Page 41 of Don't Remind Me
I shook my head. “It’s complicated.”
“Not as complicated as you’re making it.”
She was probably right. But I didn’t know any other way to handle it.
We shut down the rest of the kitchen in silence, labeling food items, putting them neatly away in the walk-in, and sanitizing every surface. I was mopping the floor when my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I heaved out a breath, not up for a chat with my mom right now. But she didn’t usually call this late.
I leaned the mop against the prep table and dug out my phone, heart jumping at Dani’s name on the screen. Why wasshecalling this late?
I caught the call on the last ring. “Dani?”
There came no answer, only her shaky breaths.
My pulse spiked. “Dani, what’s wrong?”
Aubrey looked up from wiping down the inside of the prep fridge, concern in her eyes.
“Someone…” Dani started, but her voice faltered, so quiet I almost couldn’t hear. “Someone’s trying to get into my apartment.”
My apron was over my head before she finished the sentence. “Where are you?”
“In my bed. I’m afraid if I move, they’ll see me.”
“Stay there. I’m on my way.”
I shot a glance at Aubrey, who motioned for me to go, then I was running out of the kitchen, through the mostly empty dining room, and up the stairs.
“Talk to me. What’s going on?” I said as I reached my locker. I didn’t bother changing; just grabbed my wallet and keys and was back down the stairs. I put Dani on speaker just long enough to pull up a ride service app. Her apartment was close enough to walk, but a car would get me there faster.
“They’ve been banging on the door and sh-shouting,” she said, then inhaled sharply. “I don’t know w-what…” She choked on her exhales, sounding seconds away from a full-blown panic attack.
“Hey, just breathe for me, okay?” I forced my voice steady, even as I shook with adrenaline. The car was a minute away. “I’ll be there soon.”
I rushed out onto the sidewalk as the car pulled up and was inside before it fully stopped. I could hear Dani pulling in breaths, still fast and shallow but better than a second ago.
“That’s it, breathe,” I said. My eyes were glued to the GPS, counting the blocks. “I’m almost there.” I hadn’t thought through what I’d do when I got there. For all I knew, the guy was armed. Maybe not with a gun, or he would have used it to get inside by now. But he could have a knife.
At this point, I didn’t care. I just had to get there.
“The pounding stopped,” she said a minute later. “I think…I think they might have left.”
The car turned onto her street. “I’m pulling up now.” There was no sign of anyone outside her building when I exited the car. I took the steps to the front door two at a time. “Can you buzz me up?”
The lock clicked, and I sprinted up the stairs, pocketing my phone as the door at the top of the landing opened, Dani’s small frame shaking on the other side.
I crossed into her apartment and pulled her into my arms. She collapsed against my chest, torso heaving with quiet sobs.
“It’s okay. I’m here,” I said to calm myself as much as her. I could feel her heart racing against where my own was trying to punch its way through my chest.
I shuffled us a few more steps into her apartment and closed the door behind me, making sure to lock it. Then both my arms were around her again, one tight across her shoulders, the other rubbing small circles against her spine as I swayed slightly side to side.
Her hands clung to the back of my chef jacket, but her breathing had slowed, her shoulders no longer shaking.
“He wasn’t here for me,” she said against my chest, voice muffled and still thick with tears. “It was a drunk guy at the wrong building. A woman next door came out and got him.”
I blew out a breath, relief finally easing into my muscles.
