Because he doesn’t want me to know where he lives. The company had run extensive background checks on both of us for each other’s safety, but one could never be too safe.

“Thanks, Andrew. Or whoever you are.” I stuck my hand out and he took it. I held on a second longer than I needed to. “Really, though. Thank you. You did me a solid, and I really am just… so grateful. I’ll, uh, see you at Christmas if I can get the money together.”

He nodded at me, then exited the car swiftly. His bag was already in hand; he must not have put it in the trunk because he knew he’d be making a quick escape.

I slumped in my seat as Jorge pulled off. He handed me a travel pack of tissues and said nothing.

I gave out two five-star ratings that day.

Drew

Not your prerogative, Operative.

AFTER THANKSGIVING

Chloe CHAPTER 18 BETTER SKIN

Whenever I left California and landed in Chicago, it felt like I shed my old skin and put on a more comfortable, better fitting one.

My steps were already more confident as I swiped into my dorm and made my way to my single.

I waved shyly to my floormate, Summer, who was, as usual, surrounded by a group of friends. She’d invited me out with them a few times to parties, but since I don’t drink, I’d said no and they’d soon stopped asking.

High school had sucked and I couldn’t wait to get to college, but I wish I’d been more prepared for how important alcohol would be. I was immediately declared a party pooper by the couple of groups I had tried to be a part of. Maybe if the drinkers had also been missing the gene to metabolize alcohol and zoomed past buzzed straight to raging hangover, they’d understand, but to them, I was just no fun. I thought I was plenty of fun even without alcohol—and didn’t drunk people find everyone fun?—but apparently drinking was an all-or-nothing kind of activity.

I had “friends,” as in people with whom I worked on problem sets and had dinner, but no one I was close enough to tell about Andrew. Maybe if I’d had someone, I wouldn’t have gone through with the rental, so I couldn’t decide whether I was grateful or sad for that.