Sasha rolled over in bed and willed the voice to go away.
“Saaasha, I brought coffee.”
“Go away.” It was Bonnie and she was annoying the shit out of her. “I’m sleeping.”
“It’s nine o’clock. Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey.”
“Fuck off.”
Bonnie tsked, and Sasha could smell the coffee. Still, her body didn’t want to budge.
“Tell me about last night,” Bonnie pleaded. “How was it?”
Sasha was sprawled out on her stomach with half her face sunk into the foam mattress.
“It was a nightmare,” she said. She pushed herself up and wiped away some drool.
She pulled the covers to her chest and eyed Bonnie who looked as fresh as the day was bright.
“A nightmare?” Bonnie handed over the mug of steaming coffee and sat.
“Yes,” Sasha said between sips. “A nightmare.”
“What happened?”
“She was a Neanderthal. End of story.”
Bonnie looked perplexed. But Sasha didn’t want to talk about it.
“You were right, okay? Feel better?”
“No.”
Sasha scoffed. She placed the mug on the night table and rose with the covers wrapped around her.
“Where are you going?”
“For a shower.” Sasha crossed the hall, entered the bathroom, and started the shower. The water warmed quickly, and she dropped the bedclothes and stepped inside. The water felt miraculous, and she relaxed her muscles under the spray.
“You have to tell me what happened.”
Sasha jerked and yanked back the shower curtain. “Holy shit, Bonnie. What the hell?”
But Bonnie merely sat on the toilet seat and sipped her coffee.
Sasha pulled the shower curtain closed and soaped her hair. “She was rude. Rude to the entire restaurant.” Just thinking about it made her want to cringe. “I’ve never been more embarrassed in my life.”
“Oh, no.”
“Oh, yes. She was rude, curt, and demanding. And worst of all, she thought it was turning me on somehow. Like she was putting on a show.”
“Yikes.”
“Yeah.” Sasha rinsed her hair. “It was awful. And after we finally left there, I asked to come home and she wouldn’t bring me. She took me to listen to this god-awful band. All I got was a terrible headache while she danced the night away with her biker friends.”
“I thought you said she was nice?”
“She was! And I kept waiting for that person to appear, but it didn’t happen. Not until the very end when she finally dropped me off. Then she was sensitive and caring and gentle. She suddenly cared about my wants and desires, and she seemed truly heartbroken that I didn’t have a good time.”
“Oh no,” Bonnie said. “You didn’t say you’d go out with her again did you?”
Sasha rinsed her body and then the conditioner from her hair. She didn’t want to answer, but she knew Bonnie would keep pressing.
“I said maybe.”
She heard Bonnie make a noise.
She killed the water and reached for a towel, which Bonnie placed in her hand.
“I don’t want to hear it, Bonnie. I only said maybe.”
“You have the hardest time telling people no.”
“I told Hannah no.”
“That took years.”
Sasha dried herself and her frustration grew. “Can I have some peace please? I had a hell of a night and I still have a bit of a headache.”
She heard Bonnie stand. “I’m sorry you had such a terrible time, Sash. When you’re ready, I made breakfast.” She closed the door softly, and Sasha stepped from the tub and stared at herself in the mirror.
She couldn’t explain why she’d told Charlie she might see her again. The date had obviously gone way wrong, and she no longer had an interest in her. But there was something about the way they ended the night. She’d seen a glimpse of the Charlie she’d been attracted to. And if she was really honest with herself, she’d admit the real truth. That she didn’t want her first date after Hannah to be a failure. If she did that then who knew what the future held. Here she was so determined to move on, so headstrong, turning Hannah away, and her first date was a bomb.
What would Hannah think when she heard? Surely someone would tell her. Would she gloat? Would she move in again thinking she had another shot?
Would that be so bad?
She groaned at herself for even allowing the thought to enter her mind. Hannah had manners, yes, and she would never act like Charlie did last night, but that didn’t mean anything. She would just have to give Charlie another chance was all. It could work. Charlie could show up all sexy and kind. They could have a good time. Maybe she just needed to talk to her.
She crossed to the bedroom and dressed in navy cotton shorts and a white tee. Then she lotioned up and headed downstairs. Bonnie had already made her a plate, and she gave her a big smile as she sat at the table.
“You’ve really been a good friend to me, Bons,” Sasha said. “Thank you.”
Bonnie sat across from her with another full mug of coffee. “Quit thanking me already. I’m getting a complex.”
“I mean it. All you do for me. You’re the best.” Sasha took a bite of the turkey bacon and then spooned some homemade preserves on a piece of toast.
“How do you feel about returning to work on Monday?” Bonnie asked.
Sasha chewed and mulled it over. “I’m nervous. It’s been weeks.”
“I think I’d be a little anxious as well. But they said someone has been covering for you, and they are thrilled you’re coming back, right?”
“Yes. But still, what if I have trouble getting back in the groove?” She’d had a nightmare about that a couple of days before. Now it was on the forefront of her mind. She’d always been great at her job, and the people at her station were wonderful. Being gone so long though…could she jump back in without feeling lost?
“Try not to worry about it. You’re an old pro at your job.”
Sasha continued to eat and think.
“Has my mother called the home phone?” She hadn’t heard from her in a few days, which was a bit unlike her since the hospital stay.
“Yes. Four times.” Bonnie rose and retrieved a paper from the fridge. “If you ever ate, you would’ve noticed your messages.”
Sasha scanned through the names and her heart sank for a split second. Bonnie must’ve seen the brief look on her face.
“Hannah hasn’t called.”
She said the words softly, as if they were a confession she didn’t want to voice.
Sasha shrugged. “Okay.”
“Has she called your cell?”
Sasha shook her head.
“Does that bother you?”
“No, it’s what I wanted.” But still, she was more than surprised. “I guess it proves I made the right move.”
Bonnie looked down at her coffee.
“Your silence speaks volumes,” Sasha said.
“I’m just thinking.”
“And?”
“Nothing. I think you did the right thing. Now you should move on from this Charlie.”
“Actually, I’ve given it some thought. I think I’m going to go out with her again. Give her another shot.”
Bonnie stood at the sink, and Sasha saw her shoulders fall.
“Sash.”
“Please don’t argue with me. I need to give it another shot. For me.”
Bonnie turned. “You know things aren’t automatically going to be perfect now. You know that, right? You aren’t going to just ride off into the sunset with someone else.”
Sasha pushed away her plate. She wanted to protest and tell Bonnie she was being ridiculous in thinking that Sasha expected such things, but no words would come. Because that was exactly what she was wanting. She blinked and stumbled out a sentence.
“How—you’re—I don’t think that.”
“Maybe not, but you do want it.”
“So? I can dream can’t I?”
“Yes, of course. Just don’t let your dreams cloud your reality. We can’t all live in a romcom or a romance book, Sash.”
“Me? What about you? You don’t seem to have any dreams. You haven’t dated in God knows how long, and you find an excuse about every man you meet.”
Bonnie looked stricken, but she remained calm. “This isn’t about me, Sash. But if you need to deflect, I get it.”
Sasha shoved her chair back and stood. She pointed at her, but in the end said nothing. She just hurried out the door to her Jeep and climbed inside. She didn’t bother to wait for her vehicle to cool before she sped off down the street.