13
It was the tapping that woke me. Even before I opened my eyes, I knew what I would see.
An evil, fat raccoon with a metal bowl in his hands.
"Stop that, Gary. You'll wake up Sierra."
I heard the back door open and the sound of food hitting the inside of the bowl.
"Try to quit torturing her. She's not so bad, I promise."
I wasn't so bad?I couldn't believe my best friend said that about me. That raccoon was the menace. Or the Devil in disguise.
I opened my eyes in time to see Cam leaned over, talking to the raccoon, who was staring up at her with an adoring expression on its furry face.
Okay, so maybe he looked cute right at that moment, but I would never, ever admit it.
"I'll see you later tonight, okay?" she said.
I swear to God, Garynoddedbefore he dug into his bowl.
I blinked several times as Cam came back inside and shut the back door behind her.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," she said.
"What time is it?" I asked, my voice raspy.
"Eight-thirty. You were out cold when I left for my run earlier."
I cleared my throat and sat up. My laptop sat open on the coffee table, the screen blank. Two empty Coke cans were next to it, along with an empty paper plate smeared with the remains of my midnight peanut butter and honey sandwich. Cam stopped by the coffee table and leaned over to pick them up.
"Please don't," I said. "I'll get the mess."
She frowned at me.
"You shouldn't have to clean up after me while I'm here," I said.
She laughed. "That's definitely a change from college."
It was my turn to frown. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Cam grinned. "I was constantly picking up after you, especially if I wanted to have friends over. Otherwise, the place looked like the midway point of a cleanup on an episode of Hoarders."
I gasped. "It did not."
"I think time has messed with your memory. Or sleep deprivation."
"Ha, ha. You're so funny."
I sat up, wincing as my upper back and neck twinged. Damn, I was getting too old to sleep on the couch like that. I rubbed at my sore neck and shoulder.
"Want some coffee?" Cam asked. "Or extra strength ibuprofen?"
I couldn't tell her how funny she was because I'd done that already, so I settled on glaring at her.
"Okay, then, I'll get you both." She disappeared into the kitchen before I could tell her not to bother.
I yawned and kept massaging my muscles. I guess if she was willing to bring me caffeine and medicine, I would take it.
