“Nothing.”

“No. What? You had a look,” she pressed.

“It’s just…” I glanced over at Jake. He was watching us—correction, he was watching Sia. I pointed at him. “I know that look. All your new boyfriends have it. It’s going to be hot, intense, and I won’t see you for a month or two until you break up.” I gave her a hard look. “That’s when it will get uncomfortable. I know how you are.”

“What are you talking about?”

“When you two break up, you won’t come here anymore. He’s my neighbor.”

She waved that off. “Oh, phooey. That’s silly. I’ve been over to your place a ton and not run into him. It won’t be a problem.”

But it would be. I could read the writing on the wall from half a mile away.

“Addison.” She touched my arm. “I won’t let it affect you and me.”

My hand went over hers. “Promise?”

She squeezed my arm. “Promise. I need you, too. It’s not just you needing me. You’re my sanity in this crazy life I lead.”

I didn’t believe her, but it meant a lot that she said so. “Thank you.”

“Any time, best friend.”

My arm rubbed against hers. Staring at the group, I couldn’t believe these were my neighbors. This felt weird, but it felt good at the same time. A year ago, I couldn’t remember to give Frankie water, and now I was sitting in someone else’s home at a gathering. I let out a sigh.

“What’s wrong?”

I shook my head, then gestured to the group. “I thought I was going to die a year ago.”

“Ah.” She got it. “You’ve come a long way.”

For a moment, I couldn’t talk. My throat closed up. Then, Simon and Garfunkel filled the room, and Doris started swaying her hips. Her arms raised, and her hands began circling in time with the music. William bopped next to her, and Jake pulled Sia to the dance floor. Derek grabbed my hand, doing an impersonation of a chicken around me, and even Dawn moved her shoulders in her corner.

For my first resident dinner, I’d say it was a success.

Doris and William danced happily off to their floor. Dawn and Derek were both giggling, clutching each other for balance as they caught the elevator right behind them. So it was Jake, Sia, and myself remaining.

I turned around. Nope. The two of them were already in the bedroom.

“So,” I called. “I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow?”

I waited.

Nothing.

“Sia?” I cleared my throat. “My best friend, who came with me as my date tonight?”

Soft laughter and a groan was my answer.

“Okay then.” I hit the button for the elevator. I had a bit of a wait, as it had to drop both Derek and Dawn off before coming back up for me. “I’ll just, uh, turn in.”

A shoe hit the floor. A burst of giggling sounded, and then I heard footsteps rushing down the hall to me. The swishing of Sia’s dress assured she was clothed—I didn’t need to brace myself for a vision of her underwear or straight-up breasts. When she appeared, her hair was a mess and her lipstick faded.

“Addison.” She hurried the rest of the way, her cheeks flushed and glowing. A good whiff of Merlot made my nose twitch when she flung her arms around me. “I love you, baby.” She pulled back, then smacked my cheek with her lips. “I’m staying with Jake for the night.”

“Lunch tomorrow?”

“Oh yeah. I’ll pick you up. We can walk to Gianni’s together.”

“Okay.” I hugged her as the elevator pinged its arrival. “Have a good night. Use protection.”

“I will.” She leaned in close, giving me another hug as the doors opened behind me. “Thank you so much for being the bestest friend ever. Love you, honey bunches.” Her breath tickled my neck, and then she was off, headed back to the bedroom.

I stepped into the elevator, and after putting in my code, my finger paused over the button for three. I remembered I hadn’t gotten my mail that day. I could ask Ken to bring it up, but I hit the lobby button.

I had my mail in hand, and I was about to return to the lobby when I heard the noises. A door burst open, not from the front lobby where I now stood, but behind me somewhere. My feet moved first. I didn’t think as I headed back to the mail area. That back elevator was close by, and as I rounded the exercise room, I saw the men.

Five of them. All tall. They weren’t talking. They reminded me of the men from the restaurant, their hard jawlines set in stone. They were clearly no-nonsense, and as one moved aside, his jacket opened, and I saw a gun in a holster under his arm.

The back elevator opened, and two of the men rushed toward it. I held my breath.

My feet quickened. I clutched my mail in a tight grip, almost squishing it into a ball.

“Clear,” one of the men announced.

Someone else spoke on the other side of the man I could see. They filed one by one into the elevator, leaving only the one with his back to me. He glanced behind him before he joined them, saying the word, “Clea—” But as he saw me, the word died in his throat.

I wanted to see.

The elevator was closing.

I hurried up. Who were they?

The man stepped inside. He moved, trying to block me, but I saw their faces.

It was the men from the restaurant. My feet planted, and my body teetered forward before finding balance again. I could only stare.