A Day in a Life

Chapter Twenty-Six

Saige

W HEN I START to come to my senses, I can’t remember where I am. The ocean breeze is licking at my skin. I’m outside. But why am I sleeping outside?

I open my eyes, blinking a few times at the bright light. When my vision comes into focus, I see the man of the hour. He’s inches away from my face, watching me intently.

I can’t help it, a smile takes over my face at the sight of him. “Hi.”

He smiles back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Hey.”

“Have you been watching me sleep?” My whisper-voice is always prominent when I first wake up.

“I have. Please tell me that’s not creepy.”

“Oh, it’s creepy. But not when it’s you. Only you.” Have I found the one? The one man in this world who was made for me? It’s too soon to say. But I feel like I’m falling in slow motion through a bright blue, cloudless sky, and there’s nothing in sight to stop my fall. Nor do I want anything to stop me from falling.

Falling in love.

I’m not sure I’ve ever felt this happy. Not once in my life. Elijah’s eyes are only for me.

“Your hair. I’ve never seen it down. It’s calling to me. My fingers are dying to run through it.” He holds a few strands in his hand, his fingers tracing the length.

Then he surprises me by scooting closer and placing a light kiss on my forehead. His lips linger there for a few moments, caressing my skin. I close my eyes and hold my breath.

I don’t release it until he backs away.

“Beautiful Saige,” he says.

We’re playing with fire. I refuse to be like Cole, breaking the promises I made when I said “I do.” I need to do this for me. Only for me. Never for him.

I need to change the subject. “How about a swim? The water’s beautiful and not too deep for at least a quarter of a mile. You’ll love it.”

“Awesome. Let’s go.”

I hold hands with Elijah, acting as his cane. We walk through the warm turquoise water until we’re far enough out to float on our pool noodles without our feet touching the bottom.

“I’m lucky to live close to this sandy beach. A lot of the beaches around here are surrounded by rough terrain, coral reefs, or marinas. Tourists are often disappointed by the lack of traditional beaches.”

“Just another day in paradise,” Elijah comments.

“I assume the buoyancy of the water feels good on your leg?”

“It does, actually. Almost no pain.”

I smile, happy to have pleased him. “I have so much I want to show you. Sissy said I can take the early shift for the next couple of weeks. We can spend our evenings being tourists.”

“I’m all in.” He rests his head in his arms. “Hmmm. I could float here for hours.”

“Every year the College of the Florida Keys offers a Swim Around Key West Day. There are lots of different races you can compete in. The longest is a twelve-and-a-half-mile loop around Key West. Or you can enter relay races or six-mile, two-mile, or one-mile, or eight-hundred-yard races. It’s a fun day.”

“Have you ever participated?” Elijah asks.

“I’ve done the twelve-and-a-half-mile loop for the past five years. I’ve never won. But I’m proud of myself for finishing each time. I’m required to have my own kayak support in case of emergency, so it’s safe. The dolphins often join the race. It’s pretty cool.” It’s hard, but it’s one of my favorite things to do.

Elijah studies me with a thoughtful expression. “So you’re a strong swimmer?”

“Yeah, I swam with the swim team all four years of high school.”

“Impressive.”

“I love swimming. I’m not a competitive person, except when it comes to swimming.” I grin wickedly. Even a wicked grin makes Elijah’s eyes widen. I love his reaction whenever I smile.

“Does your height stop you from winning?” he asks, curious.

“In a shorter race, height does give a swimmer an advantage. But in a longer race, it’s all about your swimming technique.”

“Hmm. Interesting. Have you ever gone river rafting?” Elijah’s eyes are hooded from the brightness of the sun.

“I have. Not strong rapids, though.” And that’s all I’m going to say on that subject.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he says lazily.

“As long as you have a life vest, there’s nothing to stop you from doing it. Or any of the water sports offered here.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” He sighs.

He doesn’t say it, but I can’t imagine how scary it would be to swim with a painful leg. I suppose it would keep me out of the water.

“For now, I’m looking forward to seeing Key West through your eyes. I’m all yours. Wherever you go, I’ll follow,” Elijah says, smiling at me as we float on bright pink pool noodles.

He doesn’t seem fazed by pink. I think I love that about him the most of anything yet.

HIS WORDS ECHO in my mind as I enjoy my evening steamy bath, washing away the salt water and the sand. Wherever you go, I’ll follow.

I don’t know exactly what’s happening between us, but something’s definitely happening. Sorry, bathtub, there’s a new man in town. He can ease aching feet even better than you.

I need to stop talking to my bathtub.

