Page 41 of Come Find Me Tonight

“I guess I thought I was doing you a favor. You seemed too young to be at that party, and before you argue it, you were,” I say.

She rolls her eyes. “I was there because, I don’t know, I…I wanted someone to take me home. I was tired of being a virgin, and I thought you were going to be the one until you started talking. But in a way, I guess I owe you a thank you because I changed my mind and saved it.” I drag my hand down my face.

And I took it in the most excruciating way for her.

“I’m really sorry that I didn’t do more that night.”

“Which one?” she asks.

Please don’t make me spell it out.

“Fuck, both, but especially the more recent of the two.”

“It’s okay. It’s what I wanted, and there’s something poetic about it being you. I know it wasn’t right keeping that secret from you, but how was I supposed to tell you?” And she has a point there. My eyes dart to the corner of the room where I first grabbed her. She catches my fixation on the corner and clears her throat. “I’m glad I liked that video on my verified account. I didn’t mean to, but it worked out.” She brings me back to the moment before I can dwell too hard on how she deserved softness, and I only gave her terror and violence at first. I can’t help but grin like an idiot at her now.

“We wouldn’t have come back together if it weren’t for that. If it makes you feel better, I’ve followed you for a long time, too…since I met you.”

“And that’s how you knew about Appleygirl.”

“Student directory…” I mumble.

“And that’s how you found me now?”

Oh, please don’t retreat now.

“Yes, but before you freak out, it’s smart of you keeping your full name off socials and having your dad’s name on your house.”

She picks at a loose thread on the duvet cover, keeping her eyes low. “But you still found a way in. It scares me that anyone could do what you did.”

“Appa, I’ll help you secure everything, and you really should have a security system with radio-backup. I wouldn’t say just anyone could do that. I have a tech background, so unless you have a bunch of techies following you, you’re fine,” I say. I gently pull her into my lap, weaving my fingers through her hair, frizzy from the shower.

She exhales onto my chest. “That’d be amazing.”

I hate leaving Appa for any amount of time, but I promise to be back within an hour. Before I went, she made me trade phone numbers and threatened to stalk me if I disappeared forever. I almost brought her with me, but I thought an hour apart after such a heavy morning would do us both good. My house is only thirty minutes away, depending on traffic, so an hour should be enough.

“Be back soon?” Appa asks, holding onto the front door as she sees me out.

“I promise.” I lean down and gently kiss her, and I’ll never tire of how pillowy soft her lips are against mine.

How could she think I’d give that up so fast?

I try to drive carefully, but the high of the day is making me eager to get back to Appa. My left knee bounces as I speed more than usual. I relent and turn on the self-driving feature of my car to let myself calm down and avoid a ticket.

During the drive, I reflect on the post that accused me of being careless with my roommate. I thought everyone saw it, silently judging me for it for years, yet one of the most connected girls in the world didn’t even remember or associate me with what happened. Have I been overreacting this whole time? I know now that I never should’ve hidden from Appa once I interjected myself into her life. But how was I supposed to know she wanted the person behind the Rook account?

Pulling into the garage, I pause long enough to plug in my car. Switching to electric was the best decision I’ve made while living in LA, and it’s perfect for driving around town. It also allowed me to be stealthy when sneaking around as Rook, but those days are over.

Hopefully.

Walking toward the door to the house, I look over at my Jeep. When I graduated college, my dad passed it along to me. He bought it before I was born, and I grew up riding around the vineyards in it. I used it whenever I drove up to Napa instead of flying. It wasn’t ideal being nearly thirty years old, but it was well cared for. Taking the roof and doors off to go off-roading was my favorite. The dust and sun made for memorable afternoons, and the Jeep still smells like Dad—faint mint and his musky cologne.

Would Appa be up for off-roading? Or Napa?

I rush inside, heading straight to my bedroom. I strip out of yesterday’s outfit and grab an old college tee and cargo shorts. I think Appa might like the nod to our college days, but I also grab a change of clothes for tomorrow just in case. Two sleepovers back-to-back might be too much, but I hope she wants me to stay. I pass by the rack of wine bottles and grab an unopened dessert wine, labeled with my family’s vineyard. I opted for a sweet dessert wine just in case she doesn’t like more complex wine flavors. She saw the cork I left, so she might as well try the real thing. I can’t wait to tell her all about the vineyard!

I walk out the door to the garage, too eager to get back to my girl, but backtrack. I open the designated junk drawer in the kitchen and grab the Jeep’s old-school key. Setting the change of clothes and wine on the floor in the Jeep, I silently thank my past self for putting the doors and roof back on after the last time I took it out. I insert the key and say a quick prayer.

The engine roars to life. It’s manual, making it challenging to drive in LA traffic, but I make it back to Appa’s before the hour is up. When I pull up, I park in the center of her driveway for the first time to send a message that I’m taking up space in her world. But loudly now.