Chapter 40

• I pass the first door without glancing inside and keep going until I reach the next one. I flick on the light and step in. The room itself is white, but the shower curtain boasts a cityscape in cartoon figures and bright colors, making the room feel sunny and personal.
• I’m hit with a more potent version of Clover’s perfume, or body wash, or whatever she uses or wears to make her smell the way she does—like cloves and cinnamon and lemon and something that reminds me of comfort and holidays. The space is neat, towels folded and hanging on the bar, and the vanity free of clutter, apart from an electric toothbrush and one of those foaming hand soap pumps.
• I glance in the mirror, my reflection staring back at me. Help her, set her at ease, keep the flirting to a minimum, then get out. I look past myself and realize I can see directly into her bedroom. It’s different from the one at her cabin and nothing like college-kid bedrooms, with posters and laptops and clothes strewn over the floor. Everything is color-coordinated, sophisticated, and organized. I drop my gaze, aware I’m in her personal space and seeing parts of her life she hasn’t invited me into.