When I moved in here, I put all the boxes of papers and books and knickknacks Dad and probably Mom had into the spare room.
It is all junk, but I want to go through it because, as with any pile of junk, there might be a gem somewhere in there. A photo, a letter, that sort of thing.
I could get started on that.
Every time I plan to do it, I never do, so maybe this weekend is the time.
I open the door to the spare room that is no bigger than a closet when my phone pings.
I race for it, heart beating like a maniac as I scoop it up.
But the number isn't unknown. I wish I had left it as WN. I had deleted the WN. I was going to type in Alex and save the number as that, but I didn't, and I'm kicking myself.
The number is Ruby.
With a sigh, I answer. "Hey."
"Do you want to go shopping tomorrow?"
"Do I look made of money?"
"No, but you got a pay raise."
"Not yet."
She lets out a groan.
And I crumble. I can window shop. "Fine. I will tag along, distract myself."
"You don't sound so excited," Ruby mutters with an audible sniff. "I have other friends."
"I know. And I'm sorry. I would love to go window shopping."
"Why do you need to be distracted, anyway?"
I go to my sofa and flop down. "When I smashed my phone, I lost Alex's number."
"The cloud?"
"I didn't program it in. Because I'm an idiot."
"No, because it is the smart thing to do. Though, thesmartest thing would be to jump Enzo's bones. I mean, you're up there, all day, alone with him."
"Alone." Because even though it doesn't feel like it, it is true.
Enzo is often down on other floors, and he has meetings that aren't listed on anything I'm allowed to see on the reception computer.
It is just when he is there, it is like a thousand suns beating down on me with light. And pressure. And magnetism.
Ugh.
"Not alonewith him."
"What. Ever. There is something brewing there, simmering away, the little pressure gauges hiking higher and higher?—"
"Stop that."
"He bought you the latest iPhone, Lola."
