Chapter Ten

I was awakened by the sound of running water from the sink. I sat up in the bed and looked over to see Lio standing at the kitchen sink with a cup of water in his hand. He looked over at me and smiled; that smile a man gives a woman when he’s happy she’s the first one he sees in the morning.

“Good morning.” I said not sounding quite like myself.

“Actually, it would be ‘Good Afternoon’ sleepy head. It's fifteen minutes past noon.”

The embarrassment must have shown on my face because he laughed.

“It’s alright Astraia. I didn’t wake you up because I knew how tired you were. You don’t have to work today do you?”

I shook my head no.

“Good, you need a break. Would your boss agree to giving you a few days off?” He asked before taking a few sips of water.

I almost never took any days off; this would be the first time in a year actually.

“I’m sure he won’t mind. Why?” I said as I rubbed the little bits of eye crust from the corners of my eyes.

Lio set his now empty