I groaned. “Yeah. About to go home. I’ve got to drive to Bakersfield tomorrow. Need to get some rest before that.”
“Aw, that’s far, angel.”
“Just a couple hours, and I get to leave around noon. I’m trying not to go into the office in the morning, though.”
His voice perked up. “So you have the morning off?”
“Not off, but I’ll work from home, get to sleep in a little. Why?”
“I know it’ll be late when I get in, but . . . can I come over? No lessons. I just want to see you.”
My heart melted. “I’ll just be asleep.”
“I know. But,” voices got more distant in the background, “I’ve missed you. I just want to be next to you. Relax with you.”
“What about Greg?”
“I’ll pay the dog walker for the extra morning. It’ll be worth it. Please?” He sounded more insecure. “I mean, if you don’t want me to, it’s fine. I get it.”
“No, let’s do it. I’ll leave you a key under the mat and you can come in when you get there.”
There was a pause. “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me, angel. Can’t wait to see you.”
Warmth oozed from my scalp to the tips of my toes. “Even if I’m drooling and snoring?”
He chuckled. “Especially if you’re drooling and snoring. I gotta go get on the bus to the airport. I’ll see you tonight.”
* * *
The front door creaked and shut. “It’s me,” came a quiet call into the dark. “Don’t want to scare you.”
I flicked on the lamp and sat up, waiting to see whether I was about to be murdered or whether it was just Nick. It was the latter. Nick entered my bedroom, tossing his bag just inside the doorframe before reaching out for me. I welcomed him with open arms, and we leaned in, resting our heads on each other'sshoulders.
“I really missed you,” he said, muffled by my skin.
“I missed you too, bub.”
He sighed, lingering longer than I expected, taking what he needed from my touch. I pulled back and held his cheeks. “You okay?”
He shrugged. “Okay enough. It was just a shit time.”
I gave him a quick kiss, knowing my breath was probably atrocious since I’d just been asleep. “Go get ready for bed and get in here, little dove.”
His lazy smile accompanied an exhausted laugh. “Yes, miss.”
I was starting to doze back off when he slipped into bed behind me, wrapping his arm around my waist and aligning his front with my back. He let out a deep sigh, kissing my spine and nestling his forehead between my shoulder blades. “It’s good to be home.”
He fell asleep quickly, but his statement left me wondering if my house, my bed, my body being home to him fell in the category of friends or benefits.
* * *
“My last payment was only a day late,” I said, trying to keep my voice down. I tucked the phone into my ear as I put smoothie ingredients in the blender. “There shouldn’t be a late fee.”
“Ma’am, if you’re a day late every month, we have to assess a fee.”
“You’re already charging me ten-and-a-half percent in interest. What more do you people want?”
“You to pay on time,” the woman deadpanned.
