Chapter4

My follow request was declined a few minutes later.

I checked the spelling against Adrian’s handwriting. It was right. Perhaps Ethan had tapped the wrong button.

I sent another request.

This time, nothing happened. I fell asleep waiting for the notification.

The next morning, I went to the hospital to arrange payment toward Grandma’s surgery expenses. With the money in my account, I could finally get through a conversation about the bills without wondering which part I’d have to say I couldn’t cover.

By the time I left her, it was evening.

Our apartment door stood open when I got home. Movers were carrying boxes into the hallway, and Vanessa’s bedroom was half empty.

“Are you moving already?” I messaged her. “Are you here?”

“Still at work! Have you seen my boyfriend? He’s handling the move for me.”

I was reading her reply when a box shifted at the top of a stack beside me.

I looked up too late to step clear.

A hand closed around my wrist and pulled me out of the way. The box struck the floor where I’d been standing.

“Stay in your room,” Adrian said. “It’s a mess out here.”

He looked tired. There were shadows under his eyes, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up for the move.

“Thanks,” I said.

He let go of my wrist. I folded my hand around the strap of my bag, aware of exactly where his fingers had been.

Adrian looked toward the open front door, then back at me.

“I don’t like how easily anyone can get into this building. If you want to move, I can arrange something for you, too.”

“No, thank you.”

I’d lived here for two years, through several roommates. It wasn’t luxurious, but I knew the neighborhood, and the rent was something I could pay. I didn’t want another part of my life arranged by him.

He gave a small nod. “All right. Your choice.”

His phone rang. Vanessa’s name appeared on the screen.

Adrian glanced at me before he stepped aside to answer. I went into my bedroom and shut the door, leaving him to discuss her new apartment.

The movers were quick. Within half an hour, the scraping and footsteps stopped. There was a knock on my door.

“The key’s on the table,” Adrian said.

“Okay.”

I listened to him leave without opening it.

That might be the last time we saw each other. Once Vanessa was gone, he’d have no reason to come here. I sat on my bed, trying to decide whether I was relieved.

Later that evening, Vanessa sent a video of her new place.

Sunlight filled the living room through floor-to-ceiling windows. She panned across the furniture, talking excitedly about how much space she had now. Near the end, the camera caught Adrian on the sofa, reading a financial magazine.

He looked at ease there.

Come visit when you’re free, Claire!

I told her the apartment looked lovely and put my phone down.

The room across the hall was empty. I’d need to find someone to split the rent, and Grandma still needed me at the hospital. Those were things I could actually do something about.

I opened my window. Lights were coming on in the apartments opposite mine.

For two years, I’d thought about that night until I’d exhausted every detail. I’d regretted speaking, regretted staying, regretted wanting more. Then I’d gone over it all again.

Adrian was with the woman he’d wanted. I’d seen how happy she was, how comfortable he looked in her home.

I needed to stop waiting for my own memories to turn into a different story.

I closed the window and started looking for a new roommate.

Grandma’s surgery was over, and she was recovering in the hospital. She would have to stay a while longer, but the immediate strain eased. I found another roommate. Work kept me busy.

When I finally had a quiet evening, I remembered Ethan.

I sent one last request, this time with a note: It’s Claire Bennett. Adrian gave me your account. He said you’d been looking for me. I’d like to catch up.

There was still no response.

Maybe knowing I was alive and well had been enough. Maybe Adrian had made more of it than he should have. I decided to leave Ethan alone.

Two weeks later, I ran into Sophie and Vanessa out shopping.

Sophie stopped when she saw me. For a moment, I thought she might come over. Instead, she stayed where she was, holding a shopping bag against her leg.

Vanessa came straight to me.

“Claire! You have to come to my birthday party next month. No excuses.”

I smiled and said I’d try. Sophie watched us without joining in.

That night, she called.

“You and Vanessa were roommates?”

“Yes.”

“What are the odds?”

“I know.”

We fell quiet. It had been two years since we’d spoken, and I could remember exactly how the last conversation had gone.

She’d seen me coming out of Adrian’s room. One look at me had been enough for her to understand what had happened.

“I thought you were my best friend,” she’d said. “You’ve been after my cousin this whole time?”

I’d tried to answer, but she hadn’t let me.

“I should have told you. He’s in love with someone. Vanessa’s the only woman I want him to marry. As soon as she comes home, they’ll get back together.”

I hadn’t contacted Sophie after I left. She hadn’t contacted me, either.

Now she sounded almost willing to forget it.

“You’re not still into him, are you?”