Chapter 29

7 1 0
                                    

I sat back in the driver's seat of my car and closed my eyes. The door shut on the passenger side as Luke got in his seat.

"Tired?" He asked, laughing. I took a deep breath before opening my eyes and starting the car.

"Exhausted," I muttered. All I could think about was sleeping in my bed. Trying to pack the crates took everything out of me, I was surprised Luke was still so chipper.

I pulled up to his hotel a few minutes later. Luke leaned over and kissed my cheek quickly.

"Get some rest, text me when you're home," he said before getting out of the car. I almost forgot to say bye before he closed the door, I was so out of it.

I didn't even remember driving home by the time I pulled into my parking space. The same anxiety at seeing Nick's car flared in my chest despite my exhaustion. Once inside the apartment, I set all my things down by the door and fell across the couch. Before I knew it I fell into a dreamless sleep.

I woke up to a dark apartment. I groggily sat up, not knowing what time it was, and rubbed the kink out of my neck from sleeping in a weird position. I stretched my arms over my head as I let out a big yawn before I grabbed my phone and stumbled to my bedroom to continue sleeping. My alarm clock showed it was 1 am and I sighed as I plugged in my phone and it confirmed the same thing. Tons of notifications filled my Home Screen and I scrolled through them quickly, not wanting to stay up much longer. Texts from Nick, Kat and Luke - along with a few missed calls from each of them - some social media notifications, and emails. Everything could wait until tomorrow. I needed sleep. I crawled into bed tucking the blankets around me and turning on the ceiling fan before falling back asleep quickly.

BANG BANG BANG

BANG BANG BANG

BANG BANG BANG

I groaned and rolled over, pulling my blanket over my head to try to muffle the noise. What the hell was that banging?

BANG BANG BANG

I groaned and threw the blanket off of me in frustration. I glanced at the clock to see what ungodly hour it was for someone to be making so much noise.

"Oh my god," I gasped, my heart pounding in my chest. It was 10:00. 10:00 in the morning. I jumped out of bed quickly and stripped off my clothes from the day before. As I did I caught a whiff of myself and grimaced. I smelled terrible and needed to shower badly, but I was so so late for work already.

BANG BANG BANG

The banging continued and rubbed my temples. I was starting to get a headache. I stood there frozen in panic from being so late, my mind swirling to debate if I should take a shower or just throw on clothes quickly and run to the office. I'm sure Luke was wondering where I was.

A sinking feeling formed in my stomach as I realized I had ignored messages from him last night. As I went to grab my phone a call from him came in and I answered it quickly.

"I'm so sorry," I started the second I picked up the phone. "I don't know what happened. I overslept."

"Emily?" He said on the phone, sounding panicked. "Thank god. I've only been trying to get ahold of you for the better part of an hour."

"I'm sorry," I groaned. "I'm going to get dressed and I can be at the office in an hour max..."

"I'm just glad you're okay," Luke said with a sigh.

"I'm sorry," I repeated, heading to the bathroom to start the shower. "I was so tired last night and I just knocked out."

"It's okay," he said over the phone. "Take your time. Can I come in though?"

Always You - A Second Chance RomanceWhere stories live. Discover now