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keys in my clutch and opened my
door. Just to make sure no one had followed, I stuck my head back
out and looked down the hallway. When I was sure the hallway was
empty, I locked the door and leaned against it.
    What had just
happened? I was having a good time until the moment Nathan left to
get me a drink. Then everything turned to shit. Frustrated and a
little rattled, I decided the best medicine for the way I felt was
a hot shower and a glass of wine, in that order. The music from the
concert was still throbbing as I stripped from my booze-smelling
wet clothes and slipped into the shower.
    Standing under the
hot water, I let the shower’s steady beat throttle my skin, washing
away my worries. After ten minutes, I finally managed to pull
myself out of the shower stall and wrap myself in a towel. I heard
a low rumbling noise and realised it was my phone. It was vibrating
on the kitchen counter. I ran to catch the call, but missed. When I
checked it, I saw it was my mother. She was last person I wanted to
speak to right now. I went into my bedroom to dress in pyjamas and
when I came out, I poured myself a big glass of Pinot Noir. I
didn’t care what Mia said about my choice of alcoholic beverage—I
was a wine drinker. Growing up in the household I did, I was
accustomed to it. As I took my first sip, sinking down into the
couch, my phone began vibrating again. I groaned and grabbed it. I
pressed answer.
    “ Hello?”
    “ Charlotte? Are you
okay?” said my mother. She sounded panicked.
    “ Yes. Why wouldn’t I
be okay?” I replied warily. How could she know anything about what
was happening tonight?
    “ You weren’t answering
your phone. I tried calling four times.”
    “ I was at a concert.
But I’m home now. What’s up?”
    “ Nothing in
particular. I was just calling to check in. How’s the boyfriend
search going?”
    I rolled my eyes. I knew she wasn’t
going to drop it until I gave her an answer.
    “ Good. Actually, it’s
a bit… complicated.”
    “ Oh? Complicated, how?
Please tell me you’ve met someone.”
    “ You could say
that.”
    “ Please, do
share.”
    “ As I said, it’s
complicated. I’ve met two guys.”
    “ Two? And what are
they like?”
    “ Mia introduced me to
one of them, Frankie. He’s really sweet…”
    “ I hear a tone of
uncertainty in your voice.”
    “ Don’t get me wrong, Mum. I like Frankie. Actually I really like him, but he’s so mysterious.”
    “ Honey, men are
mysterious for a reason: to get you interested.”
    “ Really?” I couldn’t
believe I was confessing all this to my mother! This conversation
was beginning to sound like the type of conversation I would have
with Mia. I mentally slapped myself.
    “ You said there were
two guys?”
    “ Oh, yes. The other…
actually, Mum. I think you’ll approve of Nathan.”
    “ Nathan?”
    “ Yeah. He’s a
gentleman. Totally different from Frankie.”
    “ What does Nathan look
like?”
    “ Dark blond hair, blue
eyes, nice big smile. Why?”
    “ Oh, nothing. You said
I would probably approve, so I thought I would see if maybe I knew
of him or his family.”
    “ Oh, okay.”
    After I hung up with my mother, I sat
still on the couch for a good five minutes. Something didn’t add
up. Why was Frankie acting so possessive? Why had Nathan acted
strange after saying I looked hotter in real life than a photo he
had seen? And why was Mia acting so distant? I rubbed at my temple,
feeling a slight migraine coming on. I decided all the questions my
mind was asking could wait until morning, after coffee. I went to
bed, leaving the rest of my wine untouched.
     
    Nathan
     
    As I left the bathroom, I felt my phone
vibrate in my jeans pocket. I clicked on, pushing the handset to my
ear and my finger in my other ear.
    “ Yes?”
    “ What happened
tonight?”
    “ Pardon?” it sounded
like Mrs Jayne on the other end of the line, but I couldn’t be
sure. The music was too loud. I ran out into the courtyard. The air
was