Beautiful Sacrifice (Maddox Brothers #3)(27)

Kirby bussed their table and brought me a handful of ones and fives and some change for a tip that totaled more than their meals. I shook my head and chuckled quietly. It was the best way to tell a waitress good-bye.

The remainder of my shift was comfortably busy. Hannah and I sat together on the stools near the kitchen end of the bar, counting our tips and listening to Hector’s and Chuck’s funny stories about their mishaps and near misses throughout the day.

With one hand on her back, Phaedra trudged up to us from the back room, covered in cream cheese, chocolate, and strawberry smears. “The goddamn pies are done.”

Chuck hugged her. “Well done, my love. Well done.”

He kissed her cheek, and she batted him away.

“How was it? I meant to come out earlier. I got behind.”

“We survived,” I said.

Kirby smirked. “Taylor came in again today. Left her a big tip.”

I rolled my eyes.

“What did it say?” Hannah said.

My nose wrinkled. “Huh?”

Hannah nodded to my stack of cash. “He wrote on one of the bills. I thought you knew.”

Kirby rushed to stand next to me as I fanned out my money.

I shook my head. “Nothing.”

“It’s on the other side, kiddo,” Phaedra said, her eyes targeting one of the singles.

I flipped over the stack and found the note scribbled in barely legible print.





COMFORT SLEEP HOTEL


ROOM 201

Kirby laughed. “He gets points for persistence. You have to give him that.”

I inhaled, the wheels in my head spinning a hundred miles per hour. Now that I had somewhat of a plan, it was hard to be patient. But being patient was the only way it could work.

“It’s not cute. It’s obnoxious. But keep seating them in my section, okay?”

“You got it,” she said, climbing onto a stool and dangling her feet like a child.

Phaedra patted Chuck’s face. “Remember when you were obnoxious, honey?”

“How could I forget?” he said, waggling an eyebrow.

“Please stop,” Kirby said, looking ill.

A knock sounded on the door.

Kirby sighed. “He’s actually on time for once.”

When she didn’t move and didn’t say anything else, I turned to see Taylor standing in a white hat, a gray hoodie, and navy basketball shorts with flip-flops, holding a laundry basket full of clothes.

“I’ll be a son of a bitch,” Phaedra said with her gravelly low voice.

“Should I let him in?” Kirby asked.

Everyone looked at me.

“Just … nobody say a word. Let me handle it.”

“I feel like this is a joke,” Hannah said. “Is she playing a joke on us?”

“No, but it’s still funny,” Chuck said, trying not to laugh.

I made my way to the front door, not at all in a hurry, stopping just shy of an arm’s length away. “What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to seem exasperated.

“Laundry day,” he said, grinning from one ear to the other.

“Okay. You still haven’t explained why you’re here.”

“Do you have a washer and dryer?”

“Yes.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Do people not know how to ask to borrow things where you’re from?”

“Illinois.”

“I know where you’re from!” I growled.

Taylor’s smile faded. “Can I borrow your washer and dryer?”

“No!”

He looked both ways, down each direction of the street, and then back at me. “Well … is there a Laundromat nearby?”

“On Platte Avenue. Just turn left on Platte, off Tejon. It’s just before you get to Institute Street. Right across from the supply store,” Phaedra called.

I spun around to see her pointing in the correct direction. I shot her a look, and she shrugged her shoulders.

“You wanna come?” he asked. “Laundromats are boring as f*ck.”

I pressed my lips together and then pulled them to the side, trying not to smile. This is it. I reached over and turned the key that was already in the lock. “Come in.”

“You sure?”

“Oh, now, you’re worried about overstepping?”