He gets out and collects me, walking me straight past a cautious-looking Casey and putting me in the penthouse elevator. I glance up at him, but he’s keeping his gaze pointed forward, not even meeting my eyes when I look at him in the reflection of the doors. When he opens the door into the penthouse, Cathy appears from the kitchen, her happy smile dropping away as soon as she notices her cheerfulness isn’t being reciprocated. “Is everything okay?” She assesses us both, then looks to Jesse for an answer, but he just hands me my bag and nods toward the stairs. I look at him, silently begging for some words. He doesn’t indulge me. He nods again. “Boy?” Cathy prompts warily. “Ava’s not feeling too well.” He lightly pushes into my back with his hand, urging me forward. “Are you coming?” I ask. “I’ll be up in a minute. Go.” He reinforces his words with a firmer push of his hand, and I leave him with Cathy.
