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“Sure.” He released her. “Sorry. I know it’s been rough. You don’t want to finish your dinner?”
The idea of food actually made her queasy. “I’m good. I’ll just take my backpack and…”
“Okay. Do whatever you need. You can have the bed tonight. I’ll crash on the sofa.”
“I don’t want to kick you out of your room. Is the sofa even big enough for you?”
“I’ll manage. Besides, if anyone wants to get into the bedroom to get to you, they’ll have to get through me first.”
Madison tried to tell herself that wasn’t as terrifying as it sounded. “Just in case…what should I do if something happens?”
“Like we have unexpected company? Don’t worry about me—under any circumstances. You go. Head to the little dog balcony.”
“The what?”
He shoveled in the last bite and swallowed. “You know, one of those balconies so tiny it’s only there for someone’s pet chihuahua to take a shit on.”
That was such a man response, Madison had to laugh. “They’re called Juliet balconies.”
Nash scowled. “As inRomeo and?”
“Exactly. They’re decorative. Pretty. I don’t think they were designed with dogs’ functions in mind.”
“Well, someone needs to tell the sorority sister with the next balcony on the left to stop using hers in lieu of the dog park. That’s some bad news on a hot summer day.”
“Anyway…” Madison prompted, shaking her head. “The balcony? If someone comes?”
“Yeah, my piece of shit unit used to be attached to the one on the right. When they split it in half, they reimagined the floor plan like they were stoned, because you can only access my balcony from the bathroom. You’ll have to unlock the door and climb out. Once you do, stand on the railing—carefully—and jump up. Down is a free fall to a broken leg—or worse. But the guy above me is terrified of fires, so he’s got an emergency ladder in place. Get a hold of the bottom rung that’s dangling and pull. Once it slides down, climb it, then reel it back up.”
“But then I’m trapped on your neighbor’s balcony.”
“He sleeps like the dead. A couple months back, I met this woman in a bar, and we came back here. Things got really loud and…” Nash suddenly smiled, like he recalled who he was talking to. “Let’s just say every other neighbor complained…except that one.”
“I don’t need the details, just tell me how I’m supposed to get into your neighbor’s unit if he sleeps that hard. And if I knock, won’t the bad guys hear me?”
“Yeah. But you don’t have to knock. These balcony doors are old as fuck. They don’t lock well. Lift up the handle and jiggle a little. It will come open. A few steps, and you’ll be in his unit. It’s set up exactly like mine, so head out his front door and down the hall. When you reach the courtyard area, you’ll see a catwalk that connects you to the other tower. Get across and get out through their parking garage. It will dump you right around the corner from the university bar scene. Dive into one those places and wait. What number are you using now?”
She rattled off the number of her burner phone and watched as he inputted it into his device. “What if I can’t get that guy’s door open?”
“It shouldn’t be a problem, but if getting in goes sideways, stay really still. No one below should be able to see up there.”
She nodded. “Anything else?”
He approached, concern on his face. “Yeah. Try not to worry. I got you.”
“Thanks. This is temporary. Tomorrow night, you’ll have your bed back.” And she’d be with Ethan, whoever that was. “Maybe you’ll find another loud girl from a nearby bar.”
“Right now, my priority is you.” He kissed her forehead. “Get some sleep.”
Madison nodded, then padded into the bedroom and shut the door. After a quick shower, she dressed in her spare change of clean clothes and flopped onto the big bed with sheets that smelled like Nash and sighed. She doubted she would sleep much. Her temporary bodyguard was in the next room, TV still spouting its canned laugh track through the wall, and he was armed. In theory, she was safe. Almost no one had a clue where she was, and she had an escape route if she needed one.
Still, she couldn’t relax. She couldn’t stop thinking about Matt, couldn’t stop wondering what tomorrow would bring.
Hours passed. The light from under the door finally darkened. The TV went quiet, leaving only the vague sounds of partying people getting their brews on in the unit next door and the sound of someone down the street lighting fireworks ahead of Fourth of July. Everything seemed normal.
Except her.
Flopping onto her other side, she sighed. A glance at the clock told her it was just after midnight. Following her exhausting escape from DC and a late, tumultuous night with Matt, she should be wrung out.
