Locked Away by Amanda Bryk

Author:Amanda Bryk [Bryk, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amanda Bryk

Twenty-Four

I'm not ready to wake up when the alarm goes off, not after only a few hours of sleep. I tell myself, “Five more minutes,” and drift off.

“Good morning, beautiful. I made you coffee.” I open my eyes and find Croy sitting on the edge of the bed with a mug in each hand. “I wasn't sure how you take it or if you even drink coffee, so I fixed it the same way I take mine. If you don't like it, I can make you a new one.”

“So long as it’s not plain black, I should be fine. Normally, I do some flavored creamer and call it good.” I'm still so tired, but coffee and the pleasure of his company are enough to persuade me.

“You're in luck. It’s vanilla creamer. I'm pretty basic when it comes to my morning beverages. Also, I brought your clothes from the kitchen and put them in the bathroom. We should probably leave here in 20 minutes.” Croy sounds like he's been awake for hours. Did he sleep at all?

“How are you wide awake right now?” I have weighted eyelids, and he looks ready to face the day. Maybe he has a cocaine habit I don't know about.

“Well, I’m used to waking up early for work. And I don't have a depleted iron level.” He sets a handled cup on the nightstand and heads for the door. “I have a few emails I need to answer for work, but I'll be ready to go whenever you are.”

“I'll find you.” I swing my legs over the side of the bed and take the mug from the side table. I can't remember the last time I had a cup of coffee at home. I never bought a machine for my apartment, and I didn't notice one at Kelly's place. As a teenager, I loved going for mochas with my girlfriends. We weren't old enough to get into the bars, so coffee shops were the next best thing. Those friendships may have faded, but the memories remain.

I take a quick shower before getting dressed. Hopefully, Croy won’t mind that I used the towel hanging on the hook. You never know with people. I've always displayed the towels I use, but I’ve encountered people who hang the nice towels and dry off with the dingy ones hidden under the sink. I wonder if anyone has ever done a physiological study comparing and contrasting those two groups of people. It makes me think of social media and how people flaunt the good moments and bury the real ones.

When I'm dressed and ready to go, I join Croy in his office. He's sitting behind his desk, wearing glasses, and typing skillfully. This look is quite the contrast from the man I saw in a prison fight. This image of him validates my theory that people are so much more than their worst moments.

My phone alerts me to a new message, and I know who it isn’t from because I’m looking right at him.

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