Page 45 of The Reluctant Roommate
Lula whipped out her phone. “Serena Poldemann, right?” At Heidi’s nod, she pressed enter. “Nothing shows up.” She put her phone down. “When are you going?”
“I thought after Thanksgiving. Serena may visit family for Thanksgiving, and, besides, if I have to stay over a night or two to find her, it will be cheaper after the long weekend.”
“Facts.”
“So, whenever I can get three days in a row off after that.”
“Let me know. I’ll see if I can swing it too. I want to see her face when you confront her. It’ll be better than clickbait.”
“Will your wreck of a car make it that far? I was going to hire a car, but if you drive, I’ll pay for the motel.”
“I don’t know if it’ll get us over Kenosha Pass—it’s over ten thousand feet. You could ask Morgan—she’s probably got a schmancy car.”
“If Morgan drives, would you still come? I already mentioned the possibility of a road trip to her in a jokey way, but she didn’t say yes or no.”
“Not sure she’d want me along.” Lula took a gulp of beer. “She doesn’t seem real friendly. Like she’s all judgy-princess.”
“Then I’ll hire a car.” She nudged Lula. “I want you along, if you can make it.”
Lula bumped fists with her. “You’re on. Let me know when.”
The server brought two baskets of wings and set them down. Heidi picked one up, dunked it in the blue cheese dressing. “Honestly, sometimes I think these are the best thing about America.”
Lula laughed. “You mean better than the screwy politics, the lack of health care, and all the guns?”
“Definitely. Sorry, America. I love you, but a lot of that is because of these babies.” She took a bite, scraping the meat from the bone with her teeth. “So fucking good.”
“What are you going to do when you find Serena?” Lula asked.
“I don’t know. I really have no idea. Ask nicely for my money back—”
“Like that will work.” Lula snorted.
“Fold my arms, look tough, and threaten to call the cops?”
“You’ll need more than that. It didn’t work the first time.”
“Vandalize her house until she returns my money?”
“That will get you arrested, not her.”
“Then I give up.” Heidi threw up her arms and pasted on a smile, even as her heart sank. She was so totally unprepared for this. So lacking in actual ideas that might work. “What would you do?”
“Do you have any skinny on her she wouldn’t want known? Know any of her friends or relatives?”
“I met her parents and some of her friends in California. Her parents hung up on me when I called asking where Serena was, and I don’t have any contacts for her friends. This obviously needs more thought.” Heidi rested her head on her folded arms.
“Right now, it sounds like you’re screwed, girlfriend. But we won’t give up. Have another wing. Might improve your brain power.”
“All the preservatives might kill it.”
“Well, seriously, you couldn’t be worse off.”
Chapter 23
A Question of Timing
The door opened and closed, and the soft thump of Heidi’s shoes hitting the boot tray sounded. A moment later, Heidi padded into the kitchen in her socks.
