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I wipe at my eyes with my free hand, his generosity cracking more of the worry tangled up in my chest. How is he so good to me? Especially after I blew it out on the dance floor earlier.
I should have kissed him back when I had the chance, before he came to his senses. Instead, I froze up, unable to believe what was happening. And then the moment was gone.
“Thank you.” My voice cracks, but at least I’m able to get it out, my throat clogged with emotion.
I take a second to center myself as he parks the car, focusing on Joel leaning against the side of the building, doing something on his phone.
He looks up as I shut the passenger door and does a double take at Austin getting out of the driver’s side.
“Have the police arrived?” Austin asks as we join him. I can’t see my door from this angle, and I turn so I’m not tempted to look. It’s hard enough to be this close as it is.
Joel glances between us, blinking rapidly. “Police?”
“Austin called them,” I explain. “In case someone’s still in there.”
“No, no. I already checked it out. It’s clear. We don’t need to involve the police.”
“You went in there?” Austin asks, brows raised.
“Yeah. I wanted to make sure Tessa was okay.”
Austin folds his arms over his chest. “Why are you here? Tessa wasn’t home.”
Joel makes a scoffing sound. “We had plans for later. I was just seeing if she was home yet. I think the real question is why were you in her car?”
“We were out.”
Joel turns to me. “So you lied to me.”
I press a hand firmly to my temple, still caught up in the weird power struggle going on between the two of them. “First of all, I didn’t lie. Second of all, you and I didn’t have plans. And third of all, who fucking cares?” I’m yelling by the last point, but I can’t seem to control myself. “Someone broke into my home. You know that’s my worst fear.”
A cop car pulls in, its red and blue lights flashing, painting us all in an eerie light. Thank goodness.
“I’ll go,” Joel says, passing by me, and I stop him, tugging at his jacket.
“No, you have to stay and give a statement. You’re the one that found the door.”
His lips thin, but he doesn’t go any further.
I answer the cop’s questions as best I can, surprised that Joel stays silent. Now would be the time for him to be his usually verbose self, but it’s Austin that helps me out when I’m too choked up to go on, the fear thickening in my chest again.
When the police officer leaves us to inspect my apartment, I stay outside, unable to follow him.
“You okay?” Austin asks.
I nod, hoping that if I pretend like I am, it’ll be true.
“I’m going to check on Boots real quick. I’ll be right back.”
Joel waits until he’s gone to ask, “He’s checking on his boots?”
I cross my arms over my middle, keeping my unsettled stomach at bay. “His cat’s name is Boots.”
What’s the police officer finding in there? Yeah, Joel said he checked it out, but he could have missed something.
“I can’t believe you called the police,” he mutters. “Why didn’t you wait till you got here to ask me about it? Didn’t you trust me to take care of things?”
I stare at him, unbelieving. “It has nothing to do with you. I’m glad Austin suggested calling them.”
