Page 56 of Daring the Hockey Player
Except, I don't know when her birthday is. So, I shake my head. "No."
"This game is tough," she says with a laugh. "I still have like ten questions, right?"
"Four left."
"That's it? Okay, I really need to buckle down." She rubs her hands together as she contemplates her next question. "Is it something that you would give someone in public?"
I'm confused by her question. "Yes?" I'm not quite confident in my own answer. Why wouldn't I gift it to her in public? But then again, why would I?
She presses her lips together. "Then it's not lingerie for me," she says cheekily. "And no, Jasper, that's not a question."
"I wouldn't know your size," I whisper, and the car is feeling quite suffocating.
"Okay, so it can't be clothes because you don't know my size. But the shopping bag is from the same store where we just bought clothes. Is it a cover? Did you buy me something from a different store and ask the clerk to put it in one of their bags?"
"That's two questions. No, and no. You're on your last question," I say. "Make it count." I'm glad that I'm keeping her distracted, but I'm not sure how much longer she'll be smiling as we head closer to the NYU campus.
She takes note of the direction that we're heading, away from Kyler's place and across town from my apartment. "Where are we going?"
I smirk, grateful that at least her last question was wasted on something unrelated to the dress. I will give it to her. I just need the right opportunity.
"That's twenty questions, and I'll give you the last one. We're heading to your apartment. We need to let them know that you're safe. They have you unaccounted for after the fire, and they're trying to identify remains."
"Oh." She exhales a soft breath, and her shoulders slump. Reality seems to hit her as she grows quiet.
"It'll be okay," I say and reach for her hand. "You don't have to do this alone."
We drive as far as we can and walk the additional block on foot. The perimeter is roped off, not letting people drive through the street. The command post from earlier is still parked out front of what used to be the apartment building.
Amber's hands are shaking, and I give one of them a squeeze before pulling her closer, wrapping an arm around her waist. I'd never been so worried as I was this morning—frantic, unable to get ahold of her.
She approaches the person in charge, answers some questions, and fills out a questionnaire for the local emergency management team, Red Cross, and the school.
I give her some space as she sits on the edge of the curb, the clipboard in hand. "Umm." Amber gestures me over.
"Sure, what is it?"
"They need a location that I'm staying in—I don't plan on being at your brother's place for long, but can you give me his address?"
"Use mine," I say.
"What?" She stares at me, confused.
I force a smile. "I don't know his address without looking at my phone. I left it in the car. Just use mine." I recant my apartment address to her, and she scribbles it down.
"Thanks."
When she finishes the forms, she asks them about additional housing options, and they give her a phone number to contact through the school. She makes a few calls on the way back to the car, but every apartment within a five-mile radius is unavailable. The dorms are full, having already housed several residents who were displaced from the fire.
She hangs up and grimaces. "It's fine. I'll get a place farther from campus and commute on the train." I open the car door for her. She looks lost, tangled in her thoughts, like a web that she can't break free from.
My brother's words play through my head, reminding me that I should invite Amber to stay as a roommate. I'm not exactly near NYU's campus, but it would make housing affordable, having a roommate. And while I don't need the cash that she'd contribute to the bills, I like being around her. I wouldn't need an excuse to see her, and I'd be helping her out of a tough situation.
"I'd be happy to have you as a roommate," I say, staring at her.
"You're just saying that because you feel bad for me." Amber slides her feet into the car and grabs the seatbelt. I shut the door and hurry around to the driver's side.
I climb in and turn on the car, and it doesn't take long for the heat to kick in. The engine is still a little warm from our last drive.
