Smiling at the words, I closed my eyes and relaxed even more. It felt good to help put his mind at ease. “This, is why I became I nurse,” I whispered to myself.
James’ voice called through the door. “Breakfast in bed is served, my lady.”
Man, he really knows how to treat me right.
“Be right out!” I yelled back. I reluctantly stepped out of the tub and let the water drain out, toweling off as fast as I could. The worst part of baths was having to get out of the nice warm water and freezing your ass off in the chilly air, and forget it if I accidentally stepped out onto the cold tile—so miserable. I curled my toes in the gray shag bathmat, wrapping my fluffy pink Victoria’s Secret bathrobe around my bare body.
James was already sitting up in bed with two trays set for us. Eggs, bacon, home fries, and Diet Dr. Pepper—breakfast of champions. I dove under the covers, letting James wrap his arm around me.
“Thank you,” I whispered before giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
He smiled down at me while dousing his eggs with Tabasco. “Anything for you, babe.”
I slowly twisted the red cap and heard the fizzing of the carbonation from my weakness—I’d been hooked on it since college.
James and I sat in our king-sized bed, eating our food while I told him all about my shift.
“Damn. That really does suck.” We both got up from bed, grabbing our trays to clean up. Checking his watch, James pursed his lips. “Now, I have to run or the guys are going to be standing around with their thumbs up their asses.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist. “Oh the life of the boss. Have a good day.”
* * *
My phone blaredon my nightstand and I groaned at it. I had passed out hard right after James left for work and I had no idea how long I had been out.
Grabbing my phone, I swiped to answer the call without even opening my eyes to check to see who was calling.
“Hel-Hello?” My sleepy voice cracked as I tried to will myself to wake up.
Martha’s jubilant voice boomed from the other end. “Girls’ night tonight. Don’t tell me you forgot.”
Of course, I forgot.I didn’t even know which way was up most days; working nights was really starting to take its toll on me. “You know I wouldn’t miss our sushi date for the world,” I lied through my teeth.
“I woke you up, didn’t I?” My best friend’s tone hinted toward frustration, but it’s not like I slept all day by choice. Blame my scheduler, not me. I hated keeping vampire hours, but the money was good and I loved my job; it was give and take at its finest.
“I didn’t get home until about eight this morning. What time is it?” I rubbed my eyes, shifting as the dogs started to stir under the blankets. Luckily, Nike and Thor were lazy, sleepy little angels while I napped. As long as they were under the covers, curled up next to my legs, they were happy campers.
“It’s almost three. See you at six per usual?” Martha was not one to stay on the phone for longer than a few minutes with anyone. She preferred to gab in person or via text, but she knew texts wouldn’t wake me up from the dead of sleep after a night shift, even if my phone was on its loudest setting.
“I will be there with bells on,” I responded, sinking back down into my plush bed.
“Perfect. See you later, girl.” With that she hung up and I set an alarm to wake me up with just enough time to walk the dogs and get to the restaurant on time.
* * *
Girls’ night, one of the very best inventions ever. Martha was waiting for me next to the hostess stand at our favorite little hole-in-the-wall sushi place. We had found it a few years back when we got lost one night and it was the best find ever. It was a total family affair, their food was phenomenal and cheap, and the place was open until three in the morning. It really couldn’t be beat.
“Hey, bitch!” Martha practically screamed as I walked through the door, pulling me in for a hug.
“Hey slut. Is Kari meeting us?” I asked as the hostess showed us to our regular booth in the back of the restaurant.
Martha nodded, taking her seat across from me. “She got tied up in a meeting at work. You know how she can’t say no to her boss.”
The hostess handed me a paper menu and a pencil to check off what I wanted to order. “Thank you,” Martha and I both said in unison, smiling up at the young lady.
“Nice to see you again. Enjoy your dinner. Jill will be right with you.” Ming, the petite hostess who had just come to the States to start college, bowed before heading back to her post. We made a point of knowing everyone who worked at this joint, and it always paid off somehow.
I turned to Martha to continue our talk about Kari. “Seriously? Again?”
