Ways to Improve Bailey by Cori Cooper

Author:Cori Cooper [Cooper, Cori]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Immortal Works
Published: 2023-04-17T16:00:00+00:00

Two hours later, I stood in the hall outside Tanner’s room, completely exhausted and totally hyped up.

Yeah, it’s possible.

I knocked a second time, listening for sound on the other side of the door. I didn’t want to wake Tanner up if he was resting.

Maybe I should just go.

There was a faint shuffle, then the clank of a lock being turned. I went to the window and waved to let Dayton know I was good. He gave me a stupid grin and sped off. I was going to have to do something nefarious to get back at him. He had been the biggest stinker during the drive. Both because I wanted him to drop me off at Tanner’s house and because I made him stop at Safeway on the way to pick up soup, juice, and rolls.

Tanner pulled the door open just a crack.

“Holy cow. You look terrible.”

He ran his hand over his matted beard, pulling at the ends. His head looked like he’d been playing with a hair dryer in the bathtub. His t-shirt and flannel pajama pants were wrinkled.

“When was the last time you showered?” I wrinkled my nose.

“Hey!” Tanner croaked. “You insisted on coming over, remember? I tried to stop you.” His words were tempered with a lopsided smile.

“I know.” I stepped forward, forcing Tanner to get out of my way or be mowed down with my heeled boots. But then I had to stop, in shock or awe—I’m not sure which—at the sight of his room. It was a tiny space with a card table in the corner, a mini fridge next to it, and a bed crammed into the other corner.

I opened my mouth to comment.

“Don’t say anything. I know it’s a disaster. I was going to pick up before you got here, but I fell asleep.”

I took a long look at his rumpled self and bloodshot eyes. “Go lay down, Tanner. You look like death married Frankenstein.”

Tanner laughed as he plodded back to the bed. He dropped, face down on the covers and groaned.

“Are you in pain?” I asked. “Or do your sheets stink as bad as the rest of this place? When was the last time you cleaned?”

“I clean.” Tanner’s voice was muffled. He turned his head so I could hear him better. “I do laundry.” His voice trailed off. I assume because that was the end of his cleaning repertoire and not because he was starting to get hoarse. I mean, seriously, the room looked like it had not seen a vacuum, a duster, or disinfectant wipes.

Like, ever.

“Good thing I brought utensils,” I said mostly to myself as I unpacked the Safeway bag. “I didn’t bring a bowl, though. I guess you can just eat out of the container.” I opened the lid of the soup and stuck a spoon inside. While I was rummaging through the bag for rolls, I heard Tanner’s cackle.

“What?”

Tanner flopped over onto his back. “I have never heard anyone make so much noise in my life.”

I took the plastic bag and crinkled it back and forth in my hands.

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