Chapter Twenty-Five
Wednesday passed in a blur of rescheduled lessons, last-minute costume fittings, and practice with Patrick. Anita ended up canceling dinner with her parents because of the time crunch. By the end of the day, her feet and low back were killing her.
Her bathtub and foam roller called to her.
Anita ran the tub and poured in a handful of peppermint-scented bath salts. She pulled her long hair up into a bun, even the slight motion causing her to wince.
Just as she was sliding into the tub, her cell phone pinged with a text message.
Great. The first chance all week to unwind and release some tension, and of course her cell phone would ring.
She couldn’t ignore it, though. The days leading up to a competition were hellish for her students. They needed reassurance, hand-holding, costume and cosmetic advice. She raised herself halfway up to grab her phone from the bathroom sink. Anything could happen this close to comp.
Patrick.
—call me—
Cute. Simple. Warmth flooded through her, from the bath, of course. The thrill of excitement was definitely not that she had gotten a message from him.
Anita smiled, settled back into the tub, and pressed the speakerphone button.
“Hey.” His voice sounded rushed.
“This had better be important.” She rolled her ankles under the warm peppermint- and lavender-scented water. She would love just to doze in here, the warm bath surrounding her, buoying her aching back and legs, relieving some of the tension. Not all the tension.
Damn Patrick.
“Have you heard from John today?”
“No. I haven’t heard anything.” She closed her eyes and focused on the gentle motion of the water around her body.
Patrick exhaled, and she could picture him running his hands through his hair. Classic Patrick. “Okay, well, look, he called me a few minutes ago. You know that I sent him that spreadsheet I’ve been working on?”
“Yes.”
“Well, he looked through it too, and thinks he has narrowed it to two suspects.” Patrick paused, and she sat up straight in the tub, causing the water to slosh. “Wait a minute, are you in the bathtub?”
“I’ve had a long day,” she grumbled over the speakerphone as she reached for a towel. Thank God they weren’t video chatting. “I needed to soak my muscles.”
“Right,” he replied quickly. Anita wrapped the towel around herself and tied it in front. Was it her imagination, or was his voice a little strained? “Anyway, he gave me some other things to look into. I was wondering if I could pick your brain tomorrow morning? Either before or after practice, whatever works best for your schedule.”
Anita sighed. She cradled the phone against her ear and pulled the drain in the tub. Goodbye, relaxation. “Before, probably. I have to leave tomorrow afternoon for Harrisburg.”
“Great. I’ll be there at seven. Don’t worry. I’ll bring the coffee.”