I climb the stairs as she drips behind me, her shoes and purse in one hand, the other clutching the banister.

I shut and lock the door behind us as she stands dripping onto the rug in the living room. I go to the kitchen and pull out the turkey and cheese, some bread and mayonnaise, and begin making the beautiful, wet stranger a sandwich. I set it on a plate and hand it to her, along with the last cold soda. She falls on it like she hasn’t seen food in a year.

While she eats in the kitchen, I go to my mother’s dresser and dig around. I come out with an old T-shirt and some running shorts and a pair of underwear. It’ll look ridiculous with her heels, but at least she’ll be dry and covered up. I decide to try again. “Listen, is there someone I can call to pick you up? You really shouldn’t be walking around alone this late in the city.”

She shakes her head.

I blow out a breath. I’m not sure what to do with her.

“I’m Aimee,” she says around a mouthful of turkey and cheese.

“Hi, Aimee. I’m Cat.” I watch her chew. “Fun night?”

Aimee swallows. “Always.”

I nod. Some kind of progress is being made. “So do you always skinny-dip in fountains, or is that just a one-time thing?”

She laughs openmouthed, and I get a full view of masticated sandwich. “You’re funny,” she says.

And you’re an alien, I think. “Do you live around here?” The Devil lives at the cathedral. The Hermit lives next door. Maybe I can walk her home, though I quickly deduce that walking back alone would not be in my best interest. I check my phone. It’s 3:00 a.m.

“Oh yeah,” she tells me. “I just moved.”

I’ll bet you did. “It’s not very cool of your friends to let you wander off alone.”

“I got lost.” She finally finishes eating and begins slurping on her soda. “This is a nice place,” she says, looking around.

“Thanks. It’s my mom’s.” I leave it at that. No point getting into a whole conversation about Gary and Mary’s relationship with someone who likely won’t remember it in the morning.

I start to yawn. “So, listen, are you sure I can’t call somebody for you? Or an Uber or something? I mean, it’s really late and all.” It feels wrong to just let her walk back out the door.

“Let me change, and I’ll get out of your hair.” She scoops up the clothes I brought out.