When it was time to leave, Lauren and Andrew walked back the same way they came. They got into the elevator, and as the doors slid together a young woman in scrubs ran up and stuck her hand through the opening. They popped back open and she jumped into the enclosed space.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to wai—hey Lauren!”
“Hi Grace,” Lauren said with a smile. “How’s it going?”
Grace pressed the number eight and the doors slid shut. “It’s going good,” she started, but then her cheerful demeanor faded. “Well, except for what happened with Kiki.”
Lauren straightened, and her face paled.
Andrew immediately went on high alert.
“What about Kiki?”
Grace’s mouth turned down at the corners. “I’m sorry, I thought someone would have told you. He passed away. On Wednesday. I’ve never seen the floor so somber, not in my seven years working here.”
Lauren’s sharp intake of breath was so intense, Andrew felt it in his own lungs. Her hand flew to her mouth, and he heard her whisper, “No…” behind her palm. On its own accord, his hand went to her shoulder.
The speaker dinged and the elevator doors slid open. Grace didn’t move right away. Instead, she stood there with this horrified, mournful look on her face. “I’m so sorry, Lauren. It came as a shock to all of us.” The doors began to close again, and Grace darted for the opening. “I have to go, but call me later and we’ll talk more, okay? I’m so sorry.”
Then Grace was gone and the doors closed again, leaving Andrew and Lauren alone.
“Lauren…” he began. He had no clue what had just happened or who Kiki was, and he didn’t know what to say. What he knew was Lauren had cared about Kiki, and she was falling apart beside him.
Without conscious thought, he pulled her into his arms. She melted in to him, gripping his shirt in her fists as her body shook with sobs. She was several inches shorter, and he rested his chin on top of her head. He rubbed circles on her back and murmured words like, “I’m so sorry” and “It’s okay,” though none of it would fix a damn thing.
A light, floral scent rose from her hair, and Andrew inhaled deeply. Was it wrong of him to feel a sense of satisfaction that she was in his arms? That he was the one bringing her comfort? He hated seeing her cry with an acute fierceness, but that emotion was offset by the pleasure of finally being able to hold her.
The elevator stopped on the third floor, and the doors opened to reveal a guy wearing a maintenance uniform, tapping at his phone. He looked up and took one step forward but paused when he saw Andrew and the crying woman in his embrace.
Andrew shot him a look that said, Don’t even think about it.
They reached the lower level where the parking garage was located. Andrew tightened his arms around her back and dipped his head to her ear to murmur, “This is us.”
She sniffed and pulled back, swiping her forearm across her eyes. Andrew felt the loss of her immediately, and he nearly pulled her back against his chest. He settled for putting his arm around her waist for support, and they walked in the direction of her car.
“I’m so sorry.” Her voice shook, and she occasionally hiccupped as she inhaled. “I’m not usually like this… I’m so embarrassed.”
They came to a stop by her car, and Andrew turned her to face him. He ducked low to meet her gaze directly, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He held out his hand. “But I’m driving.”
She didn’t argue and dug around in her purse for her keys. She placed them in his palm, but before she could get in on the passenger side, he pulled her in for another hug.
“I’m sorry,” he said for the tenth time, but it was true. He was sorry she was hurting, and that she had a job where this probably happened often. He was sorry that in the back of his mind, he wondered if someday he would be the one she was crying over.
This time her arms wound around his waist, causing a tightening deep in his abdomen. His heart squeezed inside his chest and he closed his eyes, memorizing the feel of her like this.
“Thank you.” Too soon, she pulled back and opened the car door.
He went around to the driver’s side and got in. She sat quietly beside him as he started the car and maneuvered out of the parking garage.
They didn’t speak for several blocks, the soft melody of the radio the only sound.
He drove right past the entrance to his apartment complex.
She noticed. “Where are you going?”
“We need ice cream.” He thought she might point out that it was only eleven-thirty in the morning or that they hadn’t had lunch yet.
Instead, she nodded. “Good call.”
And just like that, he fell for her a little more.