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He concluded his survey and accompanied me inside. On the two occasions we encountered male residents on the way up, he stood close by my side, aiming a withering glare in their direction. I felt like he was my personal bodyguard.
“This is my place,” I said when we arrived outside my door.
I tried to insert the key in the lock, but couldn’t get it to go in.
“Allow me,” Neil said. He removed the key from my grasp and took over. But it didn’t work for him either. “This isn’t the right key,” he said, frowning.
That’s when I realised my mistake. This wasn’t my apartment, it was my neighbour’s.
“Oops.” I walked over to the next door. “This is my place.”
Neil sighed. “And you said you could make it to your apartment.”
“I know, I know.”
This time, the key slid in without resistance.
“Good night, Amelia,” Neil said, stepping back and making his lack of nefarious intentions clear.
“Thank you, Neil. For everything. I feel bad for ruining your evening.”
“You didn’t.”
“You’re actually a very sweet man, you know that?”
“Enough,” he grumbled.
I didn’t know what came over me. It was like I was possessed. Before I could stop myself, I closed the gap between us and flung my arms around him.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Iwoke up the next morning with a dull headache and a fuzzy memory of a strange dream. In the dream, Neil had walked me up to my apartment, and when we reached my door, I had hugged him.
I had hugged my boss.
No. I buried my face in my pillow. No, no, no. I must be confused. Why would I have a romantic dream about Neil? That’s crazy. Maybe I’m still drunk.
I turned onto my cheek with a sigh. My half-open eyes fell upon a sweater sprawled in the middle of the floor. A man’s sweater.
Neil’s sweater.
It wasn’t a dream. I did see Neil last night. He rescued me from Leon and pulled me out of the way of getting splashed. He lent me his sweater, drove me home, and walked me to my apartment.
And I hugged him.
I threw my arms around him like a madwoman and clung to him. Neil’s reaction was to peel me off, tell me to get some rest, then hurry away before I could do any further damage. The correct response.
I groaned. What did Neil think of me now? Getting drunk, calling him from a bar, hugging him, telling him he’s sweet… I wouldn’t blame him if he fired me for inappropriate behaviour.
My head throbbed, and my throat was dry. I needed a glass of water. I dragged myself out of bed, pulled on a dressing gown, shoved my feet into a pair of slippers, and shuffled to the kitchen. The water rushed from the tap into my glass. I gulped it down. More details from the previous night came back to me. Nicole forgetting my name, ignoring me all night, and abandoning me at the bar. I wondered if she had replied to the text message I sent her. Maybe she had realised her mistake and apologised. I grabbed my phone off the bedside table and checked my messages. One new text. Not from Nicole—from Gwen, Nicole’s sister.
Hope you all had a wonderful night. Total each person owes: $243.
I bristled. That amount had to include activities or food and drinks consumed without me. Whatever. I didn’t have the energy to cause a fuss.
Meanwhile, no word from Nicole. Not even a missed call. My heart sank.
Our friendship is over.
