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“What is it, Zara? What’s wrong?”
“I—I spoke to my landlord just before you came up here.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. He said he’s gonna make me pay extra for moving out before the end of my tenancy.”
“Does it say he can do that in your agreement?”
“I don’t think so.”
“In that case, he can’t.”
“He said it was standard practice. And he told me off for bringing the keys away with me. I didn’t mean to do that. I just forgot. But he didn’t seem to want to hear that, and told me to take them back and leave them there. He also said he’s going to check out the house tomorrow, in case I’ve damaged it.”
“But you haven’t.”
“I know that. You know that. The thing is, there was something in the way he said it that made me think he was gonna cook something up.”
I nod my head, and she bites her lip. “Hey… don’t worry.”
“How can I not? He made me give him your address, so he knew where to find me. What if he comes here, and…”
“If he comes here, he’ll be dealing with me,” I say, and she leans in to me. “He can’t threaten you, babe.”
“Do you wanna tell him that?”
“If necessary, but in the meantime, we’ll go back to the house later today and take photographs of everything, so he can’t invent any supposed damage.”
“That’s a good idea,” she says, brightening up a little. “He said he’d come back to me by the end of the week with how much I owe him.”
“Okay. But if it’s unreasonable, I’ll get Ezra involved.”
“And how will I pay Ezra?”
“You let me worry about it.”
She leans away from me. “I—I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” I flip her onto her back, lying her along the length of the couch, and rest on top of her, balancing on my elbows, my lips an inch or two from hers. “I wish you’d told me about this when I first came up here.”
She shakes her head. “You looked so unhappy. It seemed more important to find out what was wrong with you.”
“No, baby. Nothing is more important to me than you.”
“I know. And I feel the same.” She reaches up, caressing my cheek. “We might not have been together for very long, but I hate it when things aren’t going right for you… like this business with Sabrina, and…” She chokes, losing control, and a tear falls onto her cheek. I brush it away with my thumb.
“I don’t think it matters how long we’ve been together. We’re meant to be.”
“Yes, we are.”
“Then you have to tell me when something’s wrong.”
“I did.”
“Only after I’d unburdened on you. That’s not how it’s supposed to be.”
“Yes, it is. I’m here for you, just like you’re here for me.”
