The first thingI did as soon as I woke was head over to the clinic to get my redraw. It was seven thirty, and I didn’t have to be at work until noon, but I’d barely slept. I wanted—no, needed this to be a lab error.
The phlebotomist called my name, and I jumped up as if I’d been stung. I was jittery, probably sweating, but she just smiled at me.
Once she was done I left, stood outside in the cold, and didn’t move. I wasn’t sure where to go. I didn’t want to mention anything to anyone about what Dr. Marin had said because borrowing trouble was never a good thing.
I shoved my hands into my pockets, cursing my forgetfulness that I hadn’t brought gloves. I supposed I could go to the coffee shop, sit, have a chai latte, and read a book on my phone to pass the time. I couldn’t be in my apartment. It felt like the walls were caving in. While frigid out, at least the air was crisp.
I’d just opened the door to the coffee shop when I heard my name. I turned and saw Lukas heading toward me. I checked my watch, and it was ten after eight in the morning. Why was he up?
“Hey.”
He shot me a small grin. “I was just on the way to your apartment. I saw you weren’t at work.”
“It doesn’t open till nine anyway, but I work at noon.”
He leaned in and gently kissed my lips. “Then we have some time.” He held the door open for me, and I entered.
“Time for what?”
He shrugged as we stepped up to the counter. “Perhaps a walk on the beach or something.”
Did he say a walk on the beach…in January? “You do know the weather is totally disrespectful right now, we are cleaning up after a huge-ass storm, and walking on the beach would be like getting smacked in the face with shards of glass, right?”
He winced slightly. “Oh, right.”
I chuckled and placed my order; Lukas did the same. Once we had our drinks, we took a seat by the window.
“What has you up so early if you’re not working?” Lukas asked as he sipped his black coffee.Gross.
“Some errands I wanted to get done ahead of my shift.” I raised my cup. “First this, of course.”
“Of course.”
“So, you were just coming to shore to see me?” It was sweet and while Lukas had gentled and I knew there lay a romantic under his grumpy exterior, it was strange.
“I did, as a matter of fact.”
“That’s sweet of you.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I’m a sweet guy.”
I snorted. “Uh, no, you’re not, but you are with me, so thank you.”
We drank, we talked, and then he followed me as I stopped at a few places. I didn’t really have errands, but there was no way I was letting Lukas know what was going on…at least not right now. I needed all the information in front of me and after I knew, I’d inform others.
It was eleven when we returned to my apartment. He sat on my couch, petting Bubbles while I put the few groceries I’d gotten away.
“I’m just going to go get ready for work. I’ll be right back.” I slipped into my room, shut my door, and exhaled.
“It’s fine, Sam. You’re fine. Just breathe, everything is okay.” I whispered that mantra to myself the whole time I got dressed. Thought it while I brushed my teeth, and begged for it right before I went into my living room.
Lukas was staring at me, brows dipped, and a deep frown.
“What?”
“Is something wrong, Sam?”
“Wrong? Why would anything be wrong?” I didn’t know what would make him ask me that. Was I acting weird?
