Dreams [PRN]

chapter nine

The next morning dawned with a rush of new-beginner energy, and I busied myself with setting up my new apartment, making it feel like home. In my flurry of activity, I decided to wash some clothes by hand, including my bra, since I hadn't yet figured out the laundry situation in the building. After washing it, I hung it on a hanger and placed it on the door frame to dry, a makeshift solution until I could organize something better.

Caught up in the excitement of unpacking and organizing, I completely forgot about the undergarment conspicuously hanging in plain view. It was only when the doorbell rang that I was pulled away from my tasks. Assuming it might be a neighbor or a small delivery, I didn't think twice about the state of my apartment—or the items in it—as I went to answer the door.

Opening the door, I was surprised and a bit flustered to see Prince standing there, his presence immediately imposing a reality check on the casual disarray of my living situation. His eyes quickly flicked to the bra hanging on the door frame, and then, with impeccable tact, he looked away, focusing his attention on me.

"Good morning, Mayte," he greeted warmly, though I detected a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "I hope you're settling in well?"

Mortified, I felt my face heat up with embarrassment. "Oh, um, yes, thank you," I stammered, hastily stepping outside to close the door behind me, hoping to obscure his view of the interior. "I was just organizing a few things."

Prince nodded, his expression remaining neutral and polite, giving no sign that he had noticed my embarrassment. "I wanted to check in on you and see if you needed anything," he continued, seamlessly steering the conversation away from any potential awkwardness.

"Can I come in?" he asked, glancing toward the slightly ajar door.

"Uh, one second," I blurted out, my cheeks still burning. I quickly ducked back inside, snatching the bra from the door frame with a speed born of sheer mortification. I hurriedly stuffed it into the couch, my heart racing not just from the sprint, but from the embarrassment of the situation.

Once I had hidden the evidence of my laundry day, I took a deep breath to compose myself before opening the door wider to welcome him in.

"Come in," I said, managing a smile that I hoped masked my embarrassment. "Sorry about that. Please, make yourself at home."

Prince entered, his gaze sweeping over the apartment with polite interest. "Thank you," he replied, his tone gracious as always. "You're doing a great job settling in. It already looks cozy."

I felt a surge of relief at his kind words, grateful for his tactful handling of the situation. As he settled onto the couch, I joined him, sitting on the opposite end and trying to act as nonchalant as possible.

"So, I wanted to talk to you about a few things," Prince began, his demeanor professional yet friendly. "Firstly, I've arranged for us to go to the DMV today to get you a Minnesota ID. It's an important step in getting you fully settled here."

He then glanced at me, a hint of curiosity in his expression. "Also, I was wondering if you know how to drive? We could start looking into driving lessons if it's something you're interested in."

The question caught me off guard, adding a new layer to my already heightened nerves. "No, I don't know how to drive," I confessed, feeling slightly embarrassed that my list of inexperience seemed to keep growing. "But I would like to learn. It seems essential here."

Prince nodded understandingly. "Absolutely, it's pretty essential for getting around, especially in the suburbs and for exploring beyond the city. We can arrange for lessons at a good driving school. It's all part of starting fresh, right?"