“What do you think?”
I exhale. “Your brother still around?”
“Yeah. He’s leaving today.”
The loud blaring of a car horn almost drowns out her reply.
“Where are you?” My worried frown spills into my voice.
“On my way to work,” she tells me. “I’m a few blocks from the office.”
I imagine her shouldering her way through crowds of hurrying New Yorkers. “You’re walking?”
“Yeah.” She laughs nonchalantly. “It’s the only way to keep my weight from catching up to my IQ.”
I don’t find it funny. “You and Laurie walk together?”
There’s a pause. “Sometimes. Other times she leaves earlier than me.”
“I’m not convinced it’s safe.”
“Well, it is.” She laughs again. “I’ve been doing this for two years.”
“When are you leaving the office?”
She tells me.
“Joe will pick you up. Just let me know when you’re about to leave.”
She protests, like I knew she would, but I’m determined not to budge.
“Landon, it’s not necessary.”
“I think it is.” Trying to sound gentler and convincing, I soldier on. “Your safety is important to me. The more people know who you are to me, the more unreasonable it becomes for you to traipse around with no security at all.”
“It’s not like we’re taking out an announcement or anything like that.”
“We won’t need one.” Not when my life is gossip fodder. “Just let Joe pick you up,” I urge. “I’m having enough nightmares about how porous your apartment building is as it is.”
She sighs. “Fine.”
“I’ll send you Joe’s number so you can call whenever you need him.” She doesn’t answer, and I know she’s pissed. “I’m probably going to work a little later than I planned tonight, but I’ll call you.”
“Sure. See you whenever.”
Definitely pissed.
“Where are you now?”
“Almost there.”
“Good.” I wait until the sounds of traffic become muted and I know she’s in the building. “I’ll see you soon.”
After spending most of the day in conference calls and missing lunch, I’m famished when Ava arrives late in the evening.
She walks into the office, painstakingly flawless in a silky ensemble that looks like it just came off a runway in Paris. Tony is practically gawking at her, slack-jawed.
“Thank you, Tony.” I dismiss him before he makes a fool of himself.