20
Somehow, after my call with Ben, I fell asleep. After such an emotional rollercoaster for the last few days, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that I was exhausted.
Once again, a ringing phone woke me from sleep.
"Hey, boss," Trudy chirped in my ear when I managed to answer the damn thing in my sleep-drunk haze.
"Hey," I groaned. "What time is it?"
"Three p.m." Her voice was amused. It wasn't the first time she'd called and woken me up, but that was usually on the mornings when I'd stayed up too late working the night before. "Were you serious about needing help organizing your move? I literally just left the office with all my stuff but I'm already bored as hell."
I cleared my throat and shoved a tangle of hair out of my face. "Uh, yeah. I could use some help."
"Great. Do you want to pack everything, or do you want the moving company to do that?"
Shit. I didn't want to tell her that I'd been napping since I'd gotten home. "Uh, the moving company."
I could always have them pack up my stuff and put it in storage while I figured out my next move.
"I don't blame you," she said with a laugh. "If I could have someone pack my stuff for me when I move, I'd be a much less stressed woman."
I pushed myself up and leaned back against the back of the couch. "I also need to arrange for a storage facility in Farley. I'll be staying with Cam while I look for another place so I won't need anything but my clothes and a few basic necessities."
"Okay, okay."
"And I'll probably go ahead and sell my furniture." I had no idea where that decision had come from, but it had already left my mouth. After I thought about it for a second, I realized it was the right thing to do. It would save time and money in the move and when I found the house I wanted, I could purchase the right furniture for the space rather than trying to cram what I already had in there.
"I can do that. We'll discuss price points when I get there tomorrow. Can you think of anything else you need me to handle before then?"
My tired mind went blank. "Not right now. What time will you be here tomorrow?" I asked.
"Ten. I want to avoid the morning rush."
I didn't blame her. Traffic coming to this area was murder until around nine.
"Sounds good."
"I'll bring coffee. Knowing you, you don't have any. See you then, boss."
Trudy disconnected and I stared blankly at the wall. Shit. She was right. I didn't have any coffee in the house and I definitely needed it. I couldn't function without my coffee. Well, I could function, but on a basic, homicidal level.
I was going to have to leave the apartment and get something caffeinated. The closest place was a little coffee shop a couple blocks away.
Groaning, I rolled to my feet and shuffled toward the bathroom. I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and fought with my tangled hair until it lay in a long braid down my back.
I was seriously tempted to stay in my rumpled clothes, but decided to preserve what little dignity I had left and at least put on something that didn't look like I'd slept in it.
After I changed and left the apartment, I managed to walk to the coffee shop without bumping into anyone or getting flattened by a car. Twenty minutes later, I had two steaming hot cups of precious caffeine in my hands as I walked out the door.
And right into Brian.
I held onto the cups for dear life as I stumbled back, but it was useless. They bobbled and hit the ground, releasing a huge splash of coffee and milk straight up into the air.
"I am so sorry," Brian apologized. "I didn't—"
I looked up and he stopped speaking.
"Sierra?" His eyes were wide and he stammered, "W-w-wow. It's been a while. I didn't hurt you, did I?"
