About three hours later, we had everything in my temporary place and had unpacked quite a bit.
“Here are the rest of your things,” Liya said as she brought the last box inside. I was hanging my clothes, all while ignoring the suits and men’s shoes on the left side of the closet. Just knowing that my clothes were going to be alone with Daniel’s felt naughty.
I stepped back and bit my nail. Daniel had several suits and slacks and a few shirts in here, but probably not all of his clothes. He must’ve left some in storage for now.
My items didn’t take up much space in the walk-in closet. There was plenty of room to spare. Lots of shelves helped organize folded clothes and shoes. I only had four pairs of shoes, but Daniel? Why did he need so many shades of brown and gray?
There was even more room in the tall five-drawer dresser and the longer but shorter dresser with a mirror. His watch and cuffs were on the tall dresser. Seemed as if he’d moved in already. Maybe he was with his family right now.
“Thanks so much for letting me stay here,” I said to Liya.
“I should be thanking you. I won’t have to worry about someone breaking in and stealing my stuff.”
Both of our phones went off, and Liya checked hers. “Oh, shoot. Reema’s flight is delayed. They won’t get in until one a.m. and her parents will pick them up from the airport.” She pouted. “I was really hoping to see her and Rohan.”
“Oh, no. That sucks. I can’t stay up that late. Guess I won’t see them today, either.”
“But you have tomorrow. I have to get back to Dallas and prepare for a meeting.”
“On a Sunday?”
“Welcome to international affairs. The client is fourteen hours ahead and wants the meeting first thing their Monday morning.”
I didn’t have much time on my hands between work and studying and family and mandir, but I absolutely loved hanging with my girls. At the end of our too-short visit, I sent Liya off with a little bit of Grandma Thompson’s leftovers and a slice of pie and set out to organize my things in my new place.
I walked through the roomy apartment and glanced around.
All alone.
For the first time in my life, I wasn’t living with family or friends.
The place was quiet. And so big. All I really needed was a corner to study in, a decent bed, a bathroom, a small fridge, and most importantly, a microwave to reheat leftovers.
I checked every room and closet and triple-checked the locks to the door and the balcony. Everything was secure. Then why was my skin itching and my nerves on edge? What was I so afraid of? Of being alone? In the dark? Of facing Daniel? Or all of the above?
To calm myself, I finalized the resident holiday schedule, realizing I’d have to pick up extra shifts here and there. But that was fine, seeing that I was able to accommodate everyone. I sent it off in an email to my colleagues and boss.
After a quick shower, I slipped into pajamas and wiggled. I loved comfy clothes, and this was the best part of the day. Another lock check and I turned off the lights. One by one. The darkness grew.
I shook my head and muttered, “You’re a grown woman. You can’t be afraid of sleeping alone.”
Then I crawled into bed, pulled the covers to my chest, and glared at the door.
Just waiting for Daniel to walk in and wreck my world.
Chapter Six
My arm went over my head to hit snooze when my alarm went off at five in the morning. Wow. Praise the stars! A full night’s sleep during residency was better than sex.
I swung my arm back, excited to wiggle deeper into the mattress for another five minutes, but the back of my hand hit something hard.
I shot up, dazed and clutching the bedspread to my chest. I turned on the bedside lamp and yelped at the sight of Daniel in bed with me.
He groaned, his face buried in a pillow, his hands beneath said pillow, and the bedspread tangled at his waist. The man was shirtless, displaying solid back muscles with perfected ridges and dips. “Can you not make so much noise?”
“Daniel!”
“That’s the opposite of what I just asked you to do,” he grumbled, his voice guttural and sleepy.
“Why are you in bed?”
“I mean, I was trying to sleep. Where am I supposed to sleep?”
“On the couch.”
“Nah.”
“I can’t share a bed with you for three weeks.”
“First of all,” he started, showing more of his face in the dim light and squinting, “I was here first. You can sleep on the couch if you don’t like it. Secondly, you won’t combust from sharing a bed with me.”
My face heated up like a blazing sun. I might combust, actually, in some weird, restrained mixture of embarrassment and arousal.
“Can you turn the light off and get on with your day?” He smashed his face into the pillow and went back to sleep.
I guffawed. Seriously? I jerked the bedspread off me, climbed out, and went into the kitchen, as far away as I could get from the man in my bed short of leaving the apartment.
With my jaw still hanging open, I decided to catch up on my infection project by starting a presentation slideshow. I hunched over the kitchen counter, but my eyes kept wandering toward the bedroom. Having to share a bed with the finest man this side of Texas, in addition to the fact that after years of school I still couldn’t put together a decent slide deck, had me crawling out of my skin.
Slamming my textbooks closed after an hour, I went for an early-morning run. Life didn’t always allow time for a workout, but I had a lot of tension building between work, interviews, living arrangements, engagement, and Daniel. Instead of revving it up by blasting a playlist through my earbuds, I put on a calming app—an anxiety reducer Daniel had suggested back in college.
I faced off with the treadmill in the spacious, quiet gym on the first floor of Liya’s apartment building. The ache in my feet and legs felt good, for once, invigorating and much needed.
Instead of fretting over things, I took in calming sounds: gentle songs, crashing waves, singing birds, and gusting wind. Afterward, I wiped the sweat from my brow and from the machine and sat on a bench to angry-text Liya.
She was most likely asleep, all cuddled up in Jay’s arms living her best life. But I hoped that she’d forgotten to put her phone on sleep mode and startled awake with every notification chime.
She might’ve expected this. Me freaking out. But as I considered my reaction, I realized how immature I sounded. So, instead of dragging myself down a rabbit hole of negativity, I decided to have fun. What better stress reliever?
Me: So, um…do you think I should call off this whole thing with Yuvan if I sort of accidentally slept with you know who?
Ha! That would get her attention. In a matter of seconds, the bubble indicator popped up. Guess she wasn’t asleep after all.
Liya: You’re lying!
Me: You knew leaving me alone in an apartment with him would lead to this!! I hope you’re happy! What am I supposed to do now?
Liya: Shut up!
Me: What did you think would happen? I mean…there’s only ONE bed.
Liya: AHHH!!! Get it, girl! ONE bed? You should interest him in the ONE shower while you’re at it!