Random Encounter by Allyson Lindt

Twenty-Five

Adrienne

I managed to avoid sleeping in my own apartment most nights this week, and when I was here, nothing bad happened. The stress at work yesterday must have carried over into my paranoia, though, because all night long I woke up at every little sound. Morning wasn’t much better. I went out for coffee, breakfast, and groceries, but then I had to come home to put it all away.

The note slipped under my door was scrawled on the in Sean’s familiar handwriting on the back of half a utility bill, and said Does your ‘boyfriend’ know how many places you sleep that aren’t here?

Oh, God. Bile rose in my throat and I almost emptied the contents of my stomach right there.

By the time afternoon rolled around, I was jumping at everything. I couldn’t get a hold of Graham. Or Luna. Or Cole. Dustin was with his nieces. Why didn’t I have more friends?

For the same reason I couldn’t sit still now—my ex-husband was an asshole.

I was probably being dumb, but I didn’t want to be alone.

There were dozens of other numbers in my phone, but most were people I’d alienated long ago. Phillip, though… He’d said he didn’t mind if I bothered him with things like this. I liked thinking about him anyway, but having him here to protect me was too tempting. Still, I was surprised that he said he’d come over—not because he’d ever given me any reason to do anything other than enjoy his company and drool over him, but he was more removed than Dustin, and probably wouldn’t be around much longer.

I understood why Dustin was mad at him, but I didn’t know Phillip well enough to feel that same sense of betrayal. And he was a million times better than Sean.

A text came through a short while after I called Phillip, saying he was here and heading up. Which made the knock a moment later more reassuring than startling. I checked the camera and peephole anyway, making sure they agreed with each other that it was Phillip on my landing.

I let him in with a grateful smile and locked the door behind him. “Thank you. Again. I just... I’m sorry to bother you on the weekend.”

“Don’t apologize. I meant it when I said you could call anytime. For anything, but especially this.”

“For now.”

“Don’t you start, please.”

“I’m not starting anything,” I said. “I’m clarifying. You’re leaving soon, right? You don’t need some random woman you knew for less than a month calling you once you’re gone.” I felt bad enough bothering him today, regardless of his assurances, I wasn’t calling him when we didn’t work together anymore.

A shadow passed over Phillip’s face, then vanished behind a kind but otherwise blank mask again. “I meant anytime.”

Sure.

This was awkward. How was it things had never been super uncomfortable with him until now? I gestured to the couch. “Do you want to sit? Something to drink? I have water and coffee.”

“I shouldn’t have more coffee today.” He did take a seat, though.

I took the spot next to him—there wasn’t really anywhere else to settle in the room. What now? I wanted to tell him not to quit his job, though I didn’t have a good reason for it beyond I like working with you. No, that wasn’t true. I liked him. I didn’t want him gone. I also wanted him to make things right with Dustin.

None of those things were my place to say. “Don’t quit. I like having you there. So does Dustin, that’s why he’s upset. Tell him you’re sorry, and stay. I probably don’t have any right to ask, but I’m doing it anyway.”

His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re fine to ask, but I can’t.”

“Oh.” I didn’t try to hide my disappointment. “Why not? Why are you leaving? Are things bad at AcesPlayed? Do I need to be worried there’s something going on I don’t see?”

“That’s a lot of questions. There’s nothing bad at AcesPlayed that I’m aware of. A few assholes, but you’re all great at your jobs, and I expect will make this game into something epic.”

I flushed that he included me in the statement, but he didn’t answer the question I most wanted him to. “So then why?”

“It’s time for me to move on.”

That wasn’t right. Not because I disliked the answer—though I did—but it felt off. “You were with the same people for almost two decades. I realize Cord, Rinslet, and AcesPlayed are different companies, but they’re the same people. You just woke up one day and decided I’m done?”

Phillip leaned forward to rest his forearms on his thighs. “No, but also yes. I love the art, but I love teaching and mentoring just as much, if not more. My chances to do that have evaporated here.”

You still have a lot to teach me. The words died in my throat. After Sean, I swore I’d never beg or demean myself or change to keep someone in my life. There it was, the one thing that kept me from blurting out the thoughts in my head. “I see.”

Phillip straightened and looked at me, his brows furrowed. He sighed and flopped back in the couch. “You caught my attention that first night in the drawing class. The reason we had a sketch of you for the employee avatars was because I drew you after the modeling session was over.”

How was I supposed to respond to that? Elation? Feeling flattered? His tone didn’t imply I should be either of those things… or really much of anything at all. So I settled for, “oh?”

“You reminded me of my wife.”

The dead one. That sounded cold, but what was I supposed to say? Did he see a ghost when he looked at me? “Oh.” Wow, I was witty this afternoon.

“I know how that sounds. It’s not that I see her when I look at you, but your focus that night, the way you held yourself… But you’re not a replacement for a memory. I look at you, I see Adrienne. And I finally figured out, you remind me of her because like her, you see the world through your own, unique lens. It’s in your art, it’s in the things you say and do, and it’s at the core of who you are.”

I still didn’t know how to respond. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Every time you apologize for being you, for taking up space, I cringe, because no one should do that, but especially not you. I want to beat the shit out your ex-husband for making you think that was necessary. For making you afraid to be alone in your own apartment on a Saturday afternoon.”

How did he do that? Crawl inside my head and know exactly what to say, but at the same time be so clueless about other things, like that it was a bad idea to lie to Dustin about leaving Aces.

My phone rang, shattering the strange mood in the room. I glanced at the screen. “It’s Graham.” I pressed Answer. “Hey,” I greeted my brother.

“I was in a movie. Are you okay?”

The conversation with Phillip was odd, but sitting next to him, his arm and thigh pressed against me, I felt safe. “I freaked out a little, but I’m better now.”

“A little?” Graham chuckled. “You called each of us at least three times.”

Right. “It’s dumb, but I couldn’t shake the feeling Sean was out there.”

“That’s not dumb. Not after what he’s been pulling,” Graham said. “I don’t want you staying there tonight.”

Me neither.

“I’ve got it covered,” Phillip said.

Could he hear the conversation? Possibly. He was sitting pretty close.

“Sounds good.” Graham’s response implied he heard Phillip as well. “I’ll keep my phone nearby if you need anything.”

“Thank you.” I disconnected, not knowing how to feel about the exchange. Some guy basically told my brother I was sleeping over. Sure, I was in my thirties, and it was a little late in life for that kind of propriety, but until Graham found Luna and Cole, we barely talked about relationships in our family, let alone alluded to there being a physical aspect.

Unless I counted the number of times my parents asked me when I was going to find a nice man and give them grandbabies.

“Pack a bag.” Phillip interrupted the thought. “You’re staying at my place until we get this figured out.”

We? My frustration welled. “I won’t let Sean push me out of my apartment. The place I had to get because he forced me out my house. I’m tired of him, of anyone else, determining the direction of my life.” Except I didn’t want to be here. Didn’t feel safe here.

“You’re not staying here or alone tonight.” Phillip stood and tugged me to my feet. “This isn’t permanent but I need you safe.”

The sudden movement stole my balance and I landed with my face inches from his. My breath caught at the intensity in his gaze. He had such gorgeous eyes—brown with flecks of gold and grief.

He brushed a thumb along my cheekbone. “You’ll figure this out—we will. If you need a sounding board. Anything. We’ll stay here, if you prefer. Tell me where you feel safest.”

“Not here.”

I need you safe, the words echoed in my head as I grabbed a couple of days’ worth of clothes, and toiletries, and shoved it all in a bag.

When did I lose control of my life? Or had I ever really had it?