But as it stops buzzing and then starts up again, I realize I’m not dreaming it. I have my phone. And someone is calling.
I bolt upright and grab my phone from the coffee table. I was so tired last night that I didn’t even check my messages or call anyone. I didn’t even doomscroll. I just downed my Don Julio and passed the fuck out.
Which means I have catching up to do.
“Hello?” I answer just before the line goes dead.
“Amara! Oh my God, where have you been?!” Eliza’s voice is so refreshing that hot tears immediately spring to my eyes. I want to hug her through the phone.
But there’s urgency in it, too, and I’m not sleepy enough to miss it.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I was working and I lost my phone and—is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine,” she reassures me. “But we miss you. Hey, are you working today?”
Today… today… What the fuck is today?
It hits me that it’s Saturday. I don’t work Saturdays. Not for Apex anyways. And I’m not answering myotherboss today either. After kidnapping me and dumping a new job description on me, he owes me some PTO.
“I don’t,” I smile, sitting cross legged on the couch. I still haven’t been able to bring myself to sleep in the bed. I’m not sure that I ever will. The idea of it is too erotic, and in light of the current state of events, that would just make things… messy.
“So how about lunch?” she asks.
I bite my lip as the obvious question fills the room like an elephant. I get up and pad over to the door. And to my surprise, it opens. Not only that, but Ivan isn’t standing there.
I’m so happy I literally do a little dance.
“I’ll do you one better,” I tell her, skipping towards the bathroom. “Let’s get breakfast.”
“Wait…” she pauses, and I can hear the excitement in her voice. “Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”
“Yep,” I grin, looking in the bathroom mirror and pulling the hair tie from my head. Then I put the phone on speaker, set it down, and work my fingers through my hair into a loose braid.
“Gianni! Bella! Get dressed. Amara says we’re going to the Waffle House!”
I laugh as I hear their excitement. The Waffle House was a staple when we were kids. We hated it. I think it’s because it was the only place close enough to home that we could walk, which at the time meant it was a little bit janky. But now, it feels like an old tradition, and I’ve never craved it more.
We hang up so I can get ready. I make my way to the kitchen for a glass of water, suddenly realizing that I am literally in my bra and underwear. I wasn’t about to sleep in the clothes I was wearing last night.
But I can’t bring myself to rummage through his closet either. As much as I don’t love the idea slipping back into dirty clothes, I don’t feel like I have much choice.
And then I see it.
A bag by the front door.
I don’t know how I missed it before. I was probably too busy checking to see if I was still a prisoner.
Normally, the sudden appearance of a bag by the door would be a red flag. But it happens to be my suitcase, a bright pink one I bought with my first Apex paycheck when I found out that we would sometimes be traveling for work. The idea was so glamorous that I treated myself to a snazzy luggage set.
I walk curiously towards it, looking for a note or any indicator of why it’s here. When I don’t find anything, I decide to open it.
It’s filled with my things. Not just work outfits, but leisure too. Leggings and tank tops and hoodies and jeans.
It’s obviously Ransome’s doing. I’m not entirely sure how he pulled it off, but right now, I’m not going to think about it. I am off the clock from all things Ransome.
I opt for the leggings and an old t-shirt and go change.
My sister Eliza jumps me as soon as I climb out of the Uber. “I missed you so much!” she squeals as she squeezes me.
