Pierce was in charge of the kitchen tonight and wouldn’t come upstairs until after eleven. She started to put the key in the lock when a voice startled her and she dropped the key on the floor. “Zoe! There you are.” Vanessa stepped out of her apartment. “Ethan and a colleague went to a seminar in New Orleans today and won’t be back until late, and I know Pierce is cooking tonight. I wondered if later you might want to go out with Carter and me and get ice cream. What happened? You’ve got mud all over you.” Zoe bent down and picked up the key without looking at Vanessa. “Zoe, you’re bleeding. Are you all right?” “I lost my footing on a walking trail and fell. I just need to get cleaned up. My ego hurts worse than the rest of me.” She turned the key, her hand shaking, and pushed open the door. “I’ll take a rain check on the ice cream. It’s been a hectic day.” “You sure you’re all right?” “I’m fine. Just ready for some down time.” Leave me alone, Vanessa.
