My Fingerprint Was Never Saved, but Her Lock Was Always Open Chapter 07

My Fingerprint Was Never Saved, but Her Lock Was Always Open Chapter 07

Mia really did come to get me at lunchtime.

We carried our trays into the office complex’s food hall. It wasn’t far, but she talked the entire way.

She told me which counter served the best food, that the coffee shop downstairs offered the second latte for half price, and that everyone could dress casually on Friday afternoons.

She spoke so easily that I didn’t have to work to keep the conversation going.

For a moment, the feeling was almost disorienting.

Making friends hadn’t been like this in my old city.

After I entered Gavin’s social circle, I had spent so much time trying to fit in.

Ryan’s favorite beer was Miller Lite.

Jordan worked in marketing for a real estate company.

I had even memorized which people in Gavin’s Crew had beef with each other, apparently because there had

been some confusion over splitting a dinner bill.

I kept all of it in notes on my phone and reviewed them before every gathering.

I was afraid I would say the wrong thing, let the conversation die, or make Gavin’s friends think I was

difficult to be around.

In the end, I was still nothing more than “Gavin’s girlfriend,” an accessory to someone else’s life.

Mia and I, on the other hand, were simply coworkers.

She knew nothing about my past, and I didn’t have to prove anything to her.

I could just be myself.

“We should catch a live show sometime,” Mia said. “There’s always something playing around here.”

“Sure,” I said.

That evening, I stood by the window of my apartment and looked outside for a while.

The oak leaves gleamed beneath the streetlights.

I opened the photo library on my phone and found the old pictures of Gavin and me.

I didn’t delete them.

Instead, I created a separate album, moved every photo into it, and buried it at the bottom of my library.

Gavin sat across from Vanessa in a coffee shop.

“Did you tear up the deed?” he asked.

Vanessa froze. “What deed? I don’t know anything about it.”

“I never touch your things when I’m at your place.”

Her eyes flicked to the left as she spoke.

Gavin had known her for more than twenty years. Ever since they were kids, her eyes had always flicked left

when she lied.

He didn’t call her out.

He got to his feet. “I have my answer.”

Then he turned to leave.

Vanessa chased him to the door. “Gavin!”

He stopped.

“Are you thinking about that night again?”

Her voice changed. The wounded, clingy tone disappeared, replaced by a sharp edge.

“You chose to drink that wine. Did I force you?”

Gavin didn’t turn around.

He opened the door and walked out.

Once he was outside, he drew in a deep breath and stood for a moment with his back against a tree beside the

road.

Three months ago, he had drunk the wine.

He had ordered the condoms.

Vanessa had asked whether she had forced him.

She hadn’t.

He could have stood up and walked away then.

But he hadn’t.

On the Friday of my second week at the firm, I saw Gavin in the lobby as I was leaving work.

He stood beside the glass doors in a dark gray coat.

Mia was walking beside me, She followed my gaze and lowered her voice.

“You know him?”

“Yeah. A friend. You go ahead.”

Mia didn’t ask any questions. She nodded and left.

I walked over to Gavin.

I wasn’t surprised or angry. I simply asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to apologize in person.” His voice sounded rough.

“For what?”

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

“You can’t even say what you’re apologizing for?” I looked at him. “Or do you think one apology is enough?”

He was silent for a moment before speaking.

“You saw the orders on my computer, didn’t you?”

His voice was strained.

“That night at the hot-springs resort, she suggested we have a drink in the room, and I…” He paused. “I made one stupid mistake.”

I looked at him. “One stupid mistake?”

“At dinner, you ate the crab she had already bitten into. Was that a stupid mistake too?”

“You let her take the front seat and feed you nuts in the car. Were those stupid mistakes too?”

“You didn’t move away when she fixed your collar. Was that another one?”

He opened his mouth again, but nothing came out.

“Everyone can see how much you care about her.”