Something Beyond

Chapter 3

The sight of my apartment greeted me hours later. I had just walked through the door after completing my work at the cafe when my cell phone began ringing. I chose to ignore it, throwing it on my bed with my work bag. I momentarily thought of answering in case it was an emergency but instead focused on changing into yoga gear and removing the light makeup I had on for the day.

I rolled out my mat and began a series of stretches and strength training exercises. My body felt lighter now that I was moving. It had been tense all day, but especially after seeing Garrett again. His smile still haunted me even when doing a downward dog and all the blood rushing to one spot.

I couldn't decide if my new small obsession with him was a good or bad thing. While on the one hand, I was enjoying feeling something for someone after so long of not, I was still terrified to act on it. I blamed my checkered past for that. It wasn't always easy to think one thing and then believe it enough to act on it. And that in itself was a major tragedy in my life.

I completed my yoga routine a half an hour later, my skin dewy when my doorbell rang. Glancing at the clock, my brows furrowed in confusion. Who in God's name would be visiting me at nearly 7 o'clock on a Thursday was beyond me. Pulling the door open my mouth nearly hit the ground. Before me, wearing a cocky ass smirk and the same suit as earlier sane the jacket, Garrett greeted me,

"Fancy seeing you here," he teased.

Eyes rounding, I looked around, trying to figure out what was happening. My heart was going a mile a minute and wasn't taking cues from my brain to calm down.

"What are you doing here?"

He winked while forcing himself in the door, nearly hitting me in the face with the dry cleaning hanging from his index finger. He watched me as I closed the door and crossed my arms. It just occurred to me, after not before opening the door, that I was in yoga tights and a sports bra. Embarrassed, I looked down. Garrett, whether trying to be a gentleman or unintentionally give me a second to compose myself, walked further into the room, giving me his back. I quickly reached for the lightweight zip-up jacket into my entryway closet and shucked it on.

Garrett glanced around my medium size condo before he turned back towards me with a softer, less cocky smile. "I'm bringing a beautiful and accident-prone girl, her dry cleaning."

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I lightly took the bag from his outstretched hand. While hanging them in the closet I gave him an inquiring look, "You didn't peak in there, did you?"

He gave me a heated look, his eyebrows coming down low over his eyes. I had my answer before he opened his perfect lips and spoke, "Yes, I wanted to make sure they tended to your sweater correctly."

Mortified, I conked my head on the doorframe, "But my bralette was in there," I whined.

He laughed lowly under his breath before coughing, "Yes, it was. Nice material."

"Jesus, help me," I muttered to myself.

Mouth twitching, Garrett gave me a smoldering look. My core clenched in response while my cheeks flamed. I hated how transparent I was with him. He could set me on fire with one glance and knows it the second it happens. His eyes looked me over more carefully, taking in my outfit, then the mat rolled up and placed in a basket under my entry table.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"You're not," I stated more forcefully than I intend while moving more into the room, "And for the record, I'm not accident-prone. That was all the nerd."

His eyes twinkle with amusement, "Your friend Amy says otherwise. Does tripping over the cleaning bucket ring a bell?"

Lips pursed, I shrugged, "Not at all."