19

The Incident

Ava was not in class, which afforded Nat the opportunity to repay the note-taking favor. Her focus was improved this session, and she religiously jotted down pertinent facts in the professor’s monologue on the Enlightenment. Surreptitiously, she texted Ava.

Are you sick? I’ll take notes for you.

But her friend didn’t reply. When class was over, Nat checked her phone again. Still no response. She had a three-hour window before her next studio session. It would be well spent catching up on what she’d missed yesterday, but without Ava’s notes, she wouldn’t make much headway. Nat decided to visit the penthouse apartment. Her sick friend would appreciate the homework, and Nat could take care of her. If Ava had a cold, she could fetch her some soup; if she had a hangover, Gatorade or greasy takeout.

She texted Ava again.

Coming over with class notes

The text flew away with a computerized whoosh. Nat looked at the screen; the phone registered it as delivered but not read. Could Ava be sick in bed without her phone? Asleep? Could she have lost the device? With an uneasy feeling tickling her belly, Nat hurried toward the Chelsea pad.

The doorman greeted her in the lobby. “Hello, miss.”

She recalled his Brooklyn accent, his weathered appearance, but not his name. “Hi. I’m a friend of Ava Sedin’s. In the penthouse.”

“Right.” He picked up the phone to announce her arrival. “Your name?”

“Nat.”

She waited as the phone rang in Ava’s apartment. And rang. Could she be out? Too sick to answer? Finally, the doorman said, “Good morning, Ava. Your friend Nat is here to see you.”

Ava’s voice on the other end of the phone was inaudible, but the doorman—Pete! That was his name—nodded. “I’ll send her up.”

In the elevator, Nat checked her phone. Ava had not replied to her texts, though her friend was clearly able to answer her telephone. But there was a message from Gabe.

Can’t get you off my mind. Hope you’re having a great day.

Her legs went wobbly, her lips curled into a delighted smile. Feeling like a schoolgirl, she texted back:

Thinking of you 2

The elevator doors slid open, and Nat hurried into the sumptuous hallway. She was excited to see Ava, to tell her about her relationship. Ava had become a friend and confidante, the only person who knew about Nat’s secret life. Nat could count on Ava to guide her through this unknown territory. The blond girl was savvy, experienced. She might even have advice on how to handle the Cole situation, which, Nat realized, had almost slipped from her mind, thanks to Gabe Turnmill’s attentions.

She knocked on Ava’s door and waited. And then, she waited some more. It was quiet in the apartment, no music, no TV, no sounds of life inside. But Ava knew Nat was there, she had invited Nat up. Eventually, she heard the shuffle of sock feet moving toward the door, and it opened.