“Hm?”
“You shook your head like you do when you’re trying to work something out and it doesn’t make sense.”
Amie wrinkled her nose. “I hate that.”
“What?”
“That you know that about me. You shouldn’t know that about me if we’re not dating.”
Ziya laughed. “Just because we’re not dating anymore means I’m supposed to forget everything I know about you?”
“Yes. It’s embarrassing. Wipe your memory.”
“I’ll try my best.” Ziya shook her head with amusement as she turned down Amie’s street.
“Thanks for driving me,” Amie said.
“No problem. I want to make sure he’s okay.”
Amie paused, trying to figure out if she misunderstood. “You … are you coming in?”
Ziya gave her an incredulous look. “Of course!”
“You don’t have to.”
“Iwantto. Besides, if he’s not there, you’ll need a ride to the police station.”
That was a strong argument. Still, Amie felt compelled to push back.
“I can take the bus. There aren’t any open parking spots, anyway.”
Ziya pulled up next to an open parking spot in front of Amie’s building. She looked over, eyebrows raised.
“Oh.” Just because there were no open parking spots on September 17 didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any on September 18.
Ziya expertly parallel parked, and the two exited the car.
Amie felt dazed as they entered the building. Even the most indulgent of scenarios she’d played out in her head hadn’t ended with Ziya going home with her. Granted, even if shehadallowed herself to imagine a scenario where Ziya went home with her, it likely wouldn’t have been under these circumstances.
“Wait.” Ziya grabbed Amie’s hand as the latter raised it to knock on David’s door. She quickly released her, then pressed an ear to the door, listening. Amie struggled to figure out what to do with her hand, which was tingling from the contact.
“I hear voices,” Ziya whispered.
“David?”
“Can’t tell. But they wouldn’t be in there without him, right?” Ziya straightened, knocking on the door.
Knock knock. Knock. Knock knock knock.
A few moments later, the door cracked open.
“I told you not to rush,” David said, scowling at Amie as he opened the door wider.
His face brightened as he saw Ziya. “Hello, stranger!”
“Hello to you!” Ziya replied, throwing her arms around him. David returned the hug, raising his eyebrows pointedly at Amie over Ziya’s shoulder.
“What happened?” Amie asked, exasperated.
