You've Been Warned - James Patterson [41]
It’s a lot easier to sneak in than it is to sneak out. Hey, Adam, would you mind looking in the bathroom again for my purse?
I don’t think so.
So I hang out in the stairwell off the penthouse until morning. A new day, a new doorman — and if Louis pauses from his imaginary sword fight with Sean to ask why he didn’t see me come in, I’ll just joke about him going blind or having Alzheimer’s.
I try to sleep, Lord knows I’m exhausted enough, but concrete steps make for a lousy pillow. After an hour or so, I give up on the hope of catching any Z’s, choosing instead to plan in my head every detail of Michael’s and my honeymoon.
The Caribbean? Maybe the Bahamas and the One & Only Ocean Club? Venice and the Gritti Palace? The French Riviera?
All I know is that when we get back, Sean can sleep in our bed whenever he wants. In fact, maybe for our honeymoon we’ll take the kids to Disney World. Why not?
At about five-fifteen, I hear the first signs of life on the other side of the stairwell door. It’s Michael leaving for his office. Five-fifteen? That’s even earlier than usual. I suppose that’s what a night in the guest room will do to you.
At about a quarter to eight, it’s my turn. For the second day in a row, I’m early for work. If I keep it up, I might just get a raise!
I let myself into the apartment. Again.
“My, someone looks tired,” says Penley with an obnoxious grin as I greet her in the kitchen. “You must have had a late night.” Wink-wink, nudge-nudge.
It takes me a second to catch her drift. My blind date with Stephen seems like a week ago, or like it didn’t even happen.
“I want all the details,” she insists.
I’m too tired and in no mood, especially because there isn’t much to tell. “He was very nice,” I say.
Penley frowns, then she shakes her head. “You’re going to have to do better than that, Kristin.”
I thought as much. So I ply her with some mindless details about the dinner, and while I don’t come right out and say it, I make it clear that her gym friend is not “my type.” For sure, I don’t want her pushing for a second date.
Then she surprises me. “Yeah, Stephen pretty much felt the same way.”
“You spoke to him already?”
“Hope you don’t mind,” she says with a shrug. “He’s a friend, after all, and I was curious.”
I can see that.
She turns and pours herself another steaming cup of c-offee, which looks delicious, by the way. One day she might actually ask if I want one.
“You know, Stephen got the sense that you were already seeing someone.”
Thanks, pal!
“I tried to assure him I’m not,” I say. “It’s a little funny to hear that, though, given he still seems hung up on his ex-girlfriend.”
“You think so?”
“Absolutely. Did you know she’s a married woman, by the way?”
Her eyes go wide. Apparently not.
“He neglected to mention that,” she says with a smirk. “I apologize.”
Penley? Apologizing?
“For what?” I ask.
“Thinking Stephen was right for you. I don’t approve of that sort of thing. He should know better,” she says, frowning. “Don’t you agree?”
Oh, the irony.
Chapter 56
I STRUGGLE TO STAY awake while I walk the kids to school. I’ve got one eye just about closed, the other trained on Dakota, as I still wonder what’s going through her mind.
Indeed, she wasn’t quite herself yesterday, spending most of the time in her room. Her daddy and I were only talking behind those hedges out in Westport, but the whole vibe of the moment must have seemed a little less than innocent. Eventually, I take Dakota’s hand in mine, and she lets me.
“Hey, Miss Kristin, guess what?” chirps Sean as we march across the street at Madison and 76th. “You were in my dream last night!”
Oh, great . . . double trouble.
For the last couple of blocks before Preston Academy, I listen to Sean explaining his dream in great detail. Apparently he and I had a picnic on the moon.
“Or was it Mars?” he wonders.
The details are a little fuzzy, but what’s clear is that he has no recollection of my being in his room. Hallelujah. One less thing to worry about.
That leaves only about a dozen others. What’s bumming