Page 68 of Third Time Lucky

“Let me help you inside.”

He tenses up when I touch his back. “No. I mean, no, I’m fine. I’m kissing—missing a few brain cells, that’s all.”

“Joey, this is cra—”

His door swings open, startling us both. A lovely woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a bathrobe, swollen eyes and a worried scowl is standing in the opening. “Are you drunk?”

Rue’s princess.

“Tani!” Joey cries out joyfully, opening his arms wide and weaving until I steady him again. “Where have you been, young lady? I’ve been worried sick.”

“I can see that.”

“He’s not doing so great,” I offer, feeling the need to apologize. “He was trying to make me feel better, but then we had shots with someone named Calamity and things got out of hand.”

“They do that.” Her expression is difficult to read. “And I’m familiar with that name. I knew those Finns were a bad influence. You’re Elliot?”

“I am.”

“Thank you for bringing him back in one piece.”

Joey is making some truly unhappy sounds beside us. “Not to ruin the reunion, but I’m about to be sick. Please don’t make me do it in the hall or Mr. Gordon might send me to the fourth floor for punishment. No one would ever see me again.”

His friend rolls her eyes and steps back into the apartment, gesturing for me to come inside. “Hurry up, lobby lurker. I might need help getting him up the stairs in time.”

I step forward and she holds up her hand to stop my progress. “Maybe button your pants first?”

---