16. 16
Olivia was busy at work the next day, but in the rare moment she didn’t seem to be running around, she found her mind drifting back to Caden. There were moments she would swear she’d felt his hands on her body or heard his voice in her ear. Then someone would speak to her, or a voice would make an announcement on the PA system in the store and the sensation would vanish as she went back to work.
She got off work at ten p.m. and headed home, grateful to be off her feet and looking forward to a hot shower. She didn’t mind work, and preferred the busier shifts because they passed faster but they left her sore and aching.
Still, on the drive home, her mind drifted once more to Caden. She wondered what he was doing and if he’d thought about her as much as she’d thought about him. She made it home, not quite sure how because she didn’t recall the drive. Still she was glad to be home.
Inside, she hung her purse up and headed for the bedroom. She kicked her shoes off next to the dresser then went in the bathroom and started the water in the tub and added bath salts to help her aching muscles before heading back to the bedroom and stripping out of her clothes. That’s when she remembered that she’d left her phone in her purse.
After retrieving her phone, she went back in the bathroom, pinned her hair on top of her head, shut off the tap and sank down into the steaming water, hissing through her teeth as the hot water hit her skin. It only took her a moment to get accustomed to it, lean back and relax, then reach for her phone.
Turning on the screen she found she’d missed an incoming text. She wasn’t sure if it was while she’d been driving, while daydreaming, or when she’d left the phone to start the water in the tub, not that it mattered. Checking, she found the message was from Caden.
Caden:What are you up to tonight?
Caden:hope I didn’t wake you.
Olivia flexed her shoulders, listening as the joints popped. She sighed at how much more her muscles could relax now while she tried to find the right words to send back to him.
Olivia:You didn’t wake me. I just got home and I’m taking a bath.
Olivia: What are you up to?
She didn’t think he’d reply right away, and even if he did, she hated watching those dancing dots as someone typed a message, so she navigated over to her favorite social media and scrolled, leaving comments and hearts here and there as the heat soaked into her muscles letting the ache wash away.
Caden:Just got home from work. I’m going to unwind a bit then get some sleep. Somehow, I didn’t manage to get much last night.
Olivia couldn’t help the pleased smile that crossed her face, she knew just how to respond to that.
Olivia:I guess that means you don’t want to come over and crash here then?
Olivia:Probably for the best. I could use some sleep too and you and your body are just too tempting for words.
She didn’t have long to wait before another text dinged into her inbox then another.
Caden:You really want me to come over?
Caden:I thought you would want a break from me.
Caden:But I can be there in five minutes if you’re serious.
She didn’t even have to think about it. She typed up her reply, then bent and pulled the plug.
Olivia:I’ll be waiting.
Olivia:I’m not bothering with clothes.
Her time was limited so she didn’t wait for the water to drain like she usually did, instead she stood and climbed out, still dripping. She reached for a towel and wrapped it around her body while she let her hair down, then rubbed the last of the water from her skin. She’d just sprayed on a bit of scented body spray when a knock sounded on the front door.