His exhaustion from today and desire to get home to his dogs, Raven and Roxy, would be what finally caused him to leave me here. He would tell Mattia and Greta about this, though, because he’d feel guilty for going home. Mattia would then lecture Heath about being more responsible when handing off his future shifts. Mattia and Greta were like caring, older parents to all of us. The idea of a female closing alone at night would horrify them both.

This wasn’t the first time I’d covered for someone else and been left on my own. Normally, we waited until Jacque left so he wouldn’t know I was going to be left alone. No server wanted to let down Mattia or Greta, but they were college students. They had a lot on their plate. I didn’t. I only had this job and I didn’t mind closing. Besides, there wasn’t a man or woman waiting in the shadows who could do anything to harm me. I was safer alone than with any man who stayed behind to walk me out to my car.

I was the evil they all should fear.

TWO: THE ROOMMATE

Two

The Roommate

“It’s about time you got here!” Margo was already slurring. She reached out to grab my arm and pull me inside the apartment with the gusto of a drunken college girl. “What took you so long?” she asked, then waved to the apartment full of people without waiting on my response.

“These are friends. I don’t know all these friends, but some are Heath’s. Some are Rathe’s and some are mine and now they’re yours!” She added the last part as if she had handed me a grand prize. I didn’t like crowds of people. Sober Margo would remember I didn’t want these “friends,” and I didn’t want to be here. But I was dealing with drunk Margo tonight.

I had been with Margo when she’d drank her first beer at a homecoming party when we were sixteen. This was what she became - bubbly, excited, and even more friendly than usual. I glanced around the packed apartment and saw what looked like a high school party but with slightly older people and a lot more beer. There were girls and guys flirting. A serious amount of public displays of affection. And, the typical game of beer pong was taking place on a long white folding table set up in the middle of the living room.

This was not what I wanted to do on my night off from work, but my other option was going home, and I never wanted to do that until I had to. I should have gone to the dollar movie alone, which had been my plan until Margo texted three times and then called all within five minutes insistent that I come to their party.