Page 40 of Crimson Promises
I pulled into the parking garage, having promised my dad that I would take the car at night from now on. I knew Vic worked the morning shift, but sometimes he would pull a double to give Manny, one of the other doormen, time with his one-year-old daughter. I took the flight of stairs from P1 to the lobby, near the concierge desk, and spotted Vic holding the door for another resident.
He shook his head as I walked towards him. “Here comes trouble.”
“You know... I accidentally got a chocolate bar instead of chips from the vending machine. I wasplanningon sharing, but now I don’t think I’m going to give it to you.”
“How do you get the wrong thing from the vending machine?”
“Picked the wrong number by accident.”
He laughed.
“Well, now I’m not giving it to you, and I’m pretty sure it’s your favorite.”
“Don’t tell me it’s Aero.”
I smirked.
“You wound me, Aurora. I thought we were close, but you are coming between a man and his chocolate.”
I loved teasing him. Banter was effortless with Vic. He was the most quick-witted person I’d ever met. I pulled out the chocolate bar from my backpack. I chucked it over to him.
“I take back what I said. You are a marvelous and incredibly kind human.”
“That’s more like it.”
“Have you picked a night to come by for dinner? Darlene’s been busting my chops all day about it.”
“Is tomorrow too late notice? If you are both even free then.”
Vic gave me a deadpan look. “Aurora, we are old. We elderly folks don’t have plans on a weeknight like the people of your generation. Unless I‘m working, which I’m not.” He gives me a thumbs up. “So yes, we are free for you to come over. Darlene will be thrilled. Any special requests?”
“A veggie casserole, please.”
“Perfect, I’ll tell her you’ve been craving some steak and potatoes. She’ll never denyyouthat food.”
“Alright, on one condition: can I bring someone else with me?”
He squealed like one of his grandchildren. “You’ve been holding out on me. Is that fella your boyfriend? He seemed polite enough, though I’m unsure if Stephen would approve of you having a boyfriend. Or maybe he’d be happy to know you have someone else out here besides an old geezer.”
“It’s someone else.” I couldn’t help the smile that emerged when I thought of Ben.
“Girl, you work fast. You’re smitten about this one, I can tell. Are you done with that guy? What’s his name again?”
I blew out a long exhale. “It wasonedate. Doesn’t mean I need to marry him, and I never told you his name, Vic.”
“Proof that you give me nothing. All I do is open doors for people all day. Pity an old man. Apart from meat and chocolate, gossip is what keeps the blood flowing through my veins.”
The man loved his drama. Vic was ceaseless when it came to extracting the information he wanted. He should know I could be just as stubborn, on principle, as he could be.
“Fine, who’s the one you’re bringing over?” He wouldn’t let it go like a missile locked on a target. “Aurora, you are bringing someone into my home to have dinner with me and my wife. I’m going to find out his name eventually. He must be something special for him to put that smile on your face earlier.”
“We are just friends, that’s it.”
“Sure, and I’m just the King of America.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “I may be old Aurora, but I wasn’t born yesterday. I look forward to meeting you and the young fellow.”
“Please do not make him uncomfortable or be weird. He owes me a favor, so he’s coming with me.”
“Is that code for dating or dealing or some other weird term for you Gen Zs?”
