Page 119 of The Renter

Dani Sommer

How was your flight? Have time to talk?

Tuesday, October 18th

11:23 a.m.

Dani Sommer

Are you alive?

8:12 p.m.

Adam Harris

My phone was off the majority of the day. I am MIA until I get back. I love you.

Wednesday, October 19th

7:45 a.m.

Dani Sommer

You didn’t tell me that you would literally be off the grid the entire time you were traveling.

Thursday, October 20th

Iknow Adam is busy wining and dining clients and juggling back-to-back meetings. I also know he’s flying from Chicago to New York, then to Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and finally back to Chicago on Saturday. But this sucks. I didn’t realize he would actually be a ghost. His absence wasn’t communicated well. I can’t believe he isn’t calling me each evening or something.

While I’m upset, this week has gone by in a blur for me, too, filled with client meetings and deadlines. My head is buried in client work—emailing, writing, posting—doing my best not to miss Adam. It’s only been four days since I last saw him, but itfeels like months. We’ve never gone more than a couple of days without seeing each other, and we’ve always stayed in touch. Four days of silence is insane.

In a desperate move to get his attention, I text him a sexy selfie of me in lingerie.The bat signal freaking worked.I laugh as I see his name pop up. He’s calling me!

102

Stepping away from the hotel bar and group of investors, I look for a quiet hallway. “Dani, you can’t send me photos like that.”

“Okay. Bye.”

“Peanut, we talked about this. Do you want that photo shared on a screen for everyone to see?”

“Why do you think like that?”

“Because I have to!” My tone is more aggressive than I’d like, the stress from this week spilling over. I take a deep breath. “Download Signal. Send me anything you don’t want anyone else to see there.”

She scoffs, and there’s silence between us. “I fucking hate this,” she finally says.

“It’s been four days. You’ll see me soon.”

“Why can’t you call me each night or send a text or something?”

Initially flattered that she misses me so much, this conversation is too familiar. My ex and I had calls like this countless times over the years.

“My phone is off for most of the day. I’m not lying about that. I’ll explain more when I’m back, but not right now.”

Silence hangs in the air until Dani pleads, “Kelsey is coming to the city on Saturday. Please meet up with us.”

“I’ll try my best.”