Page 13 of Wrong Number

Was I losing it? Smelling things that weren’t there?

Or… or had someone been in my home?

The thought sent a shiver down my spine. An ugly one that made me wrap the towel I’d grabbed around my body even though I was alone. When I breathed in again, the masculine scent was gone, and I frowned. Suddenly, my phone rang. The sound made me jump.

“Shit.” I grabbed it and answered before I could see who it was.

“Hello?” I whispered, trying to shake off the sliver of fear that still clung to me.

“Hey, bad time?” Lana’s raspy voice made my shoulders slump forward.

“No, never.”

“You sure? You sound… out of breath? Winded?” she guessed. I was shaking my head even though she couldn’t see me.

“I was about to head to take a shower and had to run to my phone,” I explained, trying to shake off the paranoid feelings.

“Gotcha! Well, I won’t keep you long. I was just wondering…” There was a pause, and I blinked.

Lana never paused.

Lana lived boldly and never stopped to think about the consequences. I glanced at the screen to make sure I hadn’t lost her.

“Lana Banana? You still there?”

“I’m here.” she muttered. “I was wondering if maybe you know if Jen was hiring?”

“Hiring?” I repeated and frowned. “Wait, for who?”

“For me,” she huffed. My eyes widened. Lana was more than okay financially. She managed her own graphic design company and worked from home. “Okay, so don’t freak out… but I kinda got in a fender bender.”

“Lana!” I gasped.

“I’m fine! I promise you I’m fine! Everything is okay.”

“You sure?”

“I promise. You know I would never lie about that.”

“Okay, but wait, what about the other guy?”

“He’s more than fine,” she said under her breath. My lips twitched.

“What?” I asked with a half chuckle.

“Nothing,” she huffed. “I just… I have a high deductible and was wondering if you knew if she was hiring before I called her tomorrow morning.”

“She’s looking. But if it’s just for the deductible, you know I could always let you borrow?—“

“Nope. I don’t think so, Viv,” she cut me off. I rolled my eyes even though her answer didn’t surprise me. Lana was fiercely independent.

“Lana—“

“Viv, I’m serious. That money you're saving is for a car. I’m not letting you spend it.”

“But what if?—“

“No.”

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