Page 4 of At Your Door

“Yeah, I know. And if you do it now, it will be perfect timing.” I nod, knowing she’s right. For the first time since I clocked out, I checked the time–2:09 PM.

Damn, this whole ordeal has taken three hours?

“You’re right. Thank you so much, El. I know you’re going to be super busy this weekend, so I’ll update you on Monday. And can you act like I didn’t just tell you about your birthday gift?”

She flashes a big smile before responding, “Oh, you mean my custom-made dild–”

“STOP,” I warn. I’ve had enough of that word for tonight.

“Okaaay, okaaay. I’ll see you Monday!” After one last smile, my screen goes black, and I’m left to think about my own thoughts.

It’s a good plan. A really good one, actually. It’sso good, that I should get up and find my packing tape and get it done. But suddenly, all the effects of work, climbing up and down six flights of stairs, and this whole mix-up finally catch up to me. All I can manage to do is move the box from the couch to the floor next to my front door.

I’m sure it’ll be fine if I do it later.

Finally, I kick off my shoes and don’t even bother to change before plopping back down onto the couch, where I knock out in minutes.

***

I'm jolted awake in a panic by the sound of someone screaming. My body springs up from the couch, and I grab my head to steady myself against the dizziness. But when I hear the scream again, I leap to my feet. It sounded like a woman, and she sounded like she was dying.

Immediately, my mind shoots to Mary, and I’m about to reach my front door when the words“Oh, fuck”make me freeze in my steps.

Well,thatdoesn't sound like Mary.

“Shit, don’t stop!” The voice continues.

Okay, I can hear that loud and clear now.

My wide eyes snap to the door of my bedroom. Maybe it’s because I’m still waking up, but the sound is so loud and clear that it seems to be coming from my room.

My brows furrow as I approach the door and turn the handle, not fully prepared for what might be inside.

But my fear of finding strangers getting it on in my bed quickly fades when I walk in. Even in the dark, I can see that my bed is still made from this morning, and my room is completely empty.

I feel myself relax, and just as I'm about to turn away and walk out, I hear, “Griffon,please.”

Oh my God.

I don’t know why I don’t immediately rush out; it feels like my feet are glued to the ground. Now, the sounds of my wall shaking against my headboard begin to flood in.

This can’t actually be happening. I guess I never thought much about it before since that apartment has always been vacant, but it’s clear our bedrooms share a wall.

“Griffon, I’m gonna c–”

I’m out of the room, slamming the door shut behind me within seconds, and I don’t stop until I reach my kitchen.

I think I’ve learned enough about a stranger's sex life for one day.

I never realized how dry my throat was until I finished chugging a full water bottle in record time. I should really eat something since I skipped dinner, but I don’t have much of an appetite.

When I glance at the clock and see it’s 6:55 PM all I register is that I’ve already slept for five hours and still feel exhausted. Judging by the banging sounds still coming from my bedroom, I have a feeling I won’t be getting much more sleep tonight.

When I finally make it back to the couch, I turn on the TV to drown out the noise before shutting my eyes tightly. But the only thing replaying in my mind is the nameGriffin.

It’s more like,“Griffon, please.”But it wouldn’t stop, and at a certain point, I couldn’t distinguish between the real sounds and what was just in my head.

Either way, I couldn’t stop tossing and turning for the rest of the night. Even when the noises finally seemed to fade, I still couldn’t bring myself to venture back into my room.

---