The shower helped. Hot water, soap, the fog in my head clearing slightly. I'd just throw on some clothes, call an Uber, and head to Maya's. Twenty minutes, tops.
I sat on the edge of my bed to pull on my jeans.
Just for a second. Just to catch my breath.
I woke up to sunlight streaming through my window.
Still in my towel. Jeans on the floor where I’d dropped them. My phone was dead on the nightstand.
Shit.
I plugged in my phone, waited for it to come back to life. Three texts from Maya, spaced across the night.
12:47am:
You on your way?
1:23am:
Guess you fell asleep. That's okay. Call me tomorrow.
1:24am:
Love you.
I dropped my head into my hands. I was supposed to be there. I'd told her I was coming. And instead, I'd passed out in a towel like some frat boy who couldn’t handle his liquor.
I called her immediately. She answered on the second ring.
"Hey, sleepyhead."
"Maya, I'm so sorry. I sat down for one second and?—"
"Shane." She was laughing. "It's fine. You were drunk. You fell asleep. It happens."
"I should have been there for you."
"You needed a night with your friends. And clearly, you needed the sleep." I could hear the smile in her voice. "Did you at least have fun?"
"Yeah." I relaxed slightly. "Yeah, I did."
"Good. Then stop apologizing and come have breakfast with your girls."
Your girls.
Something warm spread through my chest.
"On my way," I said. "Give me twenty minutes."
"I'll make coffee."
I hung up, threw on clothes, and grabbed my keys.
This was what mattered. Maya. Zoe. The life we were building together.
Maya was making coffee. Zoe was probably still in her pajamas. And I was the luckiest man in New York City.
CHAPTER 14
