It’s the middle of the night when I get home and I’m exhausted. It took three days longer than I expected it to, but I’m glad to have the case closed. I didn’t want to chance having to go back for another mediation, so although it was longer, it’s finished.
I toss my keys on the table in the foyer and don’t bother turning on a light. All I want to do is face plant on my bed for a few precious hours until I have to go into the office. The time change is the worst part even though I wasn’t there for very long.
When I see my perfectly made bed, I nearly groan with relief and need. I quickly strip naked and toss my phone on the nightstand before I peel back the covers and pour myself in. The cool sheets, the soft mattress, and the silk pillowcase Renee got me for Christmas are like aloe on a burn. The comfort is instant and I breathe deep, settling my body into place.
As I lie there I have this feeling that something is off. It’s not the sheets or the mattress but there’s something different. I inhale again and there’s a soft scent I can’t place. I bury my face in my pillow and it’s strongest there. Is it lavender? It’s something floral but not pungent. I inhale once more and there’s a calming scent to it.
I put one arm under the pillow and one over the top as I hug it to me. My cleaning crew must have used a new detergent and I need to tell them to keep using it. The fragrance is so comforting, and it’s like I can’t get close enough.
I rest my cheek against the cool silk and close my eyes once more. Without another thought, I’m falling fast asleep.
The sound of my bedroom door opening has me jolting out of bed. Everything is blurry as the sun pours into my room and I see my sister come into focus.
“Thank god,” she says as she glares at me. “I’ve been trying to call you for the past hour. Jesus, Devin, I thought you were dead in the Atlantic Ocean!”
“I missed you too.” I use the heel of my hand to rub the sleep out of my eyes as I try and figure out what time it is. I grab my phone off my nightstand and then I’m wide awake. “Fuck, how is it lunchtime? I only meant to sleep for an hour or two.”
“Yeah, I know. I kept thinking you were just catching up after the time change, but then you didn’t answer your phone and I got worried.”
“I’m sorry, Nee, I forgot to set my alarm.” I unlock my phone and see ten missed calls and nearly three dozen missed texts.
She lets out a long sigh and visibly relaxes. “It’s okay. I just freaked out and got my heart rate up for no reason. Guess I don’t have to do my cardio later at least.”
“You’re welcome.” She rolls her eyes and then sets a coffee down on my nightstand, along with a note.
“Get up, asshole, we've got a meeting in an hour.” She starts to walk out of the room but calls over her shoulder. “Your neighbor left you that note. What’s her name again?”
“Betty,” I say as I sit up and grab the coffee.
“That’s right. I like her.” She closes my bedroom door and I throw the comforter off of me, thankful I wasn’t uncovered when she barged in here.
I walk naked into my bathroom, carrying my coffee with me. I’m already mentally rearranging my day and thinking about what I’ve got to push back because I overslept. How the hell did I do that? I never have a full night's sleep no matter how tired I am. Even if I didn’t set an alarm, my body should have gotten me up.
The glass shower door is open, which is weird, and the toilet seat is down. I need to check and see if the cleaning crew is on a new schedule this month, because they don’t normally come so close together.
I take a quick shower, and when I get out I grab my towel. Once again I smell that fragrance they used on the sheets and I bury my face in it. Damn, that must have been what conked me out last night. I’m going to have to buy a hundred bottles of the stuff because I can’t get enough of it.
Once I shave and put my suit on, I grab my phone and meet my sister in the kitchen. She’s finishing what looks like a sandwich and talks to me with her mouth full.
“You ready?” I think she says, and I nod.
“You engaged?” I ask. She pauses with her dish halfway in the sink and then shrugs as she finishes chewing. “Couldn’t find the perfect moment?” She shrugs again even though she’s swallowed the food in her mouth. “You’ll get there.”
I don’t want to push her too much on the subject. I know she loves Danielle and she wants to be with her forever. Renee just second-guesses every decision in her life.
She made more coffee for me so I can fill up my cup again with much-needed caffeine. When I’m pouring the coffee, something orange catches the corner of my eye and I look over to see a hair tie lying on the counter next to the refrigerator. Renee has a short pixie cut so there’s no way it’s hers. Shit, did the cleaning crew leave this behind too?
“Let’s go,” Renee says as she dries her hands.
Without another thought about it, I grab my keys off the table and we walk out into the hallway. Just as I close the door, my neighbor comes out at the same time.
“Hi, Mrs. Betty,” Renee says brightly and Betty beams at the two of us.
She’s got on a lime green jumpsuit with white sunglasses Elton John would be jealous of. “Well, hello to you too. Getting a late start to the day?” she says, looking at my coffee cup.
“Jet lag is awful.” I smile at her as I push the elevator button. “Where are you off to?”
“I’ve got a salsa class I’m late for, and then I’m having margaritas at the pier with some girlfriends.”
“I’m so jealous right now,” Renee groans, and I can’t say I disagree.
“You both are too young to be working so hard.” She tips down her glasses and gives me a pointed look. “Speaking of working hard, did you get my note?”
Shit, I forgot to read it, but I don’t want to be rude. “Yes, and thanks again for looking after things for me while I was gone.”
“Great, I'm glad it wasn’t a problem.” She puts her glasses back in place and smiles. “I’m hoping one day you two can meet.”
I curse myself again for not reading the note, but I don’t have time to go look right now. I’ll have to check it when I get home, and that’s going to be late tonight.
“Me too,” I say as I get on the elevator and we ride down together.
As much as I’d love to know what she’s talking about, I’ve got far too much else to focus on with work.