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Hisfaceremainedserious.“Yeah.Them.Come on.”Heturnedandledher intheopposite direction.Theyarrivedatathickmetaldoor withthewords‘EmergencyExit’writtenacrossit.He pressedagainstthemetal barinthecenter.It openedupintothealleywaybehindtheclub.“I’llbe homeassoon asI can,”hesaid.
Walking through, shepeeredover her shoulderathim.His featureswerecastinshadows, making himappeareven moremysterious. He handed her thebag he’d packedand sheslung it over her shoulder.
“Callmewhenyougetthere,”hecalled outasshemadeherwaydownthelongalleyway.
Gigi had been living in NewYorkCityfor four years,butshehad never walked thestreetsaloneat nightbefore.ThefactthatshehadErinwasasmallconsolation,sinceshewasn’t trulyalone,but being a singlefemalewithan infant madehereasypreyfor anyonelooking for atarget.
Thankfully,thefifteenminutewalktoMax’sapartmentbuildingwasuneventful.Therehadbeen alot ofpeoplewalking around inclothesthatsaid theywereeither on theirwaytoabar, orwere goingtoanotherone,but shedidn’tnoticeanyone studyingher too carefully. Pushingthestrollerintothe elevator,shepressed thebuttonfor Max’s floor.
As the door slid open smoothly, shegotthe keysoutreadytoopen thefrontdoor. Onceinside,sheslidtheboltacross,droppedthebagsandtookErinfromthestroller.Thelittle girl had sleptthrough theentirething. Quietly,Gigi tookher intoher nurseryand puther tobed.
Backinthelivingroom,shetook outherstudynotesandtextbook,placingthemon one endof thecouch.Shethentook offhershoesandpaddedintothekitchen.Sherummaged throughMax’s cupboards,findingapacketof teabags,and madeherselfa cup.Mug inhand,shechecked toseeif Erin wasstill asleep,then decided tohavealookaround theother bedroomsinhisapartment.
If shetookthejob,shewould beliving herewithMax,in one oftheserooms. Shepoked her head intotheroomclosesttoErin’sandimmediately steppedback.ItwasMax’s,andshefeltasif shewasintrudingsomehow.Fromthequickglimpseshedidget,itdidn’tseemtosuitMax.Itwas toobright,toostarkandindustrial.Forhim,shewouldhavechosendarker colors,heavy, warm fabricsand maybesomeleather furniturethrown intothemix.
Backdownthehallway,Gigipressedagainsttheonlyremainingdoorshehadn’tseenbehind.It wasjustasingleroom,and itwasdecorated in much thesamewayas Max’s. Asshelooked around thespace,shecouldimagineherbookslinedup on thesmalldesk,thecomforterher mother had given herwhen she’dleftfor collegeonthebed.
As she stared at the empty room, picturing all of her things in it, she realized that Maxwasright.Theannouncementfortheplacementsontheinternshipwasat leasttwoweeks away.Thatmeantshecouldearnfourthousanddollarsinthattime.Asastrugglingstudentwith loanstorepay,she’dbeafooltopassuptheopportunity.Turningoffthelight,sheshutthe bedroomdoor andmadeher waybacktotheliving room.
Shereallyhad tocheckinwithJenandletherknowwhereshewas.Shecurleduponthecouch andlookedatthetime.Shedidn’twanttocallincaseshewokeherroommate up.Unlockingher phone,shetapped intohertextmessagesand starteda newoneto Jen.
AtMax’s place,looking after Erin.Don’t knowwhenI’llbehome.Hopeyou’refeelingbetter.
Gigi hitsend and placed her phonebesideher. Itwasbarelyaminutebeforetherewasasmall beep.
Don’tdoanythingIwouldn’tdo.MaybeifMaxgot laidhe’dlightenupa bit.Domeproud,Borello.
Gigi huffed in frustration,punching outan angryresponse.
I’mnotsleepingwithhim, Jen!I’mwatchinghisdaughterwhilehe’s atwork.That’s all.Goodnight.
Jen wasobviouslyfeeling betterif shewasin such a provokingmood.Thankfully,therewasnoreply tothatlastmessage. Gigi picked up hercup ofteaand flipped open hertextbook. Shestaredatthe pageuntil all thewordsbegan toblur together. Sherubbed her stinging eyes,recognizing thesigns of tiredness. Sheputher cup down along withthebookandgota little morecomfortable. She’d justrest her eyesfor halfan hourthen getbacktostudying.
