Archie took a deep breath. He didn’t want to overreact. It was true that Leo might be in danger, but it was also true that Leo had his demons. Before Leo and Susan had started seeing each other, Leo had been linked with every exotic dancer and party girl in town. He was at clubs every night. He was not given to monogamy. For all Archie knew, Leo had spent last night with Star. Archie searched for a kind way to phrase it: “He stays out sometimes, right? Maybe he found somewhere else to crash.”

“We had a fight,” Susan said. “Outside the club. He would have called. To make up.” She gave Archie a meaningful look. “Trust me,” she said.

Archie checked his watch. It wasn’t even ten A.M. The way Leo had been drinking last night, he was probably hungover. “Give him time,” Archie said to himself as much as Susan.

Susan twisted a piece of black hair around her finger. “I have a bad feeling,” she said. Her eyes darted toward the floor. “Has he said anything?” She glanced up. “I mean, about me?”

Archie struggled to grasp the situation. No one had ever accused him of being savvy about relationships, but it was beginning to dawn on him that he had misunderstood. Susan wasn’t worried that Leo was dead. “You’re afraid he’s going to break up with you,” Archie said slowly.

“He’s so distracted,” Susan said. “Something’s going on with him, isn’t it? I’m concerned about him. I know he’s DE—”

Archie lifted his hand to cut her off. “Shh,” he said. He looked at the bedroom. The bedroom door was open. He didn’t hear any movement. Rachel was probably still asleep.

Susan’s brow furrowed. “What?” she said. She peered toward the back of the apartment. “Is Henry here?”

“No.”

“Who is it?”

Archie scratched the back of his neck. “I have a guest.”

She looked at him, still not getting it.

“A female guest,” said Archie.

Susan’s eyes widened with alarm. “The stripper?” she said.

“No,” Archie said, incredulous.

Susan took a tiny step back. “You’re dating someone?” she asked. He could see her trying to hide her distress, her mouth getting small. “How long have you been dating someone?”

“Not long,” Archie said. “When was the last time you saw Leo?”

“You said you didn’t want to date anyone,” she said.

They both knew what she meant. He had said he didn’t want to date her. Rachel was different. He couldn’t have sex with Susan and not feel something. Rachel didn’t want anything from him. At least nothing emotionally.