Page 54 of Rush

Luke follows me up the steps to my building and to my apartment. I unlock my front door, letting us in.

I kick off my shoes and go to the kitchen to turn the kettle on.

“You mind if I just take a quick shower and clean up?” I gesture to the mess that is me.

“Course not. Go ahead. Actually, are you hungry? I skipped lunch, and I’m starving.”

“I could eat. What are you thinking?”

“Chinese.”

“Sounds good to me. There’s Chinese takeout just on the corner of my block.”

“Perfect. You go take your shower, and I’ll go grab us some food. Anything specific?”

“Chow mein.”

“Egg rolls?”

“One for me.”

“Got it.” He heads for the door.

“You want some money?” I ask him.

He gives me a look that tells me it’s a definite no.

“Okay. Well, take my keys with you in case I’m still in the shower when you get back.” I throw them over to him, and he catches them.

“Back soon.”

I turn down the hall to the bathroom as I hear the front door bang shut. I close the bathroom door and turn on the shower to let it heat up.

I catch sight of myself in the bathroom mirror.

God, what a mess I am.

And I don’t just mean the state of my face.

I turn away from the mirror and strip off my clothes. I climb in the shower and put my head under the spray.

The feel of the hot water is just what I need to help clear my mind of my problems.

The only bad thing is, they’ll all still be there after this shower is done.

I turn my face to the stream, and I wash the makeup off my face. Then, I shampoo my hair before combing conditioner through it, followed by soaping my body clean with my favorite raspberry-scented body wash, and then I rinse off.

I’m conscious not to be too long in the shower, as I don’t want to be in my towel when Luke gets back, and I didn’t bring any clothes into the bathroom with me.

I turn off the shower and wring the excess water from my hair. I grab a towel from the rail and cover my body with it.

I’ve just opened the bathroom door when I hear a knock at the door.

Is that Luke already? But he took my keys with him, so why is he knocking?

Men. I give a mental eye roll.

“Use my keys,” I holler. “I just got out of the shower.”