Page 29 of Fractured Fate

“Did you not like the toppings? Why didn’t you speak up when we called in the order?”

“No, it’s not that. I’m just thinking.” She started layering the pepperonis back on top of the slice in front of her.

“What’s up?”

“Just tired. I wanna go to bed.”

The meeting ran longer than expected. The only reason for the meeting was to review the final presentation before Monday’s class. Monique and Rachel wanted Charlotte and Noah to approve changes they’d made, but when Charlotte pointed out inconsistencies in the data, they spent another two hours sorting the numbers and another thirty minutes for Rachel to rework the PowerPoint. Then Monique sat on the couch and moved everything over to her laptop while they ate dinner.

The job didn’t require four people, but Rachel insisted on dinner, and Charlotte didn’t want the questions if she left early.

“Why don’t you duck out early?” Noah smiled at her, fine lines appearing at the corners of his eyes. “We can finish this up. The hard part is done, and you caught something important.”

“What’s the matter?” Rachel asked, grabbing another slice of pizza from the open box on the table.

“Charlotte’s tired.”

Rachel shrugged. “It’s eleven. Not surprised with how hot it’s been. You get your AC fixed?”

Charlotte grumbled. “No. Maintenance isn’t in until the start of the week, and it was functional enough until the weekend.”

“My microwave is functional, but it can barely heat a bagel. There’s functional and there’s working half-assed.”

“Yeah, well, nothing I can do about it until Monday.”

“Why don’t you crash here tonight?”

As nice as it sounded to be in an apartment with decent air conditioning, it wasn’t smart to stay with anyone while someone crept around in the shadows of her life. She wouldn’t put someone else in danger.

“It’s fine. I didn’t bring extra clothes, and I need to take care of some things back at the apartment.”

“Suit yourself.” Rachel shrugged. She left the table and flopped down on the couch next to Monique.

Monique looked up from her laptop. “Once I finish this, I’m getting out of here, too. I had a date with Jayden tonight, but since this went on so long, we had to reschedule.” She twisted her lips to the side and gave a brief shake of her head. “Ah well. I’m sure there’s something we can do tomorrow.”

Noah turned back to Charlotte, nudging her thigh with his. “You gonna get out of here, then?”

“I guess so.”

No one seemed bothered by the idea of her leaving early, so at least she wasn’t disappointing anyone.

“Want me to walk you to the bus stop?”

“Oh no, I don’t want to trouble you.”

It wouldn’t be a good idea. As much as having someone there to make her feel secure seemed nice, it would be like staying the night at Rachel’s apartment—she would put them at risk. Still, the police told her to not do the same things she always did. It upset her stomach to go back-and-forth in her head about it.

He stood and picked up her backpack. “Come on, it’s not any trouble. It’s hot, you’re tired. I don’t want you to pass out and hurt yourself. At least let me walk you down to the street. If you fell down the stairs, I’d feel like shit.”

The humidity index reached a record high today, but she never passed out before. Still, she didn’t want to argue when he only wanted to help.

“Fine. To the street.”

He would be able to see her get to the bus stop if she walked fast enough.

Noah’s eyes squinted with the wide smile that overtook his face. “Awesome. Come on, let’s go.” He looked at Rachel and Monique. “I’m gonna walk her downstairs. I’ll be back. Don’t eat my pizza.” He gave Rachel a pointed look.

She held up her hands. “I don’t want your pizza.”