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“Avery, why don’t you do it?”
Until that moment, I didn’t even realize she was nearby. I swivel to look at her, my eyes wide. What the hell are you doing?
I know she can read that demand in my face—in my mortified glare—but Tasha being Tasha, she’s completely unfazed. She smiles at me as if I’m not fuming and speechless at her interference.
“Think about it,” she says cheerfully, and more than loud enough for Claire to hear. “The timing couldn’t be more perfect. You told me just today that your place is being renovated soon and you can’t stay there once the work begins.”
Renovated? I give a tight shake of my head. “I didn’t say—”
“Yes. You did.” She speaks slowly and gives me that look. The one I’m sure makes even her six-foot-four husband stand a little straighter. I have to admit, it’s working on me right now too.
But I can’t do this. It wouldn’t be right. I’m a stranger to this woman. I can’t imagine she would even consider—
“Is that true, Avery? Do you need someplace to stay?”
I turn to face Claire. “Yes, it’s true, but . . . you don’t even know me.”
She sets down her wine glass and studies me for a second. “How long have you worked here?”
“Almost a year and a half.”
“So that tells me you’re responsible enough,” she points out.
“And reliable,” Tasha adds. “Six days a week, Avery’s here. Sometimes, all seven. Never missed a shift, not even a single sick day in all this time.”
“Impressive.” Claire nods as though her mind is already made up. “You’d be doing me an immense favor. I can’t even tell you how grateful I’d be.” She glances at her watch, then sucks in a breath. “Shit. I have to go or I’m going to be late. If you can do this for me, Avery, I need your answer now.”
Tasha stares at me expectantly while I glance between her and Claire, uncertainty gnawing at my stomach. I don’t believe in luck or cosmic favors, but it seems like the universe is handing me a life line right here. Can I really afford to refuse it? With my apartment being sold out from under me and the odds of making some money off my art anytime soon being next to nil, I don’t exactly have a lot of options.
“I’ll pay you, of course.” Claire discreetly takes an envelope out of her black Birkin bag. “Five thousand for the four months. That’s what I was going to pay my friend.” She holds the cream-colored envelope out to me and keeps her voice low. “It’s in cash. I hope you don’t mind.”
My mind sputters at the idea. Maybe people like Claire can toss around five grand like it’s nothing, but, to me, especially right now, it’s a small fortune.
No, it’s miracle money.
With the added bonus of a four-month stay of execution on my homelessness situation.
The reality of this incredible twist of fate is so overwhelming, I can hardly form words. “I, um . . .”
“She’ll do it,” Tasha interjects. “You’ll do it, right, Avery?”
I think I must have nodded. To be honest, the next few minutes pass in a blur. She gives me her full name—Claire Prentice—and jots her address on the back of her business card before handing me a key to her apartment. She takes down my name and cell phone number, then pulls a twenty out of her wallet and places it on the bar.
“That should cover the wine.” Smiling, she slides off the bar stool and pulls on her coat. “I’ll check in with you from Tokyo after I get settled to make sure everything’s good at the apartment, okay?”
My head bobs automatically. “Ah, okay.” I’m not about to argue. I don’t think she would have waited around to give me that chance anyway.
With a hurried thanks, Claire Prentice sails out the door and ducks into a taxi that arrives at the curb.
I stand there for a moment, dumbstruck, processing everything that just happened.
I have five thousand dollars cash in my hand. On the bar in front of me is a Park Avenue address. Beside that, a gleaming brass key that will grant me four entire months of shelter. Four whole months of mercy.
I’ve just been given a golden opportunity at a time when I couldn’t have needed it more.
I glance at Tasha, shaking my head in mute confusion. A small giggle erupts from my throat. Then another. It’s too much to contain—the amazement, the hope...the incredulous relief.
I cover my mouth, but my joy spills over in a ridiculous snort of a laugh. “Did that really just happen?”
