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“It was good,” I reply. “I have my own office.”
“Yeah? Does that mean you need a new fern?”
“A fake one maybe. My office has walls, but no windows. I don’t know much about plants, clearly, but I do know they need light.”
His chuckle warms me more than the scarf wrapped three times around my neck to combat the January chill. “You could put up some photos of plants. Or paintings. Or a mural.”
“Another mural, huh?”
“Why not?”
I tap my card against the terminal and push through the turnstile. “Why didn’t you tell me about your dad?”
“My dad?” Kit repeats.
“Yeah. He came to see me at work, and?—”
“He came to see you at work?”
“This morning. And I wish you’d told me he knew. You don’t haveto tell me what happened—he said it went … badly—but youcantell me if you want to talk about it.”
No response.
“Kit?”
Still nothing.
I pull my phone away from my ear and realize the call disconnected. I try to call him back, but it doesn’t ring once.
No service.
37
“You sure you’re all right, Mr. Kensington?”
My fingers, already curled into a fist, clench even tighter. “I’m fine, Camden, thanks. This won’t take long, and then we’re headed to Brooklyn.”
“All right, sir.”
I climb out of the car and stride toward my parents’ townhouse. I didn’t button up my coat, but I’m oblivious to the harsh wind as it cuts through my suit. I’m too angry to feel cold. Walking too fast to see my breath hover in the freezing air.
I do feelmy phone buzzing in my pocket, but I ignore that too. Collins has been trying to call me back ever since we got disconnected, but I need to deal with this first. And we’ll be able to talk in person soon. I’ll be picking her and the last of her belongings up at her apartment shortly. I was planning to head straight to Brooklyn from the airport, but I need to speak to my dad first.
I rap on the front door twice, jaw ticcing as I stare at the glossy black paint.
A few seconds later, Charlie opens it.
I stare at Lili’s boyfriend, surprise temporarily dulling my anger. “Hey.”
“We flew in this morning,” he explains. “Lili wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Oh. Nice. I mean, nice to see you.”
“Likewise,” Charlie replies, smiling. “Lili and your mom left to do some shopping about”—he checks his watch—“four hours ago. I thought you were them.”
I nod. “Is my dad home?”
“Yeah. He’s in his office, I think. He said he had a couple of work things to catch up on.”