11. Rune
Rune
Isit up straighter.
Did my heart just jump?
I press a hand against my chest, and my laptop slides off my lap onto the mattress.
My eyes dart to my nightstand, to my container of edibles.
Maybe I took too much?
Then my mind flashes to the damp clothes spread across the floor of my apartment.
Maybe I should take more?
I reach over and pick up my mug of berry tea instead. One is enough.
Sipping the red liquid, I wish I’d added just a bit more honey. But I’m feeling far too lazy to get up now.
Lazy and heavy.
I take one more drink, then set the mug back on the nightstand.
My heart is fine. It didn’t stop earlier today. I didn’t magically transport to a different part of the world.
I pull my laptop back into position on top of my legs and try to refocus on my comfort movie.
It’s right at the part in the retelling when the prince is about to find out her real identity and kick her out of the palace. The evil stepmother is stepping into view and—my heart thuds an extra beat. Again.
I squeeze my eyes shut. “What the fuck?”
This isn’t happening.
My heart is beating normally.
There is no reason for it to be jumping.
The heaviness in my chest expands. My core throbs.
And I drop my head back against the headboard.
I had the most intense orgasm after my shower, but it was still too early for me to fall asleep after. So I braided my hair. Pulled on pajamas. And started a movie in bed. Hoping to forget about my hallucination.
I knock my head back again, my braid cushioning my skull.
Blowing out a breath, I open my eyes.
Then someone pounds against the door downstairs, and I scream.
My slightly high brain taking far too long to remember that I ordered pizza.