I believe he knows the answer to that. “That’s six. You really shouldn’t waste questions, Z.”

He talks out the side of his mouth. “Answer the question, please.”

“Yes, it’s fucking amazing. You’re really hot. I have an outstanding view. I’m very comfortable here. Is that what you want to hear?”

“Are you happy when we’re around each other?” Seven.

I roll my eyes.

“Yes. But as much as I enjoy you, naked and otherwise, I’ve really got to go so Mara doesn’t kill me.”

“Will you turn on your phone and text me when you get home?” Eight.

I arch upward, curl my mouth up to his, and whisper, “I will text you when I get home, you giant dweeb,” into his lips. He captures me in one last savage kiss before I push him away, roll off the bed, and stride out the door toward the living room, my body buzzing.

“Put on a shirt, please,” I shout over my shoulder.

I hear him fumbling around behind me. “Can I walk you out?”

“No,” I throw back cheerily as I scoop up my blazer and backpack and pull open his front door.

“Hey,” he calls from the hall.

I turn to find him hopping around as he pulls on pants. “I care about you, canoe thief.”

I bob my head from side to side and then nod.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he says.

I pivot and beeline down the stairs.

Mara’s on the couch with a book when I get home at 2 a.m. She looks me up and down in my run-down party girl state, wearing the most judgmental expression I’ve ever seen. I raise my hands in rock-and-roll horns and stick out my tongue. She shakes her head. Her mouth pinches up into a tiny dot before she strides away to her room. I hear the door slam behind her.

Upstairs, I check my catfish email. I’ve got a message from Mara with her travel information for the interview in Vegas. She’s booked a flight that gets in at 12 p.m. Time to book my ticket with Siri’s only-for-groceries-and-emergencies credit card.

When I turn on Siri’s iPhone, a thousand messages ping in asking if I’m alive. Plus some texts from Mara asking where I am. Plus a text from Zarar. Plus two voicemails? Jesus Christ.

Zarar: Did you get home safe?

I shoot him a quick reply, as promised.

Me: Yes.

He texts back immediately.

Zarar: Meet me at the train station at 5 tomorrow? We can head over to my parents’ house together.

Me: You got it, dude. Can you send me that picture with your boss and his fiancée?