“What is wrong? What’s going on. Can you let me up so we don’t have to talk through an intercom?”
“No.”
“Seriously?”
“It’s two in the morning, I’d like to go to sleep and not disturb my roommate.”
“I’m not leaving. If you hang up, I’ll just keep buzzing.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why?” he asks, the exasperation clear. “I came home to find you gone, all your things gone. No explanation.”
“You did me a favor and now you don’t need to. I have somewhere else to stay. Goodnight.”
His voice cuts off and I step back, leaning against the wall opposite the intercom. How could he sound so shocked and concerned? Wow, men are really good at manipulation.
It buzzes again, and again, to the point I’m sure Lily’s roommate is going to come out and kick me out. I answer again and whisper shout at him to go away.
“Not happening, Charley. I’m getting pissed now. Let me in so we can talk.”
God. Fine. I can tell him to his face what an ass he is. “I’ll be down in two minutes, do not leave the lobby.” I open the door and step back again.
A light has come on in the hallway to the bedrooms. Lily is standing there squinting at me.
“What’s going on?” she mumbles.
“Nothing, go back to bed.”
“Was that the buzzer?”
“It was prank callers, ringing bells.”
“Fucking idiots got nothing better to do,” she rubs her eyes. “Sorry it disturbed you.”
“Don’t worry, just go back to bed.”
Luckily she is too sleepy to question my frantic pulse and panicked movements. Get a grip, Charley, just go down and tell him to leave you alone. Maybe throw in he is a bastard… Or maybe just pretend you never saw what he did and let him stew.
I dress quickly, grab a coat, the keys to the apartment and my phone and head out to the elevator. The lights are motion detection in the hallway and are already on when I step outside. I about jump out of my skin when Nashville rounds a corner and walks toward me.
“I told you to wait downstairs,” I hiss, pulling the door closed.
“I’m not big on being told what to do, Charley.” He looks me up and down and eyes the door behind me.
Lily’s apartment is the last on the hallway so I walk away from the door to the window at the end of the hall. I can feel him behind me even though he’s keeping his distance.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I could ask you the same thing,” he puts his hands on his hips, his face a mixture of confusion and irritation. “Why’d you leave?”
“Because I am getting my own place.” He frowns and looks at Lily’s door. “How did you even know where I am?”
“That’s not important.”
“It kind of is,” I snap. “Are you spying on me?”
“No, fuck. If I was spying, I would have known you left the house, but I had to track you down.”
