Chapter 16
We made great time and slipped past Raleigh city limits before the holiday traffic kicked in. I pulled into a parking spot near my building with a confusing swirl of emotions. It felt like I’d been gone for months rather than a long weekend. I looked around the complex and felt as if I was seeing things through different eyes.
“This it?” Evey asked from beside me, interrupting my introspection.
She’d been a great road trip companion. Turns out we like a lot of the same music, and had a great time splitting our favorite songs into duets that we sang loudly, and off-key. In between performances, we found endless topics to chat about, and I felt the friendship between us swell, and solidify.
It was strange, I’m not sure if I consciously avoided it, but I hadn’t gotten close to anyone in a long time. In just a few days, Evey had broken down that boundary. If I was being honest, she wasn’t the only one. But, I was keeping that locked up tight.
“Yep. Home sweet home.”
We grabbed as much as we could for this first trip, and I led her up the stairs to my second-floor apartment.
“Where’s my handsome man?” I called.
“Whoa,” Evey muttered behind me.
Charlie came streaking through the living room, misjudging the distance, and slamming into my shins as usual. His little body vibrated with a purr as he rubbed his soft fur against my legs.
“You have a cat,” Evey deadpanned.
“This is my main man,” I confirmed. He reared back, and placed his little white paws on my knee, signaling he wanted up. I pulled him into my arms and turned to my new house guest.
Evey’s eyes were wide as she surveyed my living room from the doorway. I turned to look at what she was seeing. Multiple tapestries hung from the walls surrounding the ornate hot pink velvet couch in the center of the room. Fairy lights lined the ceiling that when turned on, gave the room a soft glow.
“You have a very… colorful home.”
I laughed. “Is it really that bad?”
Evey’s eyes were still darting around the space. “I wouldn’t call it bad. Just suprisin’ is all. I didn’t figure you for the type.”
“Well I guess that just goes to show you can’t judge a book by its cover, huh?”
Evey giggled. “I guess you could say that.”
I walked over to introduce her to Charlie, but both had very adverse reactions to the meeting. My cat’s spine stiffened as his hackles rose, and a warning sound rumbled in his chest. Evey backed up a step, eyes widening in what looked like fear.
I looked between the two trying to figure out the problem. “Charlie isn’t the most welcoming to guests, but he’s never acted like this before,” I mused aloud.
“Werewolves and cats don’t mix. I don’t even think I’ve ever been this close to one before.” Her delicate shoulders shook with a shudder, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Oh please. This is about the most gentle cat you could ever meet. Don’t tell me you’re scared of him.”
Evey shook her head adamantly, eyes wide with trepidation. I sighed and set Charlie on the ground. The feline immediately took off for his favorite hiding spot, the fuzzy purple flower cat house. He slipped inside, only his lime green eyes visible.
“Well, you don’t need to worry about him. He’s not good with strangers, so I imagine he’ll spend the week avoiding you too.”
Evey didn’t look convinced, but she relaxed once the cat had run off. I shook my head in exasperation. “Really, a big, bad werewolf afraid of a little kitty. I’ve never heard of something so ridiculous.” She shot me a glare, but ignored my ribbing.
On the second trip, we had the car emptied of our things, and I showed Evey to the guest room/office.
“I’m sorry, I have some work to do in here tonight, but for the rest of the week, I’ll try to make sure I finish up before coming home so I don’t bug you.”
She snorted. “Girl, I shared a room with three sisters until I was sixteen. You comin’ in and doin’ some paperwork ain’t gonna’ bother me. Do what you need to do. I’m not here to get in your way.” I nodded, but silently vowed to do just what I said.
After Evey placed her things in the spare room, I gave her a tour of the rest of the apartment. It wasn’t very big, so it didn’t take long.
“It’s not much, but I don’t need much. I didn’t see the sense in paying for a big old house when there’s only me.”
Evey waved me away as she searched through the kitchen cabinets. “Don’t worry about it. You’ve got a nice place here. And you’re right, if it’s just you, you don’t need much.” She eyed me critically. “But how come it’s just you?”
I averted my gaze. “What do you mean?”
“No boyfriend?”
I shook my head. “No time for boyfriends.”
“Hmm. What about girlfriends?” I shot her an incredulous look that made her laugh. “Not like that! I just meant friends who are girls.”
“Don’t have much time for any of those either.”
“Family?”
I shook my head. “No family.”
Her eyes widened. “You don’t have any family?”
My shoulders rose with a half-hearted shrug. “I have a mom and dad, but we’re not close. I got along great with my gran, but she passed away years ago.”
“You’re an only child?”
I nodded.
“Wow. What that must be like.”
Lonely.
She cocked a hip and rested a hand on it. “So, I get you don’t entertain much, but, where’s all your food? You gotta’ eat right?”
I shrugged again. “I don’t eat at home much. Maybe a quick yogurt, or protein bar before work, and then I’ll pick up takeout, or get delivery at night. I’m usually too tired to cook.”
“Delivery?” Her eyes lit up. “I’ve never gotten delivery before.”
“I’d pretty much starve if it wasn’t for Postmates.”
“What’s Postmates?”
My jaw dropped, and I slung an arm around her shoulders. “My dear Evelyn, I have so much to teach you.”
An hour later, there was a knock on the door, and Evey jumped from the couch to answer it. With childish glee, she thanked the driver profusely, and even invited him to stay for dinner. He declined, but her enthusiasm couldn’t be dampened.
“We’ve always lived so far outside of town that no place would deliver to us,” she explained as she gathered up plates and utensils for our Chinese food. “Besides, it wasn’t safe for random humans to show up on pack lands. Never know who’ll be out runnin’ around as a wolf.”
