“That’s okay. You don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
My stomach tightened.
“Worry about … packing?”
“Worry about doing things alone,” he corrected.
Oh my God, he’s totally gonna wear my skin as a blanket, isn’t he?
I forced a small laugh. “I mean, I’m not exactly alone. I have friends. And — people. You know. Around.”
“Not here,” he said quietly.
I shifted my weight, suddenly very aware of how quiet the apartment had gotten. The TV was still on in the background, the low murmur of voices filling the space, but it felt far away.
“I’mhere, though.”
I swallowed. “Yeah. You are.”
After a moment, I slowly turned back to the boxes, because if I didn’t distract myself, I was going to spiral.
“Okay!” I said brightly. “So! Since you’re here and very committed to this … apparently… you can, uh, maybe tape boxes?”
Eric’s face lit up. “Yes! Yes, that’s good.”
Relief flickered through me. Great. Contained task. Limited interaction.
We’re fine. Once he’s done, I’ll just send him on his way. No harm, no foul.
I handed him the tape gun, which he took carefully, almost reverently. Our fingers brushed for half a second and I pulled back quickly.
Too quickly.
Something shifted in his expression. “You’re nervous.”
My laugh was a little too high-pitched. “What? No. I’m just … this is just a lot.”
Eric nodded, but I could tell he didn’t believe me. My insides twisted.
“Okay,” I said, forcing a smile as I took a step back to create a little more space between us. “Let’s maybe … start with the kitchen before we tackle everything.”
There was something about the way he said it that made it sound less like agreement and more like a temporary compromise. I quickly turned away and crouched down next to another box, trying to keep my hands busy.
Behind me, I heard the slow, deliberate unraveling of tape.
My hands were moving automatically. I had initially written him off as harmless. Helpful. A little strange, sure, but not … this. Not whatever this was slowly starting to feel like.
“I’m so glad I came to help. I don’t think you understand how vulnerable you are,” he said from behind me.
A small, uneasy laugh slipped out of me as I turned around. “Vulnerable?”
“Yes. People take advantage of that,” he continued, accompanied by the sound of tape being pulled. “Girls like you. Kind. Trusting.”
Something cold slid down my spine.
“I’m not that trusting,” I said, my voice sharper now as I looked at him.
Eric tilted his head.