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When he returned about five minutes later, he pulled on his jacket. "Shall we go? I'm starved."
"Me, too." I followed him out of the apartment. His bike and helmet were by the front door, next to two other bikes. I thought it was strange that the owner of the courier business had such a beautiful apartment and let the staff use it.
"Your boss is pretty nice to let you couriers use this place. It's better than most homes I've been in."
He smiled and closed the door to the apartment behind him. "He's a pretty decent guy once you get to know him, despite the very business-like exterior."
The elevator doors opened and he ushered me inside.
"Ladies first," he said.
I entered the elevator and waited for him, holding onto the rail just in case the elevator decided to stop suddenly.
He pressed the lobby button and then turned to me, leaning back against the wall, his arms crossed.
"I was serious about my offer of help. I hope you didn't hit your boss up for that cashier's check."
I shook my head. "I didn't. Honestly, you were right. I didn't want to bother her because she's in the middle of chaos right now, and helping me is the last thing she needed. Like you said, she hired me to solve her problems, not the other way around."
"Exactly. I'm glad. I'll get you a cashier's check for the rent you need tomorrow so you can pay for your new place. I've called my bank to ask about how you can get your cards replaced. They said you can come in and talk to the manager as long as you have your Social Security card, your birth certificate or passport."
"I have nothing except my Social Security card. The bank said it'll take ten days to two weeks for me to get a new credit card. I promise as soon as I get my money and ID, I'll be on my own and out of your hair."
"Don't feel you have to rush. You have enough on your plate without worrying about me."
"That's so generous," I said, taken aback by how nice he was being.
"It's the least I can do, considering how badly you've been treated by my city. Being robbed, the tiny Airbnb, and then the elevator. Plus, some crazy bicycle courier almost crashed into you..."
My chest felt tight with emotion as I realized he was my savior.
"Thank you. I was worried that I'd be stuck sleeping under a bridge after all."
"Never. It's my pleasure to help."
Of course, my mind went there, wondering if it could be – would end up being – my pleasure as well.
Then I kicked myself mentally. Don't get invested...
Thing was, he was just about the best-looking hunk of man flesh I had ever seen. He was all man, every sleek, well-muscled inch of him. It would be hard to resist if he offered or if he showed any interest, but was that getting out of the cheating-fiancé frying pan into the casual-sex-fire?
"So, let's head over to Frank's Pub and have a pint."
I couldn't help but stop, reaching out to briefly touch his arm.
"Why are you doing this?"
A second passed, the time ticking by in my head while he appeared to struggle with an answer.
"I don't know," he said finally, a quirk of a smile on his lips. "It's not like me to be nice to a stranger, but your story made me feel generous. Don't want to see you going back home the first week you arrived. Besides, it's good karma, if you believe in that sort of thing."
"You don't?"
He shrugged and when the elevator door opened, he held his arm out for me to exit. "Too many good people suffer and too many bad people get away with too much bad shit for me to believe it, but I think you have to act as if it does exist."
I left the elevator and waited for him to exit, seeing pain in his face somewhere. His smile seemed forced. Whatever the case, he was my savior; I would do my best to be an asset that he'd be glad to have around. And as soon as I could access my bank account again, I'd pay him back.
While we walked down the street to Frank's, he peppered me with questions about my family.
