”What is it for? To call that man?”

Deirdre did not try to deny it. “I haven’t been in contact with him for a while by now, and with my phone going awry… I worry that he might try to call me and get no answer. So, I thought I had to call him first. Tell him I’m doing fine.”

Brendan’s thoughts began to clash with one another. The phone he used to roleplay Kyran was damaged as well when he dove into the pool. If Deirdre called it now, Brendan could not answer it. And Deirdre would definitely begin to imagine paranoia-fueling scenarios.

He turned to the bellboy. “It’s alright. You can go now.”

The bellboy stiffened a little. “Uh, what about the phone?”

“Take it away.”

Deirdre’s eyes trembled. Grabbing Brendan’s robe by his collar, she protested. “No, don’t do this. Just this one call, Brendan. One call. I just need to tell him my phone is busted. Please…”

He frowned. “Have I ever stopped you from talking to that man, McKinnon? I’m not trying to drive a wedge between the two of you.