Toweling off inside the cubicle, I pad barefoot to my room.
The bed is simple but comfy.
It groans a little when I sit on it.
A wood framed window overlooks a tree on the pavement.
And beyond that, the train station.
This restaurant used to be a tavern or a lodge of some kind, apparently.
Franko likes to hire and train newbies like me.
Offering board keeps his hourly rate low.
The walls are paper thin.
I can hear Porter’s bed squeak whenever he moves.
I kind of like that.
Feels like he’s in the same room as me.
I listen as he shuffles through the songs on his playlist.
Lacing a pair of sneakers, I sling a hoodie over my shoulder.
There’s a tiny mirror on the back of the door.
My hair is sticking up at all angles, cheeks pink from the steam.
I grab a cap to hide my wayward locks, then check my nose for boogers.
Maybe I should brush my teeth, too.
Just in case.
Just in case what?I sigh.
Get a grip on yourself.
The irony of that thought makes me smile.
I spent most of my shower getting a grip on myself.
But now I’m super nervous.
I distract myself with a quick call to Beth.
“So good to hear your voice, love. You settling in okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Everyone making you feel welcome?”
“Very,” I grin.
In ways I didn't expect.
