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I had a last-minute appointment across the city; otherwise, I wouldn’t have ended up stuck in this hell during rush hour. City life didn’t fit my personality. You needed patience to live in the city, and I had none. Life had drained it from me. With countless dead-end relationships, loss of friendships, and shitty bosses, I no longer had time to wait for others. I had learned my lesson. It was time for me to be selfish and only care about my–
HONK!The car behind me blaring their horn has me snapping out of my daze.
“And I thought I didn’t have any damn patience,” I mutter, creeping my car forward in traffic.
I open my mouth to vent, but my phone rings. The display pops up withMOM.
“Of course, Miss Ray of Sunshine would call right now,” I sigh, answering the call.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, Sweetpea. How are you doing today?” she asks cheerfully. Hard to stay pissed off with her heavy Southern accent and sweet tone.
“It was okay, overall.”
“Are you sure? You sound upset. Do you not like your new place?”
“My new place is okay. Nothing to complain about. I promise,” I assure her.
“Hmm. Well, call it my momma intuition, but I can tell something is bothering you. Spill it, Ashlynn Rebekkah Prior.”
Her entire tone shifts. She goes from sweet, cuddly teddy bear to grizzly bear real fast. She isn’t going to take anything but the truth.
“My full name? Really, Mom?” I sigh. “That’s just cruel.”
“All is fair in love and war, my dear,” she chuckles. “Now tell Momma what is going on.”
I debate on continuing my lie about how life is great. My parents have always been there for me; however, I don’t like stressing them. Anytime the littlest thing upsets me, my father is ready to dig a giant hole, and my mom is right there beside him with her shovel.
“Ashlynn,” she says sternly.
“I’m just not adjusting fully. It isn’t the end of the world. I promise.”
“It’ll take time, Sweetheart,” she replies sweetly. “You’ve only been back in the city for two months. It takes time to adjust to life, especially after a breakup. It’s only been what? A little over a year or so?”
“I know. I’m not trying to complain.”
“Honey, it’s okay to vent about things that are bothering you. You know this. Your dad and I will always have your back. Always.”
And, just like that, the emotions of being stuck in traffic leaves. My mom’s superpower is making people feel better. She has had this power since I was a little girl, and I don’t think she’ll ever lose it. She’s just that kind of person.
“Mom, you’re the best. You know that, right?” I smile.
“Little ole me,” she says in a dramatic Southern Belle accent.
“Mom, you can’t do the Southern Belle accent if you already have a thickShake-and-Bakeaccent,” I tease. We both burst into laughter and spent the next thirty minutes on the phone, helping me get through the wait in traffic.
***
The longest hour of my life is finally behind me. I can’t push6fast enough on the elevator panel. Six short floors up, and I’ll be able to kick off my heels and unwind.
“Hold the elevator!” a man yells as the doors begin to close. I quickly push the button holding the doors open.
The man rushes inside the elevator, holding two medium size boxes stacked on top of each other and a black duffle bag slung over his shoulder. He walks toward the back of the elevator behind me. The smell of cologne, sweat, and diesel hits my nose.
“What floor?” I ask, glancing back at him.
He peeks from around the boxes. My blood runs cold, and my knees weaken as he stares down at me with his cognac-colored eyes.
