Page 53 of The Book Signing

ABIGAIL

My eyelids feel so heavy as I sit in the back of the taxi on the way back to my apartment. Forcing them to stay open, I watch as my hometown comes to sight. I consider The Loop a concrete jungle and every time I drive through it, I’m amazed by the tall towers. The architecture is grand.

Closer to my apartment is where all the great foodie places are and as we near them, my stomach grumbles at the aromas as they filter through the opened window.

Fresh air, yes, please.

Finally, the taxi stops outside my destination and the driver gets out to help with my luggage, before I hand him cash.

“Thanks,” I say as he accepts it, then hops in, disappearing into the distance.

I turn and look up at the building and grab my carry-on and luggage and sigh.

“Ah, nothing beats home.”

Entering the lift, I lean against the elevator and wait for it to take me to the fourth floor before it opens its doors and lets me out.

The moment I unlock my door and step over its threshold, my shoulders sag. All the tension suddenly releases. I put down my luggage in the hallway, grateful to be back home, safe and sound. Physically, at least.

Although I assumed I would aim for the fridge first, my feet seem to have a life of their own, as they march me over to my bed. The moment my gaze falls to my pale pink quilt, I flop onto the mattress.

“Crap. Tiffany.” I mutter, then quickly fish out my cell from the back pocket of my cardigan. With droopy eyes, I successfully message her.

Me: Home. Exhausted. Sleep. Talk later x.

I don’t bother waiting for a response, instead I just crawl over to my cold, untouched pillow and close my eyes.

*

It’s only when I hear the garbage truck whirl outside that I unglue my eyelids and adjust to my whereabouts, which I soon realize is the couch. I slowly sit up and rub my head, and yawn.

Shit, I must have slept longer than I expected.

I remember waking up after ten hours, going to the toilet, then eating a slice of bread with butter and passing out on the couch again.

I grab my cell and dial my sister, putting her on speaker, and she picks up immediately.

“Good evening, Sleeping Beauty.” Tiffany says in a chirpy tone.

I clear my throat, looking for a bottle of water.

“More like midnight.” Then it occurs to me. “Shit, I didn’t even check the time! Sorry if I woke you up.”

Tiffany laughs and says, “Nah. Kids took ages to get to bed, then it was sexy time with Ted, and I’ve been doing work since.”

“Eww.”

“What?”

I finally find the bottle I was looking for, wedged between me and the couch, and take a long gulp before saying, “You work such long hours. I’d rather go to bed.”

She giggles at first but lets out a tired sigh. “Hun, it’s easier said than done when you have your own business. Anyway, welcome home. You feel better with the jet lag?”

I smile, but then a yawn overtakes it. “Yeah, I’m alive and safe. It was a long flight, but we were lucky enough to have only a little turbulence, so that’s good.”

“Bet it gave you lots of time to think.” I hear a smirk in her tone.

“About the next book?”

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