Yet she did long to be home, where she could throw off her clothes, slip into a nightgown, pick up the remote and immerse herself in some true-crime documentary on Hulu. She didn’t know why, and the preference certainly made her question her mental health, but those types of stories soothed her and often lulled her to sleep.
She reminded herself of her reason for joining the group—to get out, meet new people. If she scurried back to the safety of her warren and put Charisse off with a polite refusal, who knew when she’d be asked again? So, she said, “Sounds wonderful.” Besides, she was flattered that Charisse was making the effort. She assumed no one had noticed her in the group. Speaking up, she had to concede, had its perks.
They headed inside. The air was refrigerator cool, dark, and
