“What are you doing here?” Derek asked. He could make much sense of how and why she found her way around Claire's neighborhood.
Emily smiled again. His question met hers and she was a bit confused by his, but the smile on his face was pure, genuine.
Happy.
“I came by to see a friend.”
“A friend. You didn't tell me you had any friends in this—
Then he stopped himself, seeming like he just realized something.
“Are you leaving?”
Emily said yes.
“I have to get back to my boyfriend.”
“How about I give you a ride? You don't know the neighborhood too well and it's getting late. I wouldn't want anything bad happening to you.”
“Well I wouldn't want to stress you…”
But the stranger insisted.
Emily was in tune with her feelings. She felt nothing bad in that moment, if anything, she almos
