Emily yanked the curtains shut and turned around. “Alright.”
Emma glanced over, her voice casual. “Why are you closing the curtains?”
Emily hesitated for a second. She didn’t want to bring up Andrew. “It’s raining,” she said, keeping it simple.
Emma didn’t think anything of it. She handed Emily a pair of chopsticks. “Come on, eat up. Then you can get some rest.”
Emily picked up some noodles and ate quietly, barely tasting anything. She murmured a soft reply.
Emma ate fast. In just a few minutes she was finished and carried her bowl to the kitchen. When she came back out, she said, “The dishwasher’s ready. Just put your bowl in and start it when you’re done. I’m going to shower, so I won’t be back out.”
Emily nodded to show she understood.
Emma headed straight for her room.
Left alone, Emily ate her noodles in silence, her mind completely somewhere else. The food tasted bland and empty. When she was done, she put her bowl in the dishwasher and drifted back to the sofa, staring blankly at the TV.
She sat there for a few minutes, but she couldn’t focus on anything. Finally, she got up, walked to the window, and pulled the curtains open again.
The black SUV was still there, parked near the entrance.
After thinking it over again and again, she finally called Andrew.
He picked up almost right away. “What’s up? Changed your mind about the gift?”
Emily didn’t bother answering that. “Is that your car outside?”
Andrew looked out toward the entrance of the complex. There were several buildings, most of the windows still lit up. He knew Emily’s address, but he had no idea which window was hers. He turned to his driver. “Flash the lights.”

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