“You only have two locks.”
“It’s fine,” I repeated.
“Is this building even secure?”
“Ish.” I started down the stairs. “I’m safe. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“I’m gonna worry.” He stuck to my side like glue. “Is there a doorman?”
I snorted. “There’s no elevator. How could there be a doorman?”
“Fuck. There’s no elevator? I thought we were taking the steps to torture me.”
“Not everything is about you.”
“You can’t live here.” He gripped my bicep as we hit the ground floor. “Adelaide, you can’t live here. Anyone could walk into your building.”
I ignored him. He was being ridiculous and I truly didn’t have any more time to argue. I hadn’t worked at my job long enough to be late.
“Look, I have to go. I’m not just saying that. I really do.”
His gaze swept over me, then he nodded once. “Okay. I’m coming with you. I want to see where you’re working.”
“No.” I pressed my hands to his chest. “Absolutely not. No one there knows about my dad, and if I show up with a famous rock star, questions are going to be asked. Since I know you won’t leave me alone until I tell you, I’m working at Oceans Studios as a production assistant.”
Surprise flared in his eyes. “I’ll pick you up after work and take you to dinner.”
“No. I have class after work.”
His jaw flickered with tension. “Jesus Christ, Adelaide, you can skip yoga for one night to deal with me. That’s all I’m asking.”
I heaved a breath. “It’s not a yoga class. I’ll tell you about it, but not right now.” I checked the time on my phone. “Tomorrow. I don’t have class after work. I’ll meet you tomorrow.”
Snatching my phone out of my hand, he tapped on the screen then he held it to his ear until his phone started vibrating in his pocket. Pleased that he’d unblocked himself, he returned my phone to me.
“You’re not hiding from me anymore. However I messed up, you’re going to tell me, and I’m going to fix it.”
If only it were that simple. I’d have loved for him to be able to fix my broken heart with the snap of his fingers.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Adam.”
I walked toward the subway, leaving him standing outside my crummy apartment building. A tear slipped down my cheek, but I wiped it away as quickly as it had appeared.
I didn’t have time for tears.
Maybe later with a bottle of cheap wine. Right now, I had a train to catch and a job to get to.