Page 33 of Sweeter than Honey
“Mom!Knockfirst!”
She tsks. “I’m not yourbutler, Lily.” I’m too flustered to remind her that she showed up, uninvited, at my apartment to watch TV. “And anyway, you need to get out of bed and put some proper clothes on. There’s a very intimidating woman here, wearing pumps. Do people still call them pumps?”
“There’s a…” My heart flies into my throat. “Oh my god, mom, is Ms.Espinahere?”
“I think that was it, I don’t know.”
I jump out of bed, throwing my blanket onto the floor. I scramble to my dresser to pull out a bra and some real pants. My heart is still hammering and I can smell myself on my hands.
“She came in right at the verdict!” my mother continues. “Now I’m not going to know what the judge said, and it was a very good episode…”
“I’m sure it’s online somewhere, mom,” I sigh, pulling on a pair of worn slippers. It feels strange approaching my boss in bare feet. What is she doing here? She’s never come to my apartment before. I didn’t even know she knew where I lived!
I do my best to smooth down my hair. I wish there was a bathroom in my bedroom where I could brush my hair and wash my hands, but the only bathroom in our small apartment is beside Eli’s room.
I take a deep inhale, then I push past my mother into the living room.
Renata is standing in my kitchen. She wears a soft, velvet blazer, and shimmering ruby studs in each ear. Her arms are crossed, as she surveys my apartment with an expression of distaste.
“Is this where you live, Lily?” she asks curtly. “Should we be paying you a higher salary?”
“I…no, no!” I reply, flustered. “It’s enough, it’s just…”
“Yes, you should give her a raise!” my mother says, coming out of my bedroom and putting a hand on her hip. “Lily is a smart girl, and a hard worker.Andshe’s got her son and a dependent mother to care for.”
“Mom,” I hiss out of the corner of my mouth. Then I turn back toRenata. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Espina, I wasn’t expecting you.”
Her expression softens slightly as she looks at me. For just a moment, the perfect balance of professional to personal slides just a little toward personal. I hold my breath. “I’m sorry, Lily, I should have warned you I was coming. I wanted to check in on you, to make sure you’re healing all right.”
I nod vigorously. “Yes, I’m perfectly all right. More than all right.”
She takes a step toward me. “I can arrange additional time off, if you need it. Fully compensated. You just say the word.”
“No, no,” I tell her, earnestly. “Actually, I’ve been looking forward to coming back. I miss the office.”
Her lip tilts upward, and her eyes brighten. “We’ve missed you too. Nothing runs as smoothly without you. Lexi spent over fifty grand on a statue.”
“Onestatue?” I gasp.
“Of a flamingo.” Renata rolls her eyes.
I chuckle. “I’m sorry. I usually check her AMEX statements every night.”
Renata nods. “I know. You do a lot, Lily. I wanted to let you know how important you are to our team.”
My heart flutters again, and Renata’s head cocks slightly to the side, her lips parted slightly. I know she can tell how delighted her words make me. She told me that she could hear my heartbeat, but now…now I feel strangely connected to her, too. Like I can pick up on her slightest movements, the tiny expressions of interest, of concern, in her eyes and on her lips.
Am I making it up? Painting a fantasy because of my own (extremely inappropriate) desires?
Or could it be that we have a connection now? A…blood bond, or something? Is that a thing that can happen with vampires? I make a mental note to google it later.
Behind us, my mother coughs loudly.
“Well, thank you for visiting Lily solate,” she says. I groan inwardly. “I’m sure you’re a very busy lady.”
Renata’s lip twitches into a slight grimace, but she gives my mother a polite nod. “Good evening, Mrs. Harper. I won’t take up any more of your time.”
Then she looks back to me. “Rest well, Lily.”