On the way home, I couldn’t stop thinking about my future at Myriad without Lena. It meant each time Rowena was in a bad mood, which was most of the time, I would be her victim. I shuddered at the thought and wished to find a new job soon.
Sighing, I parked my car and picked up the plastic bag with a half-gallon of milk and some oranges from the passenger seat. Almost to my front door, I noticed it was ajar. Then Peter came out followed by a tall man. He hadn’t come home yesterday, which he had told me beforehand, but I didn’t recall him informing me about bringing his friend to our apartment.
I smiled when Peter waved to me, then shifted my gaze to his guest, who looked familiar.
“Rory,” Peter called. “I didn’t know you would be home so late. Was your boss upset again?”
I chuckled at his comment. “Something like that,” I answered. “Also, I stopped by the grocery store for milk and some oranges.”
Peter snapped his fingers. “Speaking of milk, I forgot to text you that I’d already bought milk on my way home.”
“You shouldn’t have,” I looked at him. “But thanks for buying. I appreciate it.”
“Nah, don’t mention it. I use some milk too,” he said, offering a smile.
My eyes shifted to his guest, standing slightly behind him. His ginger hair was cut in a high and tight style and looked perfect on his long face shape. He nodded at me as our eyes met.
All of a sudden, Peter slapped his forehead. “Ah, my bad. I should’ve introduced you both,” he said in an apologetic voice. He waved his hand to his guest and then to me. “Tom, this is Rory. Rory, this is Tom. She already knows about us,” he added, tilting his head and widening his eyes slightly at Tom.
Tom’s mouth made an O, and then he smiled while extending his hand to me.
Then I remembered who Tom was—the ginger-haired guy from that night!
“Nice to meet you, Rory,” he said.
“Nice to meet you, Tom,” I responded as I accepted his hand.
Looking up, I could see Tom’s face clearly under the moonlight. His eyes were blue, and his high nose sat perfectly on his face. I had to admit that Tom was quite good-looking.
Peter stood next to Tom, eyes twinkling mischievously, and the corners of his lips curling up in a smile. He put his hand around Tom’s shoulder, but Tom moved slightly forward, and Peter’s hand fell from his shoulder.
“Where are you guys going?” I said, keeping my voice cheerful.
Before Peter opened his mouth, Tom answered, “We’re going to watch the new Avengers movie. But before that, we are going to stop for some In-N-Out Burgers. This man—” he pointed at Peter “—has never tried it, so he wants a burger for dinner. I’ve lived in California awhile so that I can get one anytime. Care to join us?”
“I wish I could join, but I’ve promised to call Alfred in—” I glanced at my wristwatch “—ten more minutes. There’s something we have to arrange together.”
“Alfred? I didn’t know you had a new boyfriend, Roomie,” Peter said, smiling, but a crease also appeared between his eyes as if he were gazing at me curiously.
“No, just a childhood friend. We met again after more than a decade on the day my aunt was here. Sorry for not telling you because I thought it wasn’t something important to share.”
Peter’s smile half-faltered.
“By the way,” Tom said, looking at me, “my company has a lot of projects with Disney, especially with these Marvel projects, and we get free movie tickets, so let me know if you need one or two.”
“Thanks, Tom. I appreciate it!” I beamed. “Well, I’d better I go in. Enjoy the burger and the movie, guys!” I said, waving my hand.
Peter and Tom moved to the side so I could pass. “Oy, Rory!” Peter called.
“Yes?” I asked, turning to meet his gaze.
“If you’d like, I can tell you all about the movie tomorrow morning,” he said, a big grin appearing on his lips.
“Noooo, don’t you dare!” I yelled. I had been trying to avoid any spoilers about the Avenger movie until I could see it, and as popular as it was, that had been really hard to do.
“Just a little,” Peter said, raising his hand with his thumb and forefinger an inch apart.
“Peter Ryder, if you do, I won’t let you back in the house,” I threatened.
Peter laughed and turned to Tom, then said something that made Tom glance at me and smile.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let him ruin it, Rory,” said Tom, placing his hand over his heart.
I smiled and waved to them as they turned toward the parking lot.
Inside the apartment, I opened the fridge and put the milk I’d bought next to the milk Peter had bought. It was kind of him to remember, although I hadn’t expected him to do that. I was lucky to have had two good roommates. Lizzy was like a sister I’d never had. Putting aside my feelings toward Peter, he was like a best friend who cared about me. Sometimes he was childish, but overall, he was a good and responsible man.
When I closed the fridge door, my ears picked up soft swishing sounds near the kitchen window. When I whipped my head to look out the window, I saw a shadow. Maybe Peter forgot something? I wondered, walking to the front door to open it.
The evening breeze whipped locks of my dark brown hair behind me gently. I didn’t see anyone but an older man walking his Chihuahua on the green belt at the right corner, but I knew him, and he wasn’t close enough to have caused the shadow at my window.
Scanning the courtyard and the parking lot, I didn’t see anyone. Shrugging, I walked back into my apartment and closed the door. Maybe my eyes had been wrong.