Homebound

Chapter ThirtySeven

I had finally got a few hours of sleep. I think it's more because of the fact I crashed from exhaustion rather then falling asleep peacefully. The couch is more comfortable then I was expecting and I felt more rested then I have in weeks when I woke. But it's still dark outside and I wonder what had actually awoken me.

The sound of multiple footsteps walking behind me as they come up the hallway makes me freeze on the couch.

"Can you walk quietly? Poppy's sleeping on the couch!" I hear Harley hiss to who ever she's with. I calm down knowing it's just her and a friend and not someone who had broken into the house while everyone slept.

"Fuck!" a deeper voice says quietly as a dull thud can be heard. I feel the couch jolt as someone runs into it. Is that Banks?

I stay perfectly still and even out my breathing. I guess it looks like I'm still asleep because they barely pause before continuing on to the door. I peak an eye open once they've walked past me and their backs are to me.

A smile pulls at my lips, sure enough it's Harley and Banks. I knew she couldn't stay away from him. Had she snuck him past me while I was sleeping? This doesn't seem like their first rodeo. How long had she been sneaking him in the house?

Harley expertly unlocks the door silently and pushes him out without a word, locking the door behind him. I have to hold back my laughter as I watch her move to the window; moving the curtain aside as she watches him leave.

I'm wide eyed now, not caring that Harley could catch me wide awake and watching the whole situation. The sound of Banks' car can be heard starting up before it gets quieter the further he drives away.

Harley stands on her tiptoes to watch his car for as long as possible before it's gone out of sight. She pulls the curtain back in place, making sure no one can see inside before turning to head back to her bedroom.

Except her eyes find me as I'm laying wide eyed and holding back my laughter. She looks like a deer caught in headlights; I even hear her breath catch in her throat.

"H-how much of that did you see?" she whispers, shocked. I laugh under my breath, keeping quiet so that I don't wake mum in the next room.

"All of it" Harley barely lets me finish the sentence before she covers her ears and squeals quietly in her throat and runs out of the room, down the hallway and then I hear her bedroom door close making me laugh under my breath.

*

I had just finished work and I'm on my way to the florist with the intention of buying Harley flowers as a thank you for taking in mum and me.

I had been surprised when I arrived this morning and Jacob was no where to be seen. Stevie had informed me that he had called in sick. I had mixed emotions, I was glad I could relax at work for the first time in almost two weeks but at the same time I was under pressure all day being the only one behind the bar and having to keep up with all the customers by myself.

I got it done though and I am proud of myself. We closed after I left and Harley doesn't have work tonight, she's probably still asleep because she was awake all last night with Banks.

I'm quick in the florist, running in and out in a matter of five minutes. I'm eager to get home and wait for my call from Hex. I had gone two days without hearing his voice and it's making me irrational with my emotions. I dropped a glass today at work which I've done a million times before but today it nearly caused me to cry. A customer was rude about their order and I had the sudden urge to throw their drink at them. Don't even get me started on when Stevie came out of his office and started asking me questions about Harley and Banks.