Page 21 of Once Upon a Lie

“Good to see you, Rita. This must be the famous Ken.”

“Glad I could make it.” Ken smiles and shakes my hand. “Had a busy day but managed to get off work in time.”

“He’s always so busy,” Rita gushes. “Didn’t even have time to change.”

“I see that. Ken Fortune is a busy guy. Great meeting you.” My smile is cut short as Rita grabs Ken’s hand and drags him away, deep into the recesses of my personal space, to perform an inspection.

Functioning smoke detectors? Carbon monoxide alarms? Fire extinguisher?

Rita’s making sure I’ve got all of it.

When she asks if I got permission from the landlord to hang the paper towel holder in the kitchen from the bottom of the cabinet, I balk a little.

“Um . . . yeah?” I rub at the back of my neck. “Pretty sure.”

She narrows her eyes. “I’ll definitely have to verify before I leave.”

Great. Guess I’m going to have to find time in the middle of ringleading this circus to forge a text message exchange or a handwritten note or something.

At 8:00 p.m., the room’s full of chatter and small talk, and Stanley corners me near the balcony to explain his hummus recipe in depth.

At 8:15 p.m., I have to break up an argument between Denny and Jillian about the music. And Callie’s excitedly asking me if I’m a doctor because I “have that serious jawline energy.”

At 8:17 p.m., Lissa’s broadcasting updates on Magnolia Connect like a social reporter, and still, no Valentina.

I play it cool, refill drinks, laugh in the right places, but my eyes keep drifting to the door.

Every time the elevator dings, my pulse ticks up, until finally, at 8:30 p.m., I give in to the impulse to push the issue.

Shane (Unit: 1807): ​​Still plenty of food and drinks if anyone’s thinking of stopping by 1807. Everyone’s welcome.​​

Unfortunately, the only responses that come in are from people already here. The call is most definitely coming from inside the house.

Lissa (Unit: 815): ​​He’s literally hosting and still marketing his own party. Like my message if you think it’s iconic. Don’t like my message if you think it’s pathetic.​​

Damn, is it just me or is Lissa kind of cutthroat?

Stanley (Unit: 1007): ​​Music’s fine. But we’ve been out of carrots for the past hour.​​

Because he fucking ate them all.

Denny (Unit: 1106): ​​Wish he’d play some Skynyrd instead of this smooth jazz shit.​​

To be fair to Denny, on this one we agree.

Callie (Unit: 1205): ​​Loving this energy! Bring your own vibe, everyone! Best party ever!!!​​

Callie might need to get out more often.

Jillian (Unit: 510): ​​Does he have coasters? Because I swear I saw a ring on the coffee table.​​

Rita Fortune: ​​Delighted to see such community spirit. Reminder: Quiet hours begin at 10 p.m. sharp.​​

I exhale through a laugh. These people are something.

By nine, I’m deep in the kind of small talk that makes your brain dissolve. Stanley’s on a second hummus monologue. Denny’s trying to sync his phone to my speaker so he can play music “that’s actually good” while telling a thrilling tale of the time his ceiling fan wouldn’t turn off. Lissa, meanwhile, is Annie Leibovitzing all of us and posting all the photos inside the group chat at a breakneck pace.

9:25.