“So given that I have a stalker, what’s the plan if I find the ring?” she asked. “Do I text you that instant? Or should you just follow me around in case this guy is trailing me other places besides just my house?”

“I wish I could go everywhere with you. Two days ago, I could have. But along with my inability to communicate, I’ve been cut off from my power supply. Hence the issue with my television and my dryer. I can’t run my condo on electricity or any of your other fuels, so right now, I’m on what you would refer to as a backup generator.”

“That doesn’t sound good. What happens if you run out of juice?”

“Then all my ties to my world are severed and I have to hope that someone comes looking for me. That someone is able to come looking for me. In order to prevent cutting off all access to communication, I have to ration my power, which means I need to stay in the condo. Leaving and reentering takes a good amount of ‘juice’ as you call it, so I need to stay put until you find the ring.”

Marina liked how Alexios said “until” and not “in case,” but then she guessed if the alternative was remaining trapped in another world in an invisible condo with no power, she’d be optimistic too. At least her dryer worked.

“So basically, don’t call unless I have something,” she said.

“I’m afraid so. I’m really sorry about this. I wish I could hang around and look out for this man. I know it must be unnerving knowing that someone is watching you.”

“I’m less than thrilled about it. But what about you? Is there anything I can get you for your condo? I have clean socks. Do you need food or something to drink? A book maybe, since you’re on television hiatus?”

Alexios stared at her for a moment, clearly surprised. “You’d do that for me?”

“Of course. If I have anything that can help, it’s yours.”

He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, then sniffed, and she could see the tears pooling in his eyes. “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“That’s a shame. Manners are free. So is kindness.”

He smiled. “You’re an incredible person, Marina Trahan. I am rarely surprised but you’ve surprised me. And since I can tell you’re sincere in your offer, I would love a pair of matching socks and if you have a couple of good romance books, that would be great.”

She grinned and headed into the bedroom, dug around in the boxes for a minute, and came back with a box of socks and a stack of romances.

“These are new,” Alexios said as he opened the box. “And so soft!”

“I’m on my feet all day. The one thing I do not scrimp on is footwear.”

He gathered the socks and books and looked at her.

“I have great faith in you, Marina. That’s never been the case before. You’re not at all like the others, but in the ways that I believe will ultimately count the most, you’re so much more. Believe in yourself and the ring is yours.”