Noah holds out a rectangular piece of cardstock. “Just wanted to give you my card.”
I crack the window enough to take the card, then start the engine without another word. He jumps back when I reverse out of my spot. I look in the rear-view mirror and shiver when he’s out of sight.
Then I realize what I just did and hit the steering wheel. That wasn’t a good way to go about getting a job, he was just being nice, doinghisjob. I need to remember that not everyone is not a creepy stalker. I can be cautious without being paranoid.
Ben won’t let anything happen to me. I’m safe.
There’s only a couple turns to get to my loft, so I don’t need to use the GPS. I’m home in about fifteen minutes, and just as Iget inside, my phone alerts me to a text from Ben asking how my day is going.
I contemplate what to reply, and reply with the truth. Immediately, my phone rings. “You didn’t have to call.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. A little disappointed, but hopefully things will work out.” So I’m not an unemployed loser, I don’t add.
“I’m gonna come see you and make sure you’re really okay.” He says.
He really is the best, but I don’t want him to leave his work because of me. “I’m good, Benny, honest. You’re working.”
“You’re more important.”
“You’re sweet, but seriously—I’m all right. And honestly, I’m tired.” Lie. I don’t want him to feel sorry for me. “So I’ll just see you tomorrow like we planned.”
Someone calls his name. “I’ll see you later then, okay? Call me if you need anything.”
“I will.”
We hang up, I drag my feet to the window ledge, and sit, gazing down at the city below. My mind blanks, and unlike the past few days, I think about nothing. For hours.
Night is falling, and I’m still sitting on the window ledge with Joan Wick in my lap, looking at the neon lights of Bar Someday, when my phone rings.
I slide my finger across the screen, then answer on speaker without looking to see who it is because I assume it’s Ben calling to check in again. “Hey.”
“It’s about time, Annie. Are you okay?”
“Shari? Yeah. I’m fine, why?”
I hear keys jingling, then a dog barking. “The last time I saw you was when you left the bar acting weird, so I was already worried. I go to your apartment and that guy across the hall tells me some strange men packed up all your stuff, and he doesn’tknow where you are. Then you don’t return any of my calls or messages, so I’ve been freaking out!”
She went to check on me? “I’m sorry. I…I didn’t think you would worry.”
“Of course I would, you’re my friend, and you just disappeared. Did youreadany of my messages?”
“Not all of them. I’m sorry, I thought you were angry I left without saying goodbye.”
“I wasn’t angry. I was scared. You’re my friend, Annie.”
My nose tickles, and my heartbeat feels…lighter. “Really?”
“Girl, of course.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. It was shitty, I should have called you back, but a lot has happened, and not just in the last few days. I’m trying to figure everything out and wrap my mind around things I still don’t understand.”
“Like what?”
I hum. “How much time do you have?”
“I just got home, and I’m sitting on my patio with a glass of wine in my hand, so I have all the time in the world.”
