Silence. I rolled my eyes. This was ridiculous.
“Cal?”
“Listen, be safe. Don’t be on your own with him, okay? Don’t trust anyone. I love you.”
With that, he hung up, and I stared at my phone in surprise. I got that he was jealous, but what did he expect me to do, not speak to anyone?
I sat up and hugged my knees. I had no idea where we were heading tonight, but I should get a shower and get ready.
It was five p.m. now.
New York City waits for no one.
Chapter Thirty-One
GRETCHEN
By seven, I was dressed and ready for wherever the night was going to take me.
Nancy still wasn’t back, so I imagined Josh was going to be disappointed.
I left my apartment, feeling slightly nervous as I made my way down to the second floor. I knocked on the door of the apartment and smiled as the door opened to reveal Josh.
He whistled and ran his hand through his hair. “Looking good, Curls.”
I rolled my eyes and told him my name was Gretchen, to which he shrugged. He looked behind me hopefully and I laughed.
“She hasn’t come home. Sorry…”
We heard the entrance door slam as our eyes met.
“Ooh…” I teased as we watched the staircase curiously.
Sure enough, it was Nancy, but she wasn’t alone. An older man followed her in a suit with his tie loosened, his dark brown hair tousled. Nancy stopped, and I smiled, introducing her to Josh and Nicholas.
I stepped back as Josh stepped forward, unfazed by the man at Nancy’s side.
Nancy eyed him appreciatively, taking in his muscular body and all-American good looks.
“I’m Josh. You must be Curly’s roommate.”
Nancy raised her eyebrow at me, then looked back at Josh. “Have you anything to drink in there?”
She walked past him into his apartment, to which he smiled wickedly, following her.
The man in the suit smiled, and I looked at him awkwardly.
“I’m Tate, Nancy’s brother.” His voice was deep and masculine, but friendly.
Unlike his sister, I noted.
I smiled. “I’m Gretchen, Nancy’s roommate.”
His eyes twinkled. “Lucky you,” he laughed sarcastically, and I relaxed as I laughed with him. “Shall we follow?’” he gestured into the room behind me.
“Yes, better than congregating in the hallway…” I noticed his eyes on mine a beat longer than they should’ve been, and Cal’s words echoed in my head.
Don’t trust anyone.