Page 27 of Holding Grace

In the future, I wanted more. For now, that was enough.

Chapter 10

Grace

I sat on a stool at the kitchen island, chin resting in my hand as I waited, bleary-eyed, for my first cup of coffee to finish brewing.

Rolling out of bed – or off the couch, actually – before 7:30 am wasn’t my best thing on a good day, let alone after two days of major life changes. But Michael was set to arrive any minute and I was determined to at least be a minimally functioning human by the time he did.

My phone dinged with a notification just as my coffee finished. I stood and grabbed the mug, blowing across the surface of the steaming liquid as I held my phone to the side and read the message.

Michael: Bagels?

He included a picture – racks of delicious-looking rounds of golden dough.

Me: Yes.

I set my phone down, then picked it back up just as quickly. Geez, Grace. Rude much?

Me: Please. Thank you.

Michael: K. He followed it with a laughing emoji. Coffee?

Me: Got it. For you, too.

Michael: Perfect. Be there in 5.

There was a place with bagels that looked like that within five minutes of my apartment? That could be dangerous. Bread, in all its many forms, was my downfall.

I started a cup of coffee for Michael, stirred a little honey nut flavored creamer and sugar into mine, and took my first few sips, even though it was still a little too hot.

Then I let myself wander into the bathroom one last time – seriously, the last time – to check my appearance. I wore a plain gray t-shirt, black leggings, and black ankle socks. My hair was twisted up in a clip, and I’d washed my face and brushed my teeth. I looked perfectly appropriate for a first-thing-in-the-morning bed delivery, not that the delivery guys were my real concern.

“You look fine,” I told my reflection. I was saved from obsessing about it anymore by the knock on my apartment door.

I took a quick look at the tiny security monitor next to the door confirming it was Michael. He was standing at my door holding a much larger bag than I’d anticipated, and I wondered what all he’d brought with him other than the food.

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