The Love Offer by Eli H.L

Author:Eli H.L [H.L, Eli]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-16T16:00:00+00:00

17

I wake up with a pounding headache. I’m face down in my bed, and my phone’s buzzing somewhere.

I reach out with a fumbling hand and turn off my alarm. I must have forgotten to switch it off last night before bed, because I already know that it must be sometime around 6 a.m.

The time I usually wake up for work.

I try to fall back asleep, but the pounding in my head is too much. I stumble out of bed and head for the bathroom, drinking water out of the tap and popping a couple of painkillers.

When I look at myself in the mirror, I’m almost frightened. My hair is—or was—in a bun, which is now lopsided with most of my hair falling down. My make-up is almost entirely on, and I’m frowning at my reflection like I don’t know who’s starring back.

It’s not entirely untrue.

The Liberty I’m used to isn’t one who drinks countless cocktails on a Friday night. She’s usually at the office until nine. She doesn’t flirt with her boss-or-soon-to-be-husband. She doesn’t wake up on a Saturday with make-up all over her face. But she also wouldn’t be smiling at the mirror right now. And she wouldn’t have spent last night having fun with her friends.

She would be alone.

She would wake up, take a shower, get a walk in, get some work done. And repeat. She wouldn’t be looking forward to a day of family gathering.

And right now, I’m starting to like this new Libbie.

That’s why I don’t take a shower just yet, wanting to lounge in my PJs just a tad longer. I do wash my face and drink some water though.

Knowing I won’t be falling asleep again, I head downstairs. All the lights are off and dawn is just starting to break through, at least from what I can see through the windows. It might be 6 a.m. here, but it’s only 1 a.m. back in the US.

“Hello.”

I gasp and turn to find Lucas on the couch in the living room.

“Hi.” I walk to the kitchen. “Want some coffee?”

“Please.” He stands and comes to me, stopping by my side in front of the stove.

“Couldn’t sleep?”

He shrugs. “Not really.”

I remember him telling me about his insomnia. When I look back towards the couch, I’m not surprised to find a book on the coffee table.

I get started on his cup of coffee, then my cup of tea. He just stands there and watches. I don’t mind.

I also don’t mind standing in my PJs in front of him somehow.

“How’s the pull-out couch?”

“Good.”

“You can say it was awful. That way we can have another argument about getting rid of it.” I nudge him slightly, handing him his cup.

He huffs, laughing silently.

“I’m sitting outside,” I tell him, hoping he’ll understand that I’m inviting him to join me.

“I’ll sit with you.”

Together, we step out into the little garden. It’s not that cold, and the fresh air seems to work wonders for my headache. I feel better in seconds.

We sit in comfortable silence, sipping our drinks.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.