I lift up one leg and shave until my skin looks glossy in the glow of the light. Then I do the other leg.

I soak for a little longer before I decide I’d better get to bed before I fall asleep in the tub. I didn’t dim the lights, play soft music, or light candles this time. I’m too sleepy.

I let the water out, grab my white fluffy towel, and dry off. Then I wrap the towel around me.

All at once, I freeze, paralyzed with fear.

There, in the corner of my bathroom, just behind the door, is the biggest brown spider I’ve ever seen in my entire life. His long legs make him at least the size of my palm. No, bigger. I mean, he has to be at least six inches wide.

As I lean over to grab my phone from the bathroom counter, he moves, like I startled him.

I call Randall. No answer. I call Sissy. No answer. Then I call Brook. No answer.

No one picks up. They’re all busy at the restaurant. Evidently, Brook went back to work today, wearing a mask. She should be in bed.

I’m in a rather compromising position, but I don’t have a choice. I’m calling Elijah. I need a hero. I’m grateful we exchanged phone numbers earlier.

“Hello, beautiful.”

I love the way he answers the phone when I call. But I don’t have time to bask in happiness. I have an emergency on my hands.

“I need help. There’s a monster in my bathroom.”

“A monster?” He sounds confused.

“A spider. A huge spider. The biggest spider I’ve ever seen. If I move, he moves. He knows I’m here. I’ve seen Spiderman. I know he has six senses. One of them is detecting human fear.”

“Just don’t go in there. I’ll be right over.”

“No, you don’t understand. I just finished a bath. I’m still standing in the tub. I mean, I have a towel around me. But I’m trapped in here.”

“Oh, that changes things.” He pauses. “How do I get in to help you? Besides breaking down the door.”

“You can go by the restaurant. Randall and Sissy have an extra emergency key to my apartment.”

“Will they give it to me?” Elijah asks, sounding doubtful.

“I’ll text them, letting them know it’s okay. Tell them to check their texts. I tried calling, but I’m sure they’re too busy to answer their phones.”

“Wait. I wasn’t your first choice?”

“I called Randall. He’s next door and can get here faster.”

“So I was second choice?”

“Well, I called Sissy too,” I admit.

“Hold up. I’m third choice?”

“No, I called Brook too. They’re all next door.” My throat’s constricting from fear. “Who cares? We’re wasting time.”

“I’m fourth choice to come to your rescue? I’m devastated.”

“My life is in danger, and you’re worried about who I called first?” As if to prove the point, I let out a scream as the spider moves an inch. “He’s moving. Please come quick. He’s planning his attack.”

I hear a short laugh. “The fourth choice will be right there.”

The line goes dead.

It’s just me and the monster. I wrap my towel around myself a little more firmly. I tuck it in just below my neck, extra tight. I can move freely without my towel falling now. Moving as slowly as possible, I inch my hand toward the bathroom counter. I wrap my fingers around the bottle of hairspray. It’s my weapon of choice when it comes to spiders. It slows them down just enough so I can kill them with a flyswatter.

My hands shake just thinking about getting close enough to the monster to spray him with the hair spray.

We’re in a standoff. He knows it, and so do I.

I mentally follow Elijah’s footsteps. He’s leaving his hotel by now. He probably grabbed an Uber to get here faster. Wait times are short in Key West.

More than likely, he’s in the Uber, headed my way. Maybe he told the Uber driver it’s an emergency, that his girlfriend is stuck in her bathroom with a monster.

They’re having a good laugh over my situation. The driver’s having a hard time keeping his eyes on the road because he’s tearing up from laughter. At my expense.

I’d like to know what they’d do in this situation. I’m not dressed. I feel a thousand times more vulnerable than I would if I had clothes on. I have no shoes on my feet to kill the monster with a good stomp.

It’s only a five-minute drive to the restaurant. He should be arriving now. I count to sixty, giving him one minute to approach Randall and Sissy.

He’s probably asking for the emergency key.

I stare at my phone, waiting to see if they’re going to check with me before they hand over my key to a man.

Three little dots appear. “Seriously?” It’s from Sissy.

I text back immediately. SERIOUSLY. All caps means I’m yelling at her. HURRY! is my next message.

She responds with emoji laughing faces, tears streaming down their cheeks.

I think I can hear her loud cackle of a laugh from where I’m standing.

Elijah should have my key now. He’s heading toward my apartment. It’s only ten steps away, but he’s also a little slow on stairs. I count to twenty, my eyes never leaving the monster. I’m daring him to move with my stare.

Then I hear the jiggle of the key in the lock. I’ve never been so happy to hear that sound in my life.

I hear my door open and close.

