Even when I went to school, being around so many breathing bodies took its toll on me. I thought it was from everything that Alan had done to me, but maybe it was something else. Just…it tired me out to the point of being drained, I couldn’t think about anything but sleeping and being away from others.
“We’ll be here,” Zevon said, seeming to understand without needing any explanation.
I gave him a tired, weak smile before making it to my room and falling on top of my bed, curling into a fetal position. Tears instantly fell from my eyes, and I did nothing to stop them.
I was exhausted from pretending. I was done trying to be something everyone thought I should be. I may still be lost, but I knew I wasn’t broken anymore. I was only trying to find my path, and I had to find it. If I didn’t, I wasn’t sure what would happen.
I knew I couldn’t keep going day by day like this, being on edge and suffering silently. I needed a fresh breath of air, so to speak.
Something had to change, and that would only happen if I stepped up and took control.
I was shaken awake hours later by Sawyer. When I finally peeled my gritty eyes open, she gave me a soft smile. “Time to rise and shine.”
“Why?” I whined, pressing my face into my pillow. I felt like I could sleep for another few hours.
“It’s eight in the morning.”
“What?” I asked, pushing myself up too fast and making my head rush.
“You slept like the dead. I don’t think I’ve seen you sleep like that since I’ve met you. And believe me, girly, you needed it. Neither I nor Zevon wanted to wake you, so we let you sleep. But now, it’s time to get up and moving. We have a jogging date. And, guess what?”
“Huh?” My brain was trying to kickstart and wasn’t doing a very good job at it.
“Zevon is going to go with us. He lost the bet I made him, so yeah. Let’s get up and go!”
“Hey! What bet?” I asked as she went to turn and leave.
“How long someone was going to be at your door, and who it would be,” she shrugged. “Don’t worry, he didn’t let them in.”
“Do I want to know who it was?”
“Nope. But they may have crashed in the hallway all night long.”
“Sawyer…” I warned.
“Just go get dressed, brush your hair, and then go see who it is. Geez.”
Apprehensively, I made my way out of bed, now wide awake. It didn’t take me long do what Sawyer said. My mind was stuck to whom Zevon wouldn’t have let into my apartment. There was no doubt that Ace would have pushed his way in, and I didn’t see Caesar as the type to want to barge in, given how well I tolerated him on a good day.
Before leaving my room once I was dressed, I pulled open the unread text. This time, instead of words, it was a picture of me sitting at the picnic table, looking happily at whatever Zevon was talking about. I assumed it was right before the unwanted company had shown up.
Despite the meaning, I saved the picture and closed the app down. I’d deal with it later. Someone watching my every move wasn’t out of the norm for me these days, even though it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
When I made my way to the living room, where Zevon greeted me from the table, a newspaper in front of him. Sawyer was leaning against the counter, a coffee mug between her hands.
“You really lost a bet?”
“Yeah,” Zevon shrugged. “I wouldn’t even have predicted it, so I’m as surprised as you are.”
Sawyer took a sip of her drink, preventing the chance to spout off whatever was on her mind.
“Go see who’s out there,” Zevon said, nodding towards the door. “It’s entirely up to you if you want your guest to enter this apartment or not.”
With a deep breath, feeling jittery and confused, I made my way to the door. Unlocking the chain, then the knob, I slowly pulled the door open. At first, I didn’t see anyone there, but after stepping out into the hallway, a gasp left me.
There, sitting on the floor right next to the door, was Dominic. His sleepy green eyes looked at me happily.
“Hey,” he said, unsure as he pushed himself to stand up.
