds somewhere between sweet and homicidal. “Oh baby, you can ask me whatever you want. But unless you want to spend the next six months sleeping on the sofa, I suggest you answer mine first.”

Hudson groans. “Sky…”

“Don’t you Sky me.” She catches my eye and I can see she’s enjoying this. “What’s going on? Why did you make me intercept Francie? Why isn’t Asher picking up when she calls?”

“Why don’t you ask Asher that?” He has the voice of a man on the edge. One who knows he’s about to be interrogated and really doesn’t want it.

“He won’t answer his phone,” Skyler tells him. “Seriously, we’re coming for you. And you should be super scared.”

“Believe me, I am,” Hudson mutters.

“Good. So spill. Why did you hot tail it to New York so fast? Why is Asher acting like a ghost with commitment issues?”

There’s a long pause. I can practically hear Hudson chewing on whether he wants to live to see another day.

Skyler takes a noisy slurp of her coffee.

“It’s complicated,” Hudson says finally.

Skyler snorts and I swear I see some coffee fly out of her nose. Like a caffeinated dragon. “Assembling IKEA furniture is complicated. Talking to your wife should be easy.”