My Boyfriend Traveled with My Bestie novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: The Break Room Couch

I got to the studio at half past seven in yesterday's sweater.

The woman in red glasses was waiting at the elevator with her arms crossed and her eyebrows very high.

"Don't," I said.

"I said nothing," she said. "My face is just like this."

Toby was on the lobby bench, bent over his knees, with one duffel between his feet.

He stood up too fast when he saw me.

"Sue."

"How long have you been here?"

"Since five. The guard let me in out of the rain."

"I thought you had a hotel."

"I checked out last night. The room was two nights past what I could pay, and the desk lady was nice about it." He shrugged his thin shoulders. "I've got two hundred and twelve dollars."

"Is that everything?"

"That's everything."

I looked at the duffel and then at him.

"You gave up your apartment."

"I mailed the keys back. The landlord was going to review the lease on August first anyway. I didn't want you to be on the hook for another day."

"That's not a thing you decide for me."

"I know. I'm not asking for a place to stay."

"Good, because I'm not taking you in."

He nodded fast.

"I'm not your parent," I said. "I'm not your bank. You don't get to sleep on my floor until you feel better."

"Okay."

"I've been fixing things for you since I was ten."

"I know." His eyes were red. "That's why I'm not asking you to fix this."

He dug in his back pocket and held out a paper napkin, folded small.

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