When I got in, the scent of fruits hung faintly in the air.
Grace greeted me with a small smile. “Thank you for still having me back after what Tina did,” she said a little unsure, “I thought it was over when we got arrested.”
“Yeah,” I said, kicking off my heels. “Sorry about that. The chef won’t be coming back though. I like cooking, so we’re fine.”
She smiled. “So… what’s on the menu tonight?”
“Later. I’ll come down after.”
Upstairs, I dropped my phone and stripped down, slipping into the hot tub. The water embraced me instantly — warm, soothing, bubbling against my skin.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. For a moment, everything then slowed. No parties. No paper marriage. No Tracy. No August. Just heat and water and silence.
Twenty-five minutes later, I went downstairs t
