Page 43 of My Merry Mistake
There are five shapes standing in the room. Hovering.
I frown. “What the. . .?”
“You fell asleep,” Poppy says. “You didn’t even budge when we got up.”
“You were mid-sentence,” Eloise giggles. “You were about to tell us about your date.”
I open my eyes wider and see Finn standing in the doorway.
I sit up, feeling embarrassed and not at all rested. “I fell asleep?” I chew through the cotton mouth and push a hand through my hair, immediately thinking about how much work I didn’t get done tonight.
I’d accounted for the time away for dinner, but not this. Not a random nap before 9:00 p.m.
I want to move out of this bed, but someone put a big, chunky blanket on me. It’s insanely cozy.
“When was the last time you took a day off?” Poppy asks.
“I went to dinner tonight,” I say, struggling with the blanket, finally managing to push it off me.
The five are still standing, looking at me, and I’m not a fan of feeling like I’m on display.
“Let me guess. You worked late, changed clothes in the bathroom, went to dinner, picked at a salad, then forty-five minutes later you were back in your car driving here.” Poppy glares at me.
She’s shockingly accurate, but I don’t admit it.
“It was at least fifty minutes at dinner,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.
“You need to take better care of yourself.” This from Eloise, who is not an authority on anything except stray dogs.
“Raya, why don’t you sleep here tonight?” Dallas says. “We can get you a change of clothes, and you can sleep in tomorrow.”
I laugh, pushing my way to a standing position. “You guys, seriously. I fell asleep early. I didn’t pass out. I’m not sick. I’m perfectly healthy.” I pat Dallas on the arm. “But thank you. Your concern—all of your concern—is greatly appreciated.” I grab my shoes and walk out of the room, my sisters following close behind.
“Okay, but Raya, what about taking tomorrow off?” Poppy says, a thread of worry laced across her forehead.
I hold up a hand over my shoulder as I make my way to the front door. “I’m fine. And I really can’t.” I grab my coat from the hook and drop my heels onto the floor in front of me. “You know you don’t need to worry about me. Ever. I’m always fine.”
They’re both frowning.
“We also know you’ve never randomly fallen asleep at someone else’s house,” Eloise says. “You work way too hard,” she says, genuinely.
It almost gives me pause—but then I think of my to-do list, and that slams my brain out of Neutral and into Drive.
I slip on my shoes while shoving my arms into the sleeves of my coat, trying not to let any of this attention get to me. It’s not only unwarranted, it’s unwanted. I pride myself on not being a person anyone needs to worry about.
They know this. Or at least they should.
Finn walks into the entryway, keys in hand.
I stare at him. “What are you doing?”
“Following you home,” he says.
I shake my head. “No, you’re not. I’m fine.”
“I know. I just need to see for myself.” He shrugs. “For your sisters’ sake.”
“Finn. I’ll be?—”
