28. Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Eight
T he moment I stepped through the front door of my apartment, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. I walked to the kitchen, setting my purse down on the counter before leaning against it, staring absently at the fridge. My mind replayed the picnic, the way Elias had looked at me, the way his fingers had felt against mine. It had been a long time since I’d let myself feel like this— open, hopeful.
A soft chime from my phone broke through my thoughts. I grabbed it, my heart giving a small leap when I saw Elias’s name.
Had a great time today. Hope you made it home safe. Can’t wait to see you again.
I bit my lip, warmth spreading through me as I typed back, I did, and me too. Thank you again for today.
His reply came almost instantly. Anytime. Sweet dreams, Lydia.
I sighed, a small smile tugging at my lips as I placed my phone on the counter. Sweet dreams, indeed.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of routine— showering, making tea, curling up on the couch with a book. But my mind kept drifting back to Elias. The way his voice had dipped when he’d asked about my scent blockers. The softness in his eyes when he’d said he cared.
For so long, I had convinced myself that letting someone in was too risky. That trusting someone with my truth could lead to pain and rejection. But Elias wasn’t pushing, wasn’t demanding. He was simply waiting, offering his patience like an unspoken promise.
I closed my book, unable to focus on the words. My fingers traced the rim of my mug as I stared at the darkened window. Maybe… maybe I didn’t have to keep running forever.
The next morning, I awoke to two texts waiting for me. The first was from Elias.
Morning, Lydia. I hope you slept well.
The second was from Lucian, surprising me.
Good morning, Lydia. Just checking in— how are you feeling after Sunday and the date yesterday?
I stared at the message for a moment, caught off guard by the unexpected thoughtfulness.
I hesitated before typing, Good morning, Lucian. I’m okay. I enjoyed myself. Thank you for checking in.
His reply came a few minutes later. I’m glad to hear that. I know Elias can get too excited and forget boundaries sometimes. I just wanted to check in.
My stomach did a nervous flip at his words. It was different having someone check in on me like this. Thank you. I am good though. The date was wonderful and so was Elias.
Lucian typed back a quick response: Good. Tell me if anyone isn't on their best behavior.
A pause, then I typed teasingly, "Yes sir."
With that last text message I quickly got ready for the day, bringing the phone with me to the bathroom so I could listen to some music while I got ready. I hummed to the soft orchestra music coming out of my phone as I brushed my hair out and was about to braid it.
Just as I was about to start braiding my phone went off, causing me to jump. I usually didn't get phone calls this early. Glancing at the phone I frowned seeing it flash 'Unknown Number' on the screen.
I glanced at the screen, frowning as 'Unknown Number' flashed. Hesitating briefly, I answered, but was met with silence. "Hello?" I repeated, but still nothing. After a few seconds, the call disconnected. Weird, but I brushed it off, assuming it was a glitch or wrong number.
Placing the phone on the sink's edge, I resumed braiding my hair. Moments later, the phone rang again, startling me. "Seriously?" I muttered, reaching for it. In my haste, I fumbled, and to my horror, the phone slipped from my grasp and plummeted straight into the toilet.
"No, no, no!" I exclaimed, quickly retrieving it. Water dripped from its edges as I frantically dried it with a towel. Pressing the power button yielded no response. I let out a groan from deep within, "Great, just what I needed."
A wave of frustration washed over me, mingling with the chill of my damp sleeve. This was not how I intended to start my day, with my lifeline to the outside world— however infrequently it rang— rendered useless.
I shook my head, trying to shed the tight grip of panic. It was just a phone. I could go to the store later, get it fixed, maybe. For now, though, I had to get to my shop and open it for the day. I could take care of this after work.
For now, maybe throwing it in a bag of rice would do. With a deep breath, I set the phone down and finished my hair before I made my way out to the kitchen. I grabbed a sandwich bag, filled it with white rice, and deposited the phone in the bag.
"Twenty-four to forty-eight hours," I murmured, echoing the advice I'd read somewhere. It was a waiting game I was all too familiar with— patience.
“Today is going to be a long day. I can feel it.” I muttered to myself as I went and gathered all my things for the day. Once my small bag was packed for the day, I slipped the strap over my shoulder, making my way out into the early morning air.
As I walked, I let my mind wander, anticipating the day ahead. My fingers itched to create, to lose myself in the colors and textures of my work. I quickened my pace letting me reach the store in record time. I unlocked the door and stepped inside, breathing in the scent of oil paints and clay that always seemed to greet me like an old friend. The rays of the early sun filtered through the windows, casting patterns on the floor and warming the room.
As I went through my opening routine— turning on lights, checking inventory, setting up displays— I tried to push thoughts of my drowned phone out of my mind. But a nagging worry persisted. What if someone tried to reach me? What if there was an emergency?
I shook my head, trying to dispel the anxious thoughts. "It's fine," I muttered to myself. "One day without a phone won't kill you."
The morning passed slowly, a trickle of customers coming in to browse or pick up orders. I tried to focus on my work, losing myself in the familiar motions of mixing paints and applying brushstrokes to canvas. What I didn’t know is that while my phone was off, how worried I would make four men who hadn’t heard from me since the early morning.