Chapter 9
HANNA
My alarm goes off bright and early like it always does and I reach over to turn it off.
While I know I shouldn’t, I pull my phone into my bed and roll over, huddling under the covers and swiping the screen unlocked before opening my favorite social media app.
While I pride myself on having a pretty balanced morning routine, the one red flag in it is my morning scroll.
I know the impact of consuming social media first thing in the morning but no matter what I try, I can’t stop.
My brain needs the dopamine hit first thing in the morning after going eight hours without it while I slept.
I’m only human, I think to myself as the blue light illuminates my bedroom and burns my eyes first thing in the morning.
After the fifteen minutes I give myself, I stretch and roll out of bed, ready to officially start my day.
Since it’s Thursday, I move through my workday routine which includes a quick workout at home, a shower, and then packing my lunch before heading to my office.
Part of the reason I get up as early as I do is so I can get it all done.
The other reason I like to get up early is because it makes me feel like I can have a “slow morning” even though once my alarm goes off, it’s off to the races for me.
I like to be in the office by eight and with it being just a few streets over from my apartment, I typically walk so long as the weather is alright.
Taking a peek outside, I know it’s going to be the perfect day for a walk and maybe even an afternoon coffee.
Slipping into my workout set, I roll out my yoga mat in the center of my living room and push play on a YouTube workout video.
Following the instructor, I squat, lunge, and curse my way through the ‘Apartment Friendly, No Jumping!’ workout I picked out thinking it was going to be easier than it actually is.
They’re never as easy as the thumbnails make you think, but I still choose to do them anyway.
After a shower and blow drying my hair, I twist it back into a massive oversized clip and check the clock.
I have a few extra minutes after packing my lunch so I can make myself my own version of a honey vanilla latte to take to the office with me.
Mid-espresso pull, my phone starts to buzz.
Leaning over, I tap the screen and smile when I see it’s a message from Rae.
1 New Message: Rae
GOOOOOOD MORNINGGGG my beautiful best friend. I’m so sorry again for having to cancel. I’m in family court this morning and the judge is a stickler for being on time. Next week we are back on!! Wanna connect this weekend instead? I could SO use a girl’s night out.
It’s actually so funny you mention that, my dad said on our walk last weekend you and I needed to go out. ‘Two hard working women like us needed to go out and have some fun’.
I type my response back quickly before dumping some almond milk over my perfectly pulled shot of espresso.
Rich comin’ in with the truth yet again!!
Friday or Saturday work better for you?
I smirk at her text message and love how she and my father have pet names for one another. My dad’s name being ‘Richard,’ she always calls him ‘Rich.’ Rae and Rich, two peas in a pod.
Saturday for sure. I have a stacked calendar with patients tomorrow and I know I’ll wanna crawl into bed once I get home. Saturday you can come over and we can get ready together before going and grabbing some drinks.
And dancing?
My eyebrows pinch together when I read her text and I can imagine her face as she sent off the request. I was never one to go clubbing in my twenties, and now at thirty-two I’m even less attracted to the idea.
But I know it will make her happy and she and I always have a good time together when we go out.
*Maybe* a little dancing. If you’re good and promise not to leave me at the first sight of a beautiful man like you like to do
Girl, if the fine lord above blesses me with a beautiful, single man, then I must follow his calling. It’s not to be rude, it’s to listen to God’s will.
Mhmm, sure. Whatever you say Ms. Holy Righteousness.
Eee!!! This is going to be so fun! Okay, judge just walked in so I have to go. Love you big time, smooches!
Love you too, go save the world.
You know that’s all I do
Shaking my head, I lock my phone and slip it into my purse before slinging that over my shoulder. Then, I glance around my apartment to make sure I have everything.
“Bag, check. Laptop, check. Glasses,” I pause and physically reach for my eyes. There’s been more than a few times I’ve made it to my office only to notice I somehow left without the ability to see properly. “Check. Delicious coffee, check. Alright, time to go save the world in our own way.”
Nodding to myself, I exit my apartment and lock the door behind me.
It’s only when I’m halfway down the street that I realize I’ve forgotten my lunch at home and have to turn around and go back for it.
Hustling up the stairs to my office, I’m now running behind because of my forgotten lunch.
