Page 58 of Claws & Cover Ups
I flinch at the impact.Fuck.
Living on barely any sleep is overrated. Especially if you’ve murdered someone recently. 0/10 don’t recommend. Not that I have any way to change that. It didn’t help that everything that could have gone wrong last night did.
I didn’t get back until four in the morning. I was planning to sleep the entire rest of the weekend off, but as soon as I closed my eyes, all I could see was Drew's scrunched-up face and his claws almost scratching my eyes out before I stumbled out of his car. As soon as the adrenaline wore off, my mind was reeling, playing it again and again.
When I did finally fall asleep, I dreamt of Raymond Booth again, but this time he was sitting in the backseat of Drew’s car, critiquing my murdering technique. It honestly killed it for me, no pun intended.
Even thinking about it now makes my breath shaky and my heart start an impromptu rave in my chest.
So, I decided to open the clinic after all. Even Ashley readily agreed to come in on her day off.
I pick up the glass of water on my desk with my cold hand. I focus on the water moving down my throat, letting it calm me.
Someone knocks at the door, and it makes me flinch again.Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
Ashley enters when I call out an annoyed “Yes.” She doesn’t meet my eyes, looking at my desk instead. Probably because I’ve been a jerk to her the whole day. Ugh, I want my bed. Except it’s not a safe place anymore either.
“Mr. Sharma called to see if he can bring his cat for a check-up today. I told him no because you’re being a bitch today. And Mrs. Rose was too nice to say anything about it, but Mr. Sharma has an ego problem, though it’s considerably less than yours. He won’t take it. So, whatever crawled up your ass today, takeitand yourself back home,” she says.
Well…fair. Is it weird that I feel proud of her for blowing up on me like that?
“You’re right. Thanks,” I nod.
Her eyes snap to mine. “I am?”
“Yup. I clearly need some sleep. But I’ll stay and finish this paper I’m reading. Why don’t you pack up and leave?”
My phone vibrates with a call. I look down to see Sam’s name on the screen. It’s the third call since morning. I let it goto voicemail again. Can’t talk to him yet.
I look back up to find Ashley staring at me, confused. I already miss the mean, confrontational Ashley. Good to know she had it in her while it lasted. That’ll be another reason I won’t fire her, waiting for the next time she lets that version out into the wild again.
“Do you need anything else?” I ask patiently, blinking up at her.
She shakes her head and turns to leave. But then turns to look at me again.
I sigh.
“Is it because of that hot detective? You’ve been snipping at people for a while now,” she says.
“Weren’t you trying to be mean and aloof?Leave,” I snap.
She scowls but leaves. I sigh again. I tried the nice thing, but it’s clearly not for me.
My phone buzzes. It’s “that hot detective”.
Nicholas Harper Oliver’s Friend: Want to grab dinner after work?
I’m too tired. I’m barely tolerable company when I’m at my hundred percent. Right now, I’ll just be lashing out at him while trying not to fall asleep on my feet. Or will probably do something worse, like ask him to hug me and tuck me in.
If that’s the extent of my fantasies about Nicholas ‘Kisses Like He’s Trying To Swallow You Whole,’ Harper, my brain is already halfway back home.
I really,reallyneed to say no.
So, why did I just send him aSureright now? Must be the missing brain thing.
Nicholas Harper Oliver’s Friend: Awesome! Pick you up in two hours.
At least he spelled out the words this time.
