Page 59 of November

“Okay. Well, should I finish making your coffee?”

“I’ve got it now, but thanks.”

India nodded and said, “I’ll be right back.”

“Please. I feel like your coffee maker hates me. I don’t want to be alone with it.”

“It’s an espresso machine. It’s mad at you because you keep calling it a coffee maker. Grab your cup and walk down the hall. You can see the jacuzzi tub.”

Maisie nodded, and India walked back that way to continue getting ready. Maisie proceeded to add syrup to the coffee she wasn’t sure she’d actually drink and tried to clean up the mess as best she could. Either India was a neat freak, or she had a housekeeper, because the place was spotless, as if it got cleaned daily. Once done, Maisie walked down the hall and saw the den, one guest room, the main guest bathroom, then another guest room, and finally, India’s bedroom. She knocked, not wanting to just walk in.

“I am fully clothed. Come on in.”

Maisie did and took in India’s bedroom. She had a four-poster bed with a white comforter and equally white pillows, and there was more artwork on the walls along a very nice-looking dresser.

“The tub is in the bathroom,” India said.

Maisie walked in farther before turning to the open door. She shouldn’t have been surprised anymore to see a very expensive-looking bathroom with the aforementioned jacuzzi tub, but it was all just so nice. Oddly, though, it was all still welcoming.

“What do you think?” India asked.

“It’s big enough to fit two people,” she said.

“Four, but it’s tight. Two is just right.”

Maisie laughed.

“Sorry, that’s the rhyme the sales guy sold me on.”

“And you bought it?”

“Well, I liked the idea of having a beautiful woman to share the tub with me, so, yeah.”

“DidFinleyever share that tub with you?”

India stopped putting on her lipstick and turned to her.

“No. Fin prefers showers. I prefer baths.”

“Sorry, that was just petty jealousy showing through dueto insecurities,” Maisie said and shrugged a shoulder.

“You’re jealous of Finley?”

“Not specifically her. I guess it’s just that you two were together for a while, and she’s probably been here a bunch, so, you know, you two did things here.”

India moved closer to her and replied, “Yes, that’s true. Not in that tub, but Fin and I were together for a long time.” She took Maisie’s hand again. “We’re not anymore, though. And you were with Lainey, but you’re not now.”

“For, like, six months, years ago. And I also don’t have a jacuzzi tub.”

“Maybe you can use this one,” India said, nodding toward the tub. “With or without me in it. I’m happy to loan it to you for the night, and you can use all my good bath stuff. I’ve got lavender, eucalyptus, some citrus, and some cherry stuff, too.”

“You have a variety of coffee syrupsandbath stuff?”

“Whereisyour coffee?”

“In the kitchen. I didn’t want to risk spilling it in your fancy tub,” she joked.

“Should I skip redoing my hair so that we can go grab that drink?”