“There’s no elevator?” I ask, looking around the small lobby.
“No… You really don’t have to come up. I’m sure you have things you need to be doing,” Caitlyn says.
“Let’s go.” I lead her to the stairs—reason number two she’s not fucking staying in this building.
When we reach the fourth floor, Caitlyn walks up to her door. “Shit,” she curses under her breath.
“What’s wrong?” I scan the small hallway.
“My key was in my bag. I can’t even get in,” she says.
I could easily pick the pathetic excuse for a lock that’s on her front door. I could be inside within seconds—reason number three I have no intention of letting her stay here.
“Okay, guess you’ll have to come to my place then,” I tell her, already making my way to the stairs.
Caitlyn follows, probably because I haven’t let go of her hand. “Wait! I can’t just go to your place.”
“Well, I’m sure as shit not leaving you stranded in the fucking hallway,” I tell her.
I see her intake of breath. She then retreats into herself. “Okay,” she whispers.
“No, it’s not okay.” I stop halfway down the stairs. “I’m sorry for raising my voice at you. I just meant that I’m not going to leave you stranded when you can’t get into your place. Besides, I have a perfectly good guestroom and I’ve been looking for a roommate.”
“I can call a locksmith or something,” she says.
“I’ll have someone come out here first thing in the morning. I’ll bring you back. But tonight, my guestroom is yours,” I tell her.
“Why are you being nice to me?” she asks.
“Why wouldn’t I be? You need help and I’m in a position to help you. What kind of asshole walks away from a woman in need?”
“Plenty,” she says.
“My mother would kick my ass if she got wind I could help and didn’t.” I smirk. It’s not a lie. Most people are afraid of my father, but my mother is way scarier.
“Okay,” Caitlyn says while her eyes remain fixated on the floor.
My finger presses underneath her chin. I don’t pull away, even though she visibly pales at my touch. “I’m not him,” I tell her, once her bright-blue eyes meet mine.
“Who?”
“Whoever put that fear in you. I’m not going to hurt you, Caitlyn. I’m just a friend helping another friend.”
“You don’t know me. How can we be friends?”
“I do know you. You’re Caitlyn.” Without another word, I turn and continue down the stairs.
“Neo?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you hold the hands of all of your friends?” Her glare flicks back to our still-joined palms.
I laugh. “I don’t hold anyone’s hand,solnishko.”
“Then why are you holding mine?”
“Because it feels… right.” I push through the shitty door to the building and scan the street before heading for my car. Opening the passenger side door, I wait for Caitlyn to get inside, then shut it again.