Elijah gives three soft raps on the door. “Saige? Are you still alive in there?”

“Don’t make any sudden movements. We don’t want him to make a run for it.”

“Where is he?” Elijah sounds like he’s holding back laughter.

I just love being the entertainment tonight. “He’s in the corner, behind the door.”

“Uh, the door’s locked.”

Shoot. I forgot about that. I always lock the bathroom door. I’m a woman home alone. It’s an added measure of security.

“There’s a bent paperclip on top of the door frame. It will pop the lock open.” Why do I feel safer with the door locked again? Anyone can pop that baby open. “Do it quietly.”

Elijah follows my instructions. I barely hear the lock pop open. He cracks the door open barely an inch.

The monster again moves as though he’s been startled. What was he doing over there? Taking a nap?

“Stop. He moved,” I warn.

“Saige, Sissy gave me a flyswatter. It doesn’t matter where he goes, I’ll get him.”

“You don’t understand how big he is.”

“I don’t care. I’m here to save my girl.”

I don’t have time to think about how sweet it is to hear him call me his girl. “Do you know how fast spiders are? They look like someone’s blowing them across the floor. Once he’s spooked, there’s no telling what he’ll do.”

“Okay, I’m coming in. Nice and slow. He’ll never know what hit him.”

“I’m armed with hair spray,” I let Elijah know.

“Do you have a license to carry it?”

“I don’t find this amusing.” I’m the only one not laughing.

“Sorry, sorry. Just kidding.” He chuckles under his breath.

The traitor.

“Hair spray slows them down. It makes them easier to kill. Don’t laugh. It works.” Like a charm. My dad taught me that little trick.

When Elijah’s eyes land on me, they widen. “You look cute.”

“Shut up.” I’m not in the mood for looking cute.

“Just sayin’.”

“I need you to focus before he attacks. I’m not kidding.”

Elijah moves like a thief in the night as he slips into the bathroom without opening the door very wide.

But when he sees the monster, he yells, “Holy crap!” And he jumps into the bathtub with me, dropping his cane in the process.

He spooks the monster. Big time.

It crawls halfway up the wall in the time it takes me to blink.

Elijah holds my hand for support. “You weren’t kidding.”

“Told you.”

“Do you like it in here? Because I think we’re trapped for life.” He’s still holding the flyswatter. Priorities.

“At least we’re together, and I look cute.”

“Okay, I get it. You’re right. This isn’t funny. This is war. Hand over the hair spray.”

“You have to get close enough to spray him really good. Otherwise, you’ll just make him mad.” I know this from experience.

“Self-defense 101.” He removes the cap and places his finger on the nozzle. “Can you get my cane for me?”

I think about leaning over and flashing him. “Sure. Turn around.”

“I can’t take my eyes off him.”

“I can’t bend over without flashing you,” I argue.

“And the problem is?”

I send him a scathing look.

“Just kidding. I’m human, okay? And you do look cute. Watch him while you grab the cane. The motion might make him run. Take it real slow.”

I move like a sloth as I grab the cane without agitating the monster. “Got it.”

“Here’s the plan. I’ll get as close as I can. Then I’ll start spraying. I won’t stop spraying until he can’t move. Then I’ll get him with the flyswatter. Deal?”

“Deal. But I’ll need to confirm the kill.” It’s an important part of spider killing when someone’s doing the nasty work for you.

“What do you mean?”

“What if you lose him? To make me feel better, you’ll say you got him, when really he’s still loose in my apartment. I need to see the dead carcass and confirm the kill.”

Elijah scoffs. “I will happily share the spoils of my hunting trip with you. Can we have him stuffed and hang him on the wall?”

“Absolutely not.” I’m still not laughing.

“Spoilsport. Wish me luck. I’m going in.” Elijah slowly steps out of the tub, juggling his cane, the can of hair spray, and the flyswatter. “Spiders don’t usually freak me out, but you’re right. This is a monster.”

“Why is a spider only big when a man confirms it’s big?” I ask, irritated.

“Ah, life is often unfair to women.”

“Thanks for that.” Very few men are willing to admit such a thing. My heart swells in my chest. Elijah is one of the good guys. I sensed it from the beginning. Now I know it’s true.

“I’m going to open the door very slowly. I want you to run out of here when I say ‘Go.’ Got it?”

If he was being a macho jerk right now, I’d say, “I’m sorry, Master, I don’t know if I understand your instructions.” I may or may not have bitter feelings toward men. I try to keep them in check. But they rear their ugly heads now and then. I have never liked being told what to do.

