Page 43 of All The Ways to Miss You

“Whoa, okay. I’ll leave it alone.” He tugs open the door to our building, allowing me to enter first. Inside our office, I remind him to forget our discussion. He agrees too quickly, which I note is very un-Lou like.

Worried, I retreat to my office. I don’t want to know more, and I definitely don’t want Lou to know more. He can’t keep anything to himself. On any other day, this trait might be nice—as long as I’m not the subject of discussion.

Inside my office, I close the door. Slouching against the wall, I bang my head a few times, wanting to knock every image of Evan out.

“What the hell are you doing?”

I whip around toward the voice and stumble, dropping my bag at the sight of a man sitting on my office sofa. With the tone of his voice, I thought it was Evan. But it’s not; it’s Linden. Until now, I didn’t realize how similar they sound. I hold a hand over my racing heart. I’m relieved until Linden gives me a worried look.

“What’s going on with you this week?” He narrows his gaze. Is he trying not to smile?

I cast about for an explanation, but before I open my mouth to speak . . .

“No.” He dismisses my forthcoming answer. “I don’t want to know. I only wanted an update on the Lakeman deal.”

“Oh, right.” I collect my bag and scurry to my desk chair, calling forth my work persona, the one who has her shit together, not this pitiful blob of emotion. I try to shake it off the best I can. “James rescheduled his appointment.”

“Why the stall?”

“He’s on a last-minute business trip, but it works well with the new property coming available.”

“And?” Linden’s brows rise.

“I’m going to close the deal. End of story.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” He rises and heads for the door. Before he leaves, he halts, his hand wrapped around the door frame. “Did you happen to see Evan this morning?”

I school my expression. “Is he ignoring you again?”

“Left him a million messages.”

“Not to worry. He’s alive.” I give a weak laugh while flipping my thumb over the pages of a stack of Post-its.

Linden removes his buzzing cell from a pocket. “Speak of the devil.” He waves his phone at me, then answers the call as he leaves.

I sink into my chair, my knees weak. What would Linden say if he found out? Would he be pissed? I cover my face with my hands and groan.

But then my ear tunes in to a new sound. Outside my door, Lou’s voice booms over office chatter, ringing phones, and whining copier machines. He’s asking someone, “Were you here when Evan Wade worked in the office?”

nineteen

“What’s with you?” Aggie follows me into my apartment building after work on Friday evening.

“Nothing.”

“You’ve been a zombie for a week.”

I pause in the lobby and face her, but it isn’t Aggie I’m interested in seeing. I’m looking for Evan. He’s been MIA since the morning after the night we spent together.

She snaps her fingers in front of my face. My eyes flitter aware, and I glower at her.

“Are you even listening to me? This is what I’m talking about.” She jabs her fist onto her hip.

“I was,” I protest.

But I wasn’t. Not completely. Instead, I was counting the UPS delivery sticky notes on Evan’s door. There are three, which means he’s still in hiding. And on top of everything, the hot water in my shower is still broken.

“Okay, what did I just say?” Aggie demands.