Eureka

15

My 7:15 alarm came with a small amount of panic running through my veins. 

Where the hell am I? 

A quick glance around the room and I finally begin to relax when I recognize it as my room at Millie's. Thankfully, despite the noises last night, I was able to sleep soundly. I was worried that I would have issues sleeping alone again. Turns out being exhausted helps with that problem.

I was surprisingly comfortable sleeping alone the night before as well, so I guess I shouldn't have worried about it either way. It is a little sad to wake up without someone to cuddle on, but Bradley and I weren't really big on cuddling with each other. Well, I was. I love it, but he always said I was too warm and would get up the moment I moved over to be close to him. 

I'm a cuddler. Sue me.

Rolling out of bed, I take care of business in the bathroom and hop into the shower. I don't linger in there too long so I don't have time to think. Makeup makes me look human, so I apply a little to look less like the stuff of nightmares. My hair is still wet, but I have no plans to fix that. A quick once over in the mirror confirms that I look less like a drowned rat, and more like a  recently resuscitated, slightly drowned human. That's works for me.

Taking advantage of the quiet and privacy in my room, I decide to check for a response from The Family. My handler, Victor, messaged me back saying he is enroute to my location to assess the town, ensure I have what I need, and to assist in finding me a suitable place to stay. 

It's odd that he wants to come here since he's never helped me with relocation in person before. Then again, before I decided to set up shop in Houston, I was just moving to wherever the job took me. He would always arrange my hotel and rides if I couldn't take Kermit with me. Maybe he just wants to be more involved since I'm one of his favorite agents. 

I just send him a note on where I'm staying and working for the time being and that I would wait on him before I made a purchase or a lease agreement on a place. I tell him to text or call when he gets to town and we would go from there. 

I'm looking forward to seeing Vic. It has been around 5 years since we last saw each other in person. He was one of the people who completed training before me and my group, so he was often around during our events. He is one of my favorite people in The Family. 

Victor and Ivy, who was with me from the start, were the only people I could count on for comfort or support. Vic and Ivy were my closest friends. They're my family in all ways but blood. Ivy died while on a job a couple years back. 

It broke my heart to hear, but it was a fact of life for hired guns. There was always the possibility that we wouldn't make it home after a mission. We knew those risks and went out to face them head on because it was expected of us. 

While it's odd Vic wants to come, I won't complain because I do miss him. A taste of home will be nice even as I search for a new one for my future.

I check the time and see it's almost 8 so I hurry downstairs. Millie is in the kitchen standing at the stove while dancing to some music that is drifting from a little vintage looking stereo on the counter. I walk quietly behind her and poke both of her sides with my fingers making her jump about a foot off the ground with a squeal. When she sees it was just me, she smacks my butt with the spatula she was holding. Millie's laughter fills the room with the warmth that is always emanating from her.

"Get over to that table, young lady," She scolds me through her giggles. Her narrowed eyes follow me to my seat where I plop down and grab a piece of bacon from the plate in front of me. "So, how was your first night in the house?" She asks, trying to sound nonchalant. I give her a smirk while I start loading my plate with food from the dishes she had previously laid out on the table.