But since he’s not remotely being a jerk, and he’s only here to save me, I simply say, “Okay.” I’m embarrassed by this entire situation. It should be me going after the monster. I’ve been independent for so long, it feels wrong to call for help.

Those feelings change faster than lightning when Elijah gets too close. The monster makes a run for it. Before we know it, he’s on the ceiling.

“Go!” Elijah hollers.

As I step out of the tub, the anxiety-filled monster loses his footing on the ceiling and drops to the ground in spider shame.

We both scream. Mine is loud and high-pitched. His is more of a deep and throaty “Ahh!” Regardless, we both run out of the bathroom like we’re running from a serial killer with a large knife.

Elijah slams the bathroom door, grabs one of my favorite throw blankets, and stuffs it under the door.

We’re both quiet as we look at each other blankly.

Finally, I say, “Thanks, honey. I’ll be safe forevermore as long as I never have to pee.”

“Just don’t use that room.”

We both burst out laughing at ourselves until neither of us can breathe. Tears stream down our red faces as we wheeze-laugh.

“I’m so glad I called you for help,” I squeak.

“Whatever you do, don’t call a former cop about a spider. Call the freaking fire department.”

“I’m getting dressed. Then I’m moving.” I hear Elijah laugh as I run to my bedroom. Once dressed, I feel so much better.

I exit my bedroom in my favorite jeans and a t-shirt. I’ve combed through my hair, but it’s still wet.

“I still think you look cute.” Elijah’s eyes tell me I look more than cute.

I love how he looks at me. “Thanks. This time I won’t tell you to shut up. My family used to say it’s my one and only curse word. I guess they’re right.”

Someone knocks on the door, startling both of us.

“Who could that be?” I mutter as I head for the door.

It’s Sissy. She’s holding a large can of bug spray. “Well, is the world safe again?”

“As long as I never need to pee again in this lifetime.”

“You serious?”

Sissy storms in. She picks up the flyswatter as she goes. Then she points to Elijah. “I expected more from you.”

She cackle-laughs when she sees the blanket stuffed under the bathroom door. She pulls it out and tosses it into the living room.

Both Elijah and I back up, searching the folds of the blanket for the monster.

Sissy pushes forward, entering the bathroom with no fear whatsoever. We hear a lot of banging around and a whole lot of swats with the flyswatter. It’s a little like World War III is happening in my bathroom.

Then she walks out, twirling the flyswatter in her hand like a cowboy twirls his gun in a western. “Done.” She heads for the door and says, “‘Night, wimps.” Her laugh echoes in our ears as she walks down my stairs.

Elijah and I look at each other with wide eyes.

“Confirm the kill,” we both say at the same time.

We enter the bathroom as slowly as a cat enters a house with a dog. Then we see it.

It’s a huge blob of goo and legs. “It looks like she killed an alien in my house.”

“You’re not wrong. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“I’m calling an exterminator first thing tomorrow.”

“I think that’s wise.” He pauses. “Go take a load off. I’ll clean up the alien.”

“Let’s do something to get our minds off of monsters. I’ll make popcorn. How about a movie?”

“As long as it’s not about spiders.”

“Deal.”

We end up watching two comedies back to back, just to get the monster out of our thoughts. We sit next to each other on the couch, thigh to thigh. We DoorDash twice, once for ice cream, and the second time for cookies.

As for the lights, they stay on. Like every single light I own. My apartment is so bright, an ant couldn’t crawl by us without one of us noticing.

Then Elijah says, “Oh, I almost forgot. I bought something for you. I was distracted. Can’t think why.”

“Nothing exciting happening around here,” I tease.

He picks up a bag that was sitting by the front door and pulls out a shoebox. “These are for you. I wear this same brand when I’m working out. They save my feet. Most comfortable shoes I’ve ever found, especially when you have to be on your feet all day.”

I stare at the box feeling like I’m going to burst into tears. “You bought me shoes?”

“Yeah. Thought they might help with your aching feet after a long shift.”

“This is…this is…better than flowers, better than chocolates, better than…well, anything,” I say, at a loss for words. This is personal. It says “I care about you. I want you to be comfortable. I’m concerned for you. I don’t want you to hurt.” Nothing says everything more than a thoughtful gift. Or a thoughtful act. Like killing a monster in my bathroom—or at least trying to kill it.

“This is the sweetest gift I’ve ever received. Thank you.”

I initiate a hug. He deserves one after everything he endured this evening. I throw my arms around him and thank him so many times I lose count.

Thoughts of a long deep kiss wander through my mind. I allow myself to kiss his cheek, then I banish those thoughts to the galaxy where the monster-alien-spider came from.

Far, far away.