While I don’t have clients until eleven when one of my favorites comes to see me, I like to use Thursday mornings to catch up on paperwork and billing.
But much to my surprise, when I reach the top of the stairs, I see a massive figure sitting on the floor, head resting on their knees as if they’re asleep.
I hesitate for a moment and wonder if I should call someone to escort them out but the closer I get, the more I realize I recognize the man waiting for me outside my office.
“Miles?”
He lifts his head and looks at me with tired eyes. “Hey, doc.”
I tip my head to the side and give him a once over. “Are you okay? What are you doing here?”
He sighs like the air around him weighs a thousand pounds and tips his head back, leaning it against the wall behind him.
“Uhhh, I guess I’m here to talk or whatever.
I had an argument with Carter and haven’t been able to sleep the last few days.
I went for a run earlier this morning and kind of ended up here. ”
I wrap my lips around my teeth and try to keep my voice light. “Miles, how long have you been waiting for me?”
“What time is it?” he asks, not opening his eyes to look at me. He looks like he’s been up for weeks. Dark circles enclose his eyes and his naturally warm skin looks sunken and sullen.
“Just about eight thirty,” I reply.
“Then I’ve been here for almost two hours.”
My eyes bug out of my head before I can fix my face and I’m grateful he doesn’t see how much he surprised me.
“You’ve been here since six thirty? How’d you even get into the building? It doesn’t unlock until the front desk people get here at seven.”
“I picked the lock and used the emergency shut off code to disarm the alarm.”
“You broke in?” I nearly cry out. He speaks about his breaking and entering like it isn’t as big of a deal as it is. Don’t forget to add ‘lackadaisical feelings about breaking the law’ to his file.
“More like let myself in.” He sighs again, finally opening his eyes and looking up at me. “You gonna let me in or not?”
I give him a soft smile. “Sure, of course, come on in.”
Using my key, I unlock the lobby door and wave him in ahead of me. He towers over me and with twice the muscle mass I have, dwarfs me significantly. This wasn’t exactly how I planned to start my day but when a patient is in crisis, I do what I can to help them.
“Here, take a seat out here while I get settled for the day. Do you want anything while you wait? Water? Coffee? There’s a kitchen down the hall for the other offices in the building you can go help yourself to.”
“A coffee sounds good.” He nods. “You said it’s down the hall?”
“Yeah, down the hall and on the right. If anyone asks, just tell them you’re my patient,” I instruct.
“You got it, doc.” Using two fingers, he salutes me and steps out into the hall. The navy blue windbreaker he’s wearing ruffles with his movement.
I head into my office and quickly unpack my work bag, setting my laptop down and tucking my lunchbox into the mini fridge I keep under my desk.
I give myself a few minutes to get organized and ready and when I feel like I have my head on straight, I go out into the lobby to call him in.
He’s sitting in one of the chairs which seems to be hugging his thick thighs a little too much, holding a paper cup.
It hardly looks like his eyes are open but when he sees me, he’s suddenly at full attention.
“Ready when you are,” I say with a smile. When he stands I have to lift my chin to be able to keep my eyes on his.
He takes a few steps and squints down at me. “How bad is your vision?”
“Did you break into my building before normal human hours to ask me that?” I tease, tipping my head to one side. My oversized glasses slip out of place and I have to reach up to fix them.
“Not really,” he mumbles before stepping into my office.
Following behind him, I side step around him and lower myself into the oversized chair I like to sit in when seeing patients.
Just like the last time he was here, it takes him a second to take in the space.
His eyebrows knit together as he glances around the room before giving me an inquisitive look.
“You moved the bookshelf,” he comments, nodding his head towards the window where the old bookshelf used to be. “And took some things down from the walls.”
I confirm his observation with a nod. “I did. I had the patient after you help me move some things around. He wasn’t overly thrilled about the job but I know he likes being helpful. He’s grumpy, but has a good heart.”
I smile at him and wait for his reaction. For a moment, he does nothing other than look around the room completely stunned. Then, he snuffs out a laugh and relaxes into the couch before looking at me.
“I can’t believe you rearranged your office for me.” His lips settle into a smile that reaches into sinful territory.