“Joey, don’t speak to me like that.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I don’t want you here.”
I stand wide-eyed, not knowing what the right thing to do is. Do I leave him?
“GET OUT!” he yells, making me jump. I turn and leave the bathroom quickly and pull the door shut behind me.
My eyes sting with tears as his words embed themselves, even though I know he doesn’t mean them. Joey is good at being alone, it’s the way it’s been for a long time for him.
I go to his kitchen and pour a glass of water.
Iplace the water on his dresser in his room and wait.
Twenty minutes later, he pushes open the door. He doesn’t enter the room, he just stands on the threshold with a towel wrapped around his hips.
“You okay?” I ask.
He chews on his bottom lip, his hands clenching twice before he steps into the room and over to his drawers. I watch him out of the corner of my eye as he picks out some joggers, pulling them on under his towel.
Without a word, he leaves the room, coming back a few minutes later with his hoodie pulled over him.
“I told you to leave.” He walks to the small window and opens it.
“Joey—”
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“Are you okay?”
He sniggers then shakes his head. “No, Nina, I’m not okay. Is that alright with you?”
I step closer and place a hand on his back. “I will go. I’m sorry, I was only worried. You’ll call me if you need me?”
When he doesn’t say anything, I turn and walk towards his bedroom door.
“Nina,” he says, sounding agitated.
I stop. “Yeah?”
He walks to where I stand and palms my cheek, taking me by surprise. I try not to flinch, but I can’t help my reaction to his touch.
His eyes shine. “I’m sorry.”
The second his head dips, I pull away. “Joey, what are youdoing?”
He stares through me for a moment before his eyes find focus on mine. “Kiss me. Just once.” He reaches for me again, this time grasping my neck. I turn my head to the side and his lips brush my cheek.
“Joey, stop!” I push on his chest and he stumbles back. “What are you thinking?!”
Tears fill my eyes and I stare at him, not understanding.
I turn and run from the apartment.
TWENTY-FOUR
Nina
I push out through the apartment doors of Joey’s building and hurry towards the taxi that’s idling at the curb. I step back so the gentleman that is climbing from it can retrieve his coat then pull open the passenger door.
