“I’m in the stairwell. Addison’s in the room.”
“How was the ride back?”
“You know,” Tyler said, and laughed. “Dead cornfields and freeways.” I had offered to pick him up but it turned out Addison’s flight was getting in around the same time, so he gave Tyler a ride. “Addison left his car parked there the entire break. It cost like a thousand dollars.”
“That’s a lot of money to park a car.” I laughed. “We’re on for tonight?”
“Yes. I can’t wait to see you.”
“I’ll pick you up at eight. At the usual spot?”
“Perfect.”
I’d made a reservation two towns to the east, dinner at a restaurant in a converted mill. New York had settled something between us, but it made me greedy as well. I wanted more with Tyler than the confines of my apartment. Until I could get out of Sawyer, this is how we would manage. We would explore the surrounding towns—everyone kept insisting that Ohio had its rustic charms; we could discover them together. And we’d take trips farther afield, safe and anonymous. I’d been curious about Pittsburgh, and maybe Louisville, when the weather warmed up.
That evening, I drove to the doughnut shop. I pulled into the lot. No Tyler. Two figures bundled in winter coats stepped into the liquor store, but nobody else was around. I parked, idling, and checked my phone. No message. He would be here, in a minute ortwo. I double-checked directions to the restaurant. My stomach growled; I’d gotten so caught up in cleaning the apartment, I’d forgotten lunch.
And then the door to the liquor store swung open and the two figures reemerged: Tyler, with Addison. Tyler, spotting me through the windshield, waved. He had a pack of cigarettes in his hand and he pocketed them, pulling Addison toward the car. Tyler jumped in and a moment later the backdoor opened, Addison sliding in behind us.
“Good to see you again, Professor Lausson. Happy New Year.”
Tyler didn’t look at me, just pulled on his seat belt and said, “Sorry, we were just grabbing some things.”
From the back seat: “Tyler invited me to join. I hope that’s okay.”
Tyler laughed. “He doesn’t mind. Right?”
I couldn’t breathe—it felt like someone had reached into my chest and grabbed my lungs, ringing them like a wet rag. The car’s heat blasted at me. I swiped the air vent closed and stabbed at the door, searching out the button for the window. It swept down; cold air rushed in.
“What are you doing?” Tyler said. “It’s freezing.” He turned to the back. “Can I get some of that gum?”
Addison passed him a piece. “Do you want one?”
I could tell them to leave, throw them out. Or I could just get out and go. Abandon the car, come back for it tomorrow.
“Dr. Lausson? Some gum?”
Addison was talking to me.
“No. I’m fine.”
“I heard about this party in Columbus,” Tyler said. “I thought we could check it out.”
“What?”
“One day back in Sawyer and I already feel suffocated. It’s on Greenwood, near the Short North. I’ll navigate.” He pulled something up on his phone. “Can I put the heat back on? I’m losing feeling in my face.”
“Calm down,” Addison said. “You’re so dramatic about everything.”
What had I gotten myself into? Anything I could say would only draw attention to the fact that I shouldn’t even be here. I had no idea what to do. So I put the car in reverse, pulled out of the lot, and listened as Tyler directed us out of town.
We’d exited the freeway and were coasting through Columbus, dark streets, slick with melted snow.
“This better not be some stupid frat party,” Addison said.
“I wouldn’t do that to us, these guys are cool. They’re all graduated.”
“How did you say you know them?”
