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She opened the door to the building’s lobby and they made their way up the stairs. Ruby had been right about Olivia — she didn’t stir, not when they entered Ruby’s apartment or when Roman laid her in the small bed in Olivia’s tiny bedroom, the pale pink walls strung with white lights that glowed softly in the dark.
Ruby took off Olivia’s shoes and socks and covered her with a blanket, then stood with a sigh of relief.
They crept from the room like thieves and Ruby closed the door most of the way before they returned to the living room.
She exhaled and her shoulders dropped with exhaustion. “Thank you,” she said, looking up at him. “Seriously. I’m sure this wasn’t what you had in mind when you said you wanted to see me again.”
“I didn’t have anything in particular in mind,” he said. “I meant what I said — I just wanted to see you again.”
“Have you changed your mind now that you’ve seen what a shit show life can be with a five-year-old?” There was a real question behind her smile.
“No.” He met her eyes, wanting her to know he meant it. “But you must be exhausted. I should let you get to bed.”
“I’m a little wired actually,” she said. “It’s hard to come down after an Olivia crisis.”
He took her hand and led her to the couch.
She laughed. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to make you a cup of tea before I go,” he said. “Assuming you like tea. Assuming you have tea.”
“I do like tea, and I do have tea, but honestly?” She sat on the couch and looked up at him. “I’d rather have a brandy.”
“Even better,” he said. “Do you have brandy? I can send Max — ”
She scoffed. “Do I have brandy? I learned from the best. It’s my dad’s favorite way to unwind.”
He grinned. “Point the way.”
“Cabinet above the fridge.” She moved to get up. “But I can — ”
He held up a hand. “Sit. I insist.” He found the brandy and opened cupboards looking for the glasses. “Mind if I join you? I’ll understand if you want to kick me out and settle down for bed alone.”
“Settling down for bed alone has never sounded less appealing,” she said from the sofa, pulling off her shoes.
The amount of happiness he felt at the prospect of spending even a few more minutes with her was ridiculous. He felt like a teenager, except even as a teenager he’d never been this enamored of a girl.
He poured an inch of brandy into two glasses, made his way back into the living room, and handed one of them to her. Then he took a seat at the other end of the sofa and took a drink.
“Sorry it’s so cheap,” she said with a laugh. “I’m sure it’s not up to your standards.”
“Are you calling me a snob?” he asked.
“God, no!” she said, clearly horrified. “You’re the opposite of a snob. I just…”
“What?”
She sighed. “I can’t help wondering where you live. I imagine it’s some giant fancy apartment with a doorman, and then I wonder what you must think of my tiny little life.”
“You’re life isn’t tiny,” he said. “You have Olivia and your sister, your dad. You have your job and your art and this lovely apartment that makes me never want to leave.”
She couldn’t hide her surprise. “This place?”
He nodded. “This place. I’ve realized since meeting you that I don’t have a single houseplant, and all the books on my shelves were chosen by a designer, not because I don’t read but because it never occurred to me that the shelves were for something other than aesthetics. So yes, my apartment has a doorman. It is giant and fancy. But it’s not a home. Not like this one.”
She took another sip of her drink, like she didn’t know what to say.
“Now I’ve made you feel sorry for me,” he said.
