“Should I get naked?”
“How about you just keep talking to me, okay?” I hailed a cab.
“What do you want to talk about?”
“Anything.” I swung open the door and blurted Ford’s address to the driver.
“I had a date tonight.”
I drew my head back slightly, not expecting him to tell me that. Not because I was surprised he was dating, but shocked he felt comfortable telling me. “Oh, yeah?”
“But there won’t be a second date. I ran away after the run-in with Tim.”
My anxiety escalated as I impatiently tapped my foot while the taxi sped through the streets.
“But did you have fun before that?” It felt odd to ask him about his date, but I wanted to keep him talking.
“It was all right. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of you, though.”
I sucked in a breath. “Yeah? I wish I could have played better for you.”
“Next time,” he whispered.
“Ford. Stay with me.”
There was no response, and I feared he’d fallen asleep.
“Ford?”
The cab screeched to a halt in front of Ford’s building, and I practically threw money at the driver before rushing out the door.
“Ford?” I said again into the phone.
Nothing.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I raced to the apartment number he’d given me and beat on the door, my heart pounding in my chest.
There was still no response, so I tried the doorknob and it opened.
“Ford!” I called out.
My gaze landed on the couch, where Ford was sprawled out. The room seemed to close in around me as I rushed to his side. “Ford! Wake up!” I shook him gently, but he didn’t move.
Frantically, I pulled out my phone and dialed 911.
The end for now …
