Page 82 of Dial L for Lawyer

"Mr. Kingsley says to give you your own key with full access. This will work on the elevator to the penthouse."

"Wow," I say, taking the card like it's Excalibur. This little piece of plastic feels heavier than it should—the permanence, the trust.

"I'm not sure what to do with this," I admit, pocketing it before I can second-guess myself.

"Just scan it," he says, clearly not understand how monumental this is.

I float to the elevator and scan the card. The penthouse button glows instantly, no resistance. Magic.

The penthouse looks exactly as I left it, except now it feels different knowing I have a key. Like I belong here. Like this could be real.

The landline rings the second I walk in.

"Hello?"

"You answered." Caleb's voice is warm, pleased.

"It was ringing."

"Yes. But you answered my phone."

"Should I not have?"

"No, I like it. I like the idea of you answering my phone when I'm not there. Very domestic."

"Why didn't you just call my cell?"

"Because I wanted to picture you in my apartment, answering my phone, wearing my clothes." A pause. "You are still wearing my clothes, right?"

"I’m wearing my clothes. But I’m about to change back into your shirt. Just your shirt," I say, then add because I can't help myself, "Nothing else."

His intake of breath is audible. "Serena..."

"You asked."

"Where did you go?"

"I had to meet someone for coffee."

"Anyone I know?"

"Maya. She wanted to tell me she's leaving Luminous."

"Really? That's... sudden."

"Yeah. She says she can't work there after how they treated me."

He's quiet for a beat. "What else did she say?"

"She got a new job but can't say where. NDAs or something."

"Interesting timing." His voice shifts to lawyer-neutral. "Did she seem... different?"

"Maybe? Really friendly. Almost too friendly. Kept hugging me."

"Maya doesn't strike me as a big hugger."

"Right? But she’s hugged me the last two times we spoke. It was weird. But maybe she feels guilty about me getting suspended or something."