Her excited chatter kept up throughout our meal, and I found it was nice to have something besides the television to keep me company. We finished, and I reluctantly retreated to the office to tackle some paperwork. It was strange, I couldn’t remember the last time I didn’t want to work. I was always the first one in the office, and the last one out, only to come home, and do more.
I finally settled down to read through some case files when my phone chimed with an incoming message. I’d been purposely avoiding all the missed calls and emails I had piled up, but when another new message came through, I bit the bullet, and checked.
Sexiest Man Alive: Hey
Sexiest Man Alive: How was your drive?
A bark of laughter shot out unexpectedly, and I shook my head.
Me: It was fine, sorry I forgot to text you.
Me: Btw I can’t believe you actually saved your number in my phone as “Sexiest Man Alive”. You’re ridiculous.
Sexiest Man Alive: It’s all right. Evey texted me.
Sexiest Man Alive: And I told you I did that. Now you know I mean what I say.
I shook my head again, a stupid smile still pulling at my lips.
Me: I suppose there’s no denying that now.
I set my phone aside and focused on my work again. It was only a minute or two before another text came through.
Sexiest Man Alive: What are you doing?
Me: Getting some work done.
Sexiest Man Alive: Do you work from home a lot?
Me: Unfortunately, yes.
Sexiest Man Alive: Why?
I had to think about that for a minute. Why did I always bring my work home? Sure, there were the times when I needed to make a call after business hours, or had a court date in the morning I needed to prep for. But, I brought home work even when it wasn’t that important. Grudgingly, I answered as honestly as I could.
Me: Working the extra hours at home gave me the edge I needed to get ahead. Now it’s just habit.
Sexiest Man Alive: I think you work too hard.
Me: I think you’re right.
I watched the phone’s screen for a few minutes before I locked it, and turned back to my computer. The blinking cursor was like the second hand of the clock, ticking away the time. Before, I’d had nothing better to do than to work. But, here I was, with someone in the other room who was shaping up to be a good friend, and I’d sequestered myself in my office, doing work that could wait. I straightened my spine and snapped my laptop closed.
When I got out to the living room, Evey was spread across the bright velvet couch, idly clicking through channels.
“Wanna watch a movie?” I asked.
Her blue eyes lit with tentative excitement. “Thought you had work to do.”
I shook my head and walked over to the couch. With a swipe, I shoved her legs off the end so I could have a seat. “It’s not important. Let’s watch a movie on demand instead.”
Evey sprang up and clapped her hands. “Yay! What kind of movie do you want to watch?” She asked as she flipped to the on demand screen and scrolled through our options.
My usual go to movie genre was crime drama, but I was in the mood to branch out. “How about a RomCom? I think there’s a new Matthew McConaughey movie out.”
“All right, all right, all right.” Her impression of the actor was awful, but it still made me laugh.
For the first night in awhile, I just relaxed, and enjoyed myself. Even more rare was that I was spending it with a friend. Someone besides my cat.
That night turned out to be one full of firsts. The first time I’d had someone sleep over my apartment, the first time I’d laughed so hard I cried, and the first time I’d received a goodnight text from a man.
Sexiest Man Alive: Sweet dreams, Elizabeth.
The next morning, I emerged from my bedroom, pressed, dressed, and ready for that promotion. A stomach-rumbling smell had me wandering into the kitchen. To my surprise, Evey was already awake, and at the stove cooking something.
“Mornin’,” she called over her shoulder.
“Morning. What are you up to so early?”
She waved a hand in my direction. “I’m used to wakin’ up early. I thought I could cook you some breakfast before you left.”
My heart warmed, swelling in my chest.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I told her meekly.
She waved another hand and turned the stove off with a click. “I’m takin’ up space in your home, the least I can do is cook you a hot breakfast.” She whirled around my kitchen like it was her own, fetching bowls and utensils, and scooping up steaming hot oatmeal with a ladle.
I didn’t even know I owned a ladle.
She sprinkled brown sugar on top and passed me the bowl. I thanked her, but she’d already turned to prepare her own. I stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do with myself.
Do I help her?
Do I wait for her?
Do I go sit down?
Evey helped me decide. “Go sit. I’ll be over in just a sec.”
When we were both seated, I once again thanked Evey for her thoughtfulness, and dug into my breakfast. We spent a few minutes in companionable silence, the only sounds our spoons clanking against the ceramic bowls.
“I didn’t even know I had oatmeal in the house,” I mused aloud.
Evey snorted. “Girl, I almost had to call in a backhoe to dig up this food. Your cabinets are bare!”
I laughed. “Shut up!”
She shook her head and tucked back into her breakfast. A few minutes later, we were both done, and I stood to bring the dishes to the kitchen. Evey jumped from her seat and snatched the bowls before I could.
“You gotta’ get to work. Don’t worry about the cleanin’, I’ll take care of it.”
I shook my head. “But, you cooked. You shouldn’t have to clean too.”
She scoffed. “Like I strained myself boilin’ oatmeal. Go on and get that promotion girl. I wanna’ hear all about it when you get home.”
My chest tightened again, and I couldn’t help the smile that broke across my face. When was the last time I had someone to come home to and share my day with?
I scooped some food into Charlie’s bowl before gathering my things and leaving the apartment. It felt so strange to be leaving my place with someone else still inside it. So weird knowing I wouldn't be coming home to an empty apartment.
Last night I’d finally cleared out the missed calls and texts from my forgotten cell phone, so when a chime signaled an incoming message, I didn’t hesitate to check.
Sexiest Man Alive: Good morning, Elizabeth. I hope you slept well. Good luck at work today.
With a grin, I typed out a quick message, and sent it off to him. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d smiled so much before eight in the morning.
The firsts just kept on coming.