28
Hayden
There wasno couch in my apartment.
I stared at the empty space for a long few moments, lost and confused, before I remembered that I’d told Aaron he could take it. That he could take whatever he wanted.
The coffee table was gone, too.
And the little dining table by the window.
He’d left the chairs, which was actually worse than taking them.
I stood staring at the empty space where my life had once been for a long, long time.
My phone vibrated.
Marissa:Welcome home!
I stared atthatfor a long time, too.
Home.
Was this home?
My half-empty apartment with only traffic noises to keep me company?
I managed to send a message back, thanking her and confirming that we’d meet up tomorrow, and moved to stand in the spot where the couch had been, lungs tight.
A moment later I was rushing to the tiny window in the kitchen, fumbling to get it open so I could breathe.
The first lungful of greasy night air, still warm from the heat of the day, didn’t help as much as I’d imagined it would. I’d been expecting lavender and grass and pool salt, the smell of peeling paint on old weatherboards.
I took a few moments to get myself under control before I messaged Dad and Wes to let them know I’d gotten here safe.
I was just overwhelmed. There was so much to do now that I was back.
I could handle it, I knew I could, it was just a lot. Especially after getting the chance to rest for a while.
I’d be fine.
I’d befine.
* * *
Ultimately,it took two weeks for things to get back to what passed for normal at Pleasure. Omar was allowed to walk on his footas pain allowed, and since he and I were approximately as bad as each other when it came to overworking, that meant Marissa had to hover over him and make him take breaks so he wouldn’t make it any worse.
The whole staff signed his cast for him, though, and he agreed that we’d keep it when it was cut off and get it framed.
I was lucky to have him, and Marissa.
Things could’ve been a lot worse.
I was exhausted, I felt like I’d aged twenty years, but I was pretty sure things could’ve been worse.
Even if the sight of a pizza Wes had ordered to be delivered to my apartment after I told him I was planning on having toast for dinnerdidmake me tear up.
As soon as I’d tipped the delivery driver, my phone rang.
