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When I finally open the door, it’s Yirah standing there. Usually I’m excited to see her, but she looks too bubbly for someone who was drinking just as much as me yesterday. Her appearance is well put together, with her cream pants and matching tank top. She’s also holding the holy grail, my one true love—also known as coffee.

That might be the only reason I widen my door and let her in. She smiles as she skips—literally—into my kitchen and I kick the door closed.

“Good morning, Joy Joy. How are you feeling?” she teases. Following her into the kitchen, I reply with a grunt.

Her smile widens. “Yeah, we drank a lot. Aiden took you home alright, I see. I ended up dropping you both off by your office because you kept rambling about getting your favorite pen.”

Ah yes.

My comfort pen, Megan. Her long frame. Wide torso. She fits perfectly into my hands.

I pause and squint my eyes at her when I realize she said Aiden’s name. What does she mean Aiden took me home? I don’t remember—

Oh crap.

Aiden did take me home, and I totally embarrassed myself. After we got drunk at the bar, Yirah tried holding me up, but she was tipsy herself. Not drunk. I am not sure how that is possible, considering we drank the same amount. Aiden had to carry me on his back. I don’t remember all that I did, but I do remember telling him to ‘lay one on me’.

As in a kiss.

I told him to kiss me.

If that wasn’t bad enough, I told him that I haven’t had sex in two years. It probably got worse from there, but I can’t remember it all.

I slap my face and groan in embarrassment. I lean forward, resting my forehead on her shoulder.

“There, there,” she says as she rubs my back. She reaches for my hand and places the warm cup of coffee in it. I lean back slightly and take a healthy sip. The aroma blesses my nose as the smooth java runs down my throat like a waterfall on a sacred island. I feel it warm every inch of my body. This is a little piece of Heaven. This is what I am slaving to get to.

Yirah’s voice breaks the cosmic connection I am having with my coffee. “Take these pain killers, and drink up so we can have brunch.” She hands me two white pills from a Ibuprofen bottle that she pulled out of her purse and I plop them in my mouth, washing it down with my coffee.

“With mimosas?” I question, glancing over the edge of my cup. You can’t do brunch without unlimited mimosas. I haven’t removed my cup from the proximity of my face. I have to keep this piece of salvation as close to me as I can.

Yirah rolls her eyes. “You don’t ever seem to learn. But yes, with mimosas.” I pump my fist in the air, gently, of course, to avoid spilling my coffee.

With excitement buzzing through my body, I say, “You, my reaper, are a keeper.”

A slow grin spreads across her face. “Did you just rhyme reaper and keeper?” Of course, I did. I am a poet of sorts.

I inform her, “If T-pain can rhyme mansion with Wisconsin. I can rhyme reaper with keeper.”

She giggles and waves me away. “Go take a shower and get dressed. You smell like a bar, friend.”

I sniff myself. Yeah, I don’t smell the best. I plop the coffee on the sink and head to my bathroom. Thirty minutes later, I am dressed, and ready to impress. I’m wearing a cream satin skirt and white cropped blouse with nude heels and gold accessories. My hair is unrevivable, so I put it up into a pineapple and fluff it out the best I can without ruining the curls even more.

“Yirah!” I yell as I walk into the living room. “I’m ready—”

I gasp and race towards her. I drop to the floor. She’s laying on her stomach, a little bit of blood seeping from the back of her head.

I turn her over and shake her gently. I know she can’t be mortally injured, but it must have hurt. When she doesn’t wake up, I reach into my purse that I dropped next to me and dial Aiden’s number.

“Hello?” he grumbles, probably as hungover as I was.

“Aiden!”

“What’s wrong?” he demands. “Where are you?” I hear him moving around.

“I’m in my apartment—”

I jump as the door to my apartment is thrown open. He’s wearing sweatpants, a t-shirt and no shoes. He moves to where I am and squats. He runs his eyes over Yirah then me.