Cherry and I talked for some time. We spoke of lighter, happier things. She told me a story about a time she was pet-sitting for a friend and discovered that several bats had slipped in through the attic. I doubled over laughing when she said she video called her friend sobbing while locked in a closet with the dog.
Eventually, I checked the time and realized we'd been talking for nearly an hour.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!"
Cherry waved me away dismissively, "It's fine, hun. Your safety is more important to me than a few extra hours of relaxing."
Her reassurances did little to ease my guilt. Sheepishly, I asked to borrow her phone so I could call Xavier. She handed it over readily, even going so far as to tell me her password. I couldn't help but worry about her reckless disregard for personal safety.
She wandered off to finish closing up, leaving her phone(And all its logged in payment apps) in my care.
It rang three times before Xavier answered.
"Who's this?"
