Page 6 of Benji

The line went dead.

I checked my screen, and yeah, he’d hung up. I sighed. “He doesn’t take no for an answer,” I explained. “He’s coming to get me. I can meet him out front.”

His eyebrows furrowed a fraction. “Is he... are you safe with him? If he doesn’t take no for an answer, then?—”

I laughed. “No, he’s my best friend, well, one of them. He’s just the bossy one.”

I went to Maps and pinged my location to him.

Nolan seemed to school his face; his expression neutral. “I uh, I didn’t mean to overhear, but he said someone is looking for you?”

My stomach dropped and tightened all at once. “It’s nothing. It’s just... It’s no big deal.”

“If you’re not safe,” he said gently, “I can help you.”

“Help me?” He had no idea.

“I can get you help. There are services available for people in situations such as yours?—”

I put my hand up. “No, thank you. It’s fine. I don’t need any services.” The truth was, I couldn’t use them. I couldn’t use my real name. “Thanks anyway.”

He frowned at that and sighed. “Look, I feel terrible about what happened. I’d been drinking and I shouldn’t have driven. I know better, and it was stupid and irresponsible. And dangerous. You could have been seriously injured. Are you sure you’re okay? Would you like a hot shower before you leave? Is there anything I can get you?”

He’d been drinking? I hadn’t known that. Not that it made any difference.

“Pretty sure I was the one who ran out in front of your car,” I said. “Thank you for not involving the cops.”

He barked out a laugh. “Uh, I should be thankingyou.” He squinted his eyes shut and shook his head. “Jesus Christ. This is so bad.”

He seemed to be taking this so much harder than me.

“We’re all good,” I said. “No harm, no foul.”

But then I stood up and my back twinged. I couldn’t stop the wince. And I had to pick up my shoes, so I bent slowly. Yeah, this wasn’t good.

It was just a twinge. An ache. My hand went to my back, and I bit back a groan.

Nolan was quick to grab me. “Okay, you’re not fine. Lie back down. Take some more ibuprofen. Maybe after a hot shower, you’ll feel better. I have some heat rub too. That might help.” He helped me lay back down and he took my phone. “I’m going to tell your friend to come up.”

He texted his apartment number to Fitch and showed me the screen before he put the phone on my chest.

“I feel so bad,” he mumbled.

“It’s just a strain,” I mumbled. “I’m sure I’ll be fine in a bit.”

But yeah, that hot shower sounded really freaking good.

He sat on the coffee table, watching me. And I dunno why, but his worry for me was nice. He was a decent guy, and that was a rare trait to find.

“So,” I said, trying to lighten the mood, “you’ve seen me on Oxford Street, huh?” Then I remembered something else. A super gorgeous man in a suit heading into 180... Hmm. That’s where I’d seen him. Just last night. It seemed fitting, given how exclusive that placewas and how expensive his apartment was. He’d been interested, but his friend had led him inside.

We were lucky that our spot on Wylde Street was close to 180. It meant higher paying customers. Didn’t always mean we’d get treated any better, but the money was good.

“No, not Oxford. Wylde Street, huh? You go to 180.”

He nodded slowly. “I saw you last night,” he said quietly.

I liked that he admitted that.

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