She smiled.
“I know.”
She took two steps.
Then turned again.
“Oh, and Nick?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for the dress.”
His eyes dropped briefly toward the zipper he had repaired.
Then returned to her face.
“My pleasure.”
She smiled.
“And for not having me thrown out of your building.”
“I considered it.”
“I believe you.”
He grinned.
“Good night, Maggie.”
“Good night.”
She walked away.
Nicholas watched until the elevator doors closed behind her.
Then he looked down at his watch.
Tomorrow suddenly seemed an extraordinarily long time away.
At eleven fifteen, Maggie burst through the door of her apartment carrying one shoe in her hand and an enormous smile on her face.
Tessa sat cross-legged on the sofa wearing striped pajamas, eating cereal from a mixing bowl while a late-night comedy played on the television.
She looked up.
“Well?”
Maggie dropped her handbag.
“Tessa.”
Her roommate narrowed her eyes.
“What did you do?”
“Tessa.”
“Oh, God. You did something.”
Maggie sank onto the sofa.
“I met Nicholas Sterling.”
Tessa nearly dropped her cereal.
“You what?”
“I met him.”
“Did he like the proposal?”
“Yes.”
“Did he agree to save the theater?”
“Not exactly.”
“Did he throw you out?”
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
Maggie covered her face.
“I asked him to zip up my dress.”
Tessa stared.
Then slowly lowered her spoon.
“You did what?”
“The elevator. The zipper got stuck. I couldn't reach it.”
“And you asked a stranger?”
“Yes.”
“And the stranger was Nicholas Sterling?”
“Yes.”
Tessa looked at her for a long moment.
Then burst into hysterical laughter.
Maggie threw a cushion at her.
“It's not funny!”
“Oh, Maggie!”
“He was perfectly nice about it.”
Tessa laughed harder.
“Of course he was!”
“Stop it.”
“Did you at least flirt with him?”
“No!”
Tessa looked unconvinced.
Maggie hesitated.
“Well. Maybe a little.”
“Oh, this is magnificent.”
“It's a disaster.”
“Did he ask for your number?”
“No.”
Tessa's face fell.
“Pity.”
“He asked me to meet him at the Starlight tomorrow.”