Grace pressed the number eight and the doors slid shut. “It’s going good,” she started, but then her cheerful demeanor faded. “Well, except for what happened with Kiki.”

Lauren straightened, and her face paled.

Andrew immediately went on high alert.

“What about Kiki?”

Grace’s mouth turned down at the corners. “I’m sorry, I thought someone would have told you. He passed away. On Wednesday. I’ve never seen the floor so somber, not in my seven years working here.”

Lauren’s sharp intake of breath was so intense, Andrew felt it in his own lungs. Her hand flew to her mouth, and he heard her whisper, “No…” behind her palm. On its own accord, his hand went to her shoulder.

The speaker dinged and the elevator doors slid open. Grace didn’t move right away. Instead, she stood there with this horrified, mournful look on her face. “I’m so sorry, Lauren. It came as a shock to all of us.” The doors began to close again, and Grace darted for the opening. “I have to go, but call me later and we’ll talk more, okay? I’m so sorry.”

Then Grace was gone and the doors closed again, leaving Andrew and Lauren alone.

“Lauren…” he began. He had no clue what had just happened or who Kiki was, and he didn’t know what to say. What he knew was Lauren had cared about Kiki, and she was falling apart beside him.

Without conscious thought, he pulled her into his arms. She melted in to him, gripping his shirt in her fists as her body shook with sobs. She was several inches shorter, and he rested his chin on top of her head. He rubbed circles on her back and murmured words like, “I’m so sorry” and “It’s okay,” though none of it would fix a damn thing.

A light, floral scent rose from her hair, and Andrew inhaled deeply. Was it wrong of him to feel a sense of satisfaction that she was in his arms? That he was the one bringing her comfort? He hated seeing her cry with an acute fierceness, but that emotion was offset by the pleasure of finally being able to hold her.

The elevator stopped on the third floor, and the doors opened to reveal a guy wearing a maintenance uniform, tapping at his phone. He looked up and took one step forward but paused when he saw Andrew and the crying woman in his embrace.

Andrew shot him a look that said, Don’t even think about it.

They reached the lower level where the parking garage was located. Andrew tightened his arms around her back and dipped his head to her ear to murmur, “This is us.”