Unease turns to worry when there’s no answer. I hit the button again and wait.

When I hear something behind me, I turn, hoping it will be Kenzie, but I find Mrs. Hoffmeister at the bottom of the stairs with a plastic bag from the corner store.

I rush down the steps to her. “Mrs. Hoffmeister. I’m so glad to see you. Do you know if Kenzie is home?”

She narrows her eyes at me and gives me the once-over. “Shouldn’t you know that, lover boy?”

“Something… happened last night. I just want to make sure she’s okay.”

She brushes past me and starts slowly up the stairs. “Maybe she just doesn’t want to see you.”

“Do you know if she made it home all right last night?” I ask again.

She shrugs.

“I know you sit out here late smoking. Did you see her at all?”

“Maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t.” She reaches the top step and takes a break to catch her breath.

I walk back up the steps and stand beside her. “Will you let me in the building? I need to see her. Even if it’s just to make sure she’s okay. If she doesn’t want to talk to me, I’ll leave. I swear.” I hold up my hands to show her I mean no harm.

The old woman sighs and studies me. “Fine. But I’m only letting you in because you’re good for her. But if she doesn’t want to see you, you must leave.”

I nod a bunch of times. “I will. I just need to make sure she’s okay.”

Mrs. Hoffmeister grumbles something I can’t make out and unlocks the building door. She turns to look at me over her shoulder. “Don’t make me regret this.”

As soon as the door is open, I bolt past her. “I won’t!”

I take the stairs two at a time and bang on Kenzie’s door when I reach it.

“Kenzie, are you in there? Please open up. I need to know you’re okay.”

I hear nothing for a minute, but when I’m about to knock again, the locks on the door disengage and the door whips open. Despite how rough Kenzie looks, my muscles relax with relief that she made it home okay.

“What are you doing here?” Her voice is rough, and from how puffy her eyes are, it’s clear she’s been crying. A fissure forms in my heart, knowing I’m the one who caused those tears.

“I had to make sure you got home after I…”

“You don’t need to worry about me anymore, Andrew. You made it pretty clear last night that I’m an embarrassment to you.”