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I rubbed my stomach. “I’m a little better. Yeah.”
“And I didn’t even bring you pickled ginger.”
“I know.” I chuckled.
“Well, shit. I guess no Key lime for you this morning, huh?” He pulled back. “Come to think of it, my stomach was rumbling when I woke up, too. I thought it was the three cupcakes I ate at the bakery last night while I was waiting. But maybe it was the Italian?”
“As much as I love that pie, I definitely can’t stomach it right now.”
“You think I can get some ice from the machine and figure out how to take the pie home with us?” He laughed.
“It would probably last a few hours on ice, yeah.”
He tugged gently at my shirt. “What can I get you right now?”
“Nothing. I’m just gonna pour some hot water and make tea.”
“I’ll go downstairs and get some saltines from the store in the lobby. You should have something in your stomach.”
“Thank you. That’ll be great.”
I’d been so caught up in my vomit shame that I hadn’t appreciated how hot Owen looked in the fitted black T-shirt he’d bought at Target the day before.
After he brought the crackers, I forced a few down with my tea. Owen joined me in my room with his coffee and a granola bar he’d picked up downstairs.
We didn’t have much time. So once we were finished, we grabbed our stuff and checked out of the hotel. When we got to the truck repair shop, it wasn’t open yet. We waited outside until we saw someone approach the door with a key.
Exchanging a look, Owen and I exited the car and walked toward him.
“Hello,” Owen said. “I was hoping you could help us. We’re looking for Bo.”
“I’m Bo.” The man narrowed his eyes. “How can I help you?”
Owen and I looked at each other.
“You can tell us where we can find Vera Marks,” I told him.
“Who?”
“Vera Marks,” I repeated. “Your girlfriend. Unless she gave you a fake name. She’s been known to do that, too.”
“There must be some misunderstanding. I don’t have a girlfriend. And I don’t know any Vera.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Pretty sure I’d know if I had a girlfriend, especially since I haven’t been interested in women since kindergarten. My partner would be quite upset if I were two-timing him with a woman.”
Owen raised his chin. “What about the blonde you’ve been supposedly hanging around with?”
The man seemed genuinely confused. “Mymanhas long, blond hair. Is that what you mean? Other than that, there ain’t no blonde.”
Realizing we’d hit a dead end, I hung my head. “Thank you, Bo. I’m sorry for wasting your time this morning.”
He nodded and disappeared into the shop, leaving Owen and me standing outside.
***
Five hours later, we pulled up to our building in Manhattan.
