One of Those Faces (24)

“For coming.”

Iann opened the door and helped me lay Erin onto the back seat. She immediately fell down across the vinyl.

“I’ll ride up front,” I said.

“Where do you want me to take you?” Iann asked, buckling his seat belt.

I glanced back at Erin. Her roommates were the worst, and they would just leave her passed out in her room without a second thought. “Can you take us to my place?” I turned to the front and leaned back against the headrest as he started down the street. “I’m glad you texted me. About Erin, I mean.”

He smiled. “I’m glad you came. I had no idea what to do with her. She tried to start a fight with a waitress.”

I laughed. “What?”

He rubbed his eyes. “Yeah, she started yelling at one of the waitresses and threw a drink at her. Mike wanted to call the police, but I convinced them not to, and we told the waitress to go home a little early.”

“Was she like that when Jeremy was there?”

He shook his head. “No, she seemed really normal and quiet until, like, an hour after he left. I have no idea what happened.” He slowed down, peering out his window. “This is your place, right?”

The unlit, slouched, unpainted wood shack? “Yes, that’s the one.”

We both got out once he parked, and he met me at the back. “How should we get her out?” he asked as we looked at her.

I grabbed her shoulder. “Erin, wake up.”

She pulled on my arm to hoist herself up. “Where are we?”

I slid my arm around her waist and guided her to the edge of the car seat. “You’re staying with me tonight, okay?”

She limply placed both feet on the sidewalk. “Okay.”

Iann put his arm around her other shoulder, and we slowly started up the stairs, the sound of Erin’s heels dragging across the wood.

In front of my door, a rock dropped into the pit of my stomach. The door was ajar, and the lights were off.

“What’s wrong?” Iann asked before turning to the door.

I took a step back. “My door’s open.”

Iann released Erin’s arm and pushed the door wide open. “Are you sure you locked it?”

I couldn’t remember, but I nodded. “And the lights were all on when I left.”

“Go back downstairs. We should call the police.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

I shifted under Erin’s weight, remembering that detective from before. Surely, if there was a burglary in this neighborhood, he would find out about it and start asking more questions. Questions about who I was. And questions about how I had a key chain that looked an awful lot like Holly’s. “No. I’m sure it’s fine. Maybe I just don’t remember.” I had left in a hurry, but I knew for a fact the lights and TV had been on.

“Stay here—I’ll check it out.” He reached his arm in and flicked on the overhead light, then disappeared inside.

I strained my ears for any sound. “Is everything okay?” I called.

Erin lifted her head suddenly. “Yeah, it’s fine,” she said.

I rolled my eyes. “Not you,” I muttered. “Iann?”

I stepped over the threshold and set Erin on the bed.

Iann emerged from the bathroom. “I think everything’s fine. But don’t you think we should call the police just in case?”

I glanced around the room. Woodstock was perched on my drafting table, looking at Iann with his ears pressed back against his head. “It doesn’t look like anyone has been in here.” Still, my hands were shaking. Why couldn’t I remember if I’d locked the door?

He looked at Erin on the bed, her head against my pillow. “Okay, well, I’ll get out of here if you’re really all right.” He stepped toward the door.

“I’ll walk you out,” I said, closing the door behind us.

We lingered at the top of the stairs. “Are you sure you left the lights on?” he asked again.

I massaged my temple, my head still aching from the night before. “Maybe not. I haven’t really been sleeping well,” I confessed. “I’m sorry. You can’t catch a break.”

He cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean?”

I nodded back inside. “Dealing with drunk girls two days in a row.”

He laughed and looked down at his feet. “Yeah, well, at least you’re a friendly drunk.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Am I?”

“Well, definitely more friendly than when you’re sober,” he said with a smile. “Plus, it gave me a chance to see you again.”

It felt unnatural to have someone speak so earnestly like that. “Yeah,” I said in a weak effort to reciprocate. “Thanks again for looking out for her. She can be kind of a mess sometimes.”

“No problem.” He turned and started down the steps.

I wanted to keep him longer, but there was nothing more to say. “Good night.”

He reached the last step and looked back, raising his hand and waving before getting into his car. I watched his car disappear down the street and walked back into my apartment.

Erin was exactly in the position I’d left her in, her arms outstretched by her sides. I took her heels off and threw them to the floor before turning off the light and crawling onto the comforter beside her and collapsing.