Chapter 18: Locksmith Surprises

AVA

We sat there in silence for a while, still holding hands, when a nurse entered. She stopped my IV drip and disconnected the lines.

“All right, hon. You get to go home in a minute, okay?”

She took the IV catheter out of my hand and replaced it with a Band-Aid. “The doctor has signed your discharge papers and prescription. I’m going to go pick them up for you.”

She got back shortly after and went over all the paperwork and medication with me. Then she walked out, leaving me alone with Cyrus.

He and I looked at each other. I was still in my own clothes, luckily, although my tights had been removed, and the sleeve of my blouse had been cut off.

“All right, I’d better go get you a wheelchair,” Cyrus said.

I struggled to put on my coat, so Cyrus helped me into it when he got back. He took me down to the main entrance, where we found Miles waiting for us by the town car.

“Do you ever get any time off?” I asked him.

Miles smiled as he opened the door and he and Cyrus helped me get into the car.

“Wouldn’t pass up on a chance to transport such precious cargo, Ms. Mayweather.”

We pulled up in front of my apartment building, and Cyrus walked around and opened my door before I could stop him.

“That’s okay, I’ve got it from here!” I said as I struggled to get out, knowing full well that I, in fact, very much did ~not~ have it from there.

Cyrus scoffed and hoisted me out of the car. When we got to my apartment, I was surprised to find a locksmith there, just finishing up changing the locks.

“Thanks, John.” Cyrus nodded as if it was no big deal that he had just had a locksmith change my locks without me even knowing.

The man handed me my new keys and went on his way. I opened the door and turned around to face Cyrus.

He hesitated. “Do you need any help?”

“I don’t think so.”

He ran his hand through his hair, and I had to take a step backward to regain my balance. I flinched as my weight shifted to my injured leg.

Cyrus quickly wrapped his hand around my good arm, keeping me from collapsing.

“I’m taking you inside.”

He turned me around and guided me down the hallway, ignoring my quiet protest. My eyes scanned the living room for things to hide as we entered, but I was happy to find it was relatively neat.

Cyrus looked around as well and smirked crookedly.

“Well, this place has your name written all over it.”

I raised my eyebrow, trying to see what he saw. I wondered how a room could look clumsy and slightly short-tempered.

Cyrus picked up on my confusion. “Neat and…happy?” he clarified.

My apartment had always felt like a true sanctuary to me. It had large windows that let in lots of light, and the walls and furniture were all light-colored wood, white, and beige tones.

The sterile feel of it was only broken up by the numerous vases of brightly colored flowers and large green plants.

I’d kept the I minimal and made sure all my things had designated spots behind different kinds of closed doors, keeping the place neat-looking and easy to clean.

Cyrus set me down on the couch and began walking around my apartment.

“Want something to drink?” I asked.

I was trying to get him to stay in place, but he walked back into the hallway, ignoring me.

“Hey!”

I struggled to get back off the couch as Cyrus disappeared from my view. I finally managed to get up, and I hopped after him on my good leg. I found him in my bedroom.

“Excuse you! What are you doing in here?!”

Cyrus sent me a sly grin. “Research.”

He walked toward my closet, which, much to my embarrassment, still had his coat jacket hanging from its handle. He glared at me and pulled it off its hanger.

“Yeah…,” I said, mortified. “Take it with you.”

Cyrus brought the collar up to his nose and sniffed it. It made me wish the ground would swallow me whole.

With the collar still at his nose, his eyes flicked up at me. “Smells like you.”

All kinds of butterflies started darting through my body. I ripped the jacket from his hands, sniffing it myself.

“It does not! It smells like you!”

“And what do I smell like to you?” Cyrus taunted, stepping closer.

I looked away.

“Tell me, Ava.”

“Woodsy,” I said, cursing my honesty. “Like pine needles and sandalwood.”

Cyrus chuckled. “Is that so?”

I shrugged. “So, what do I smell like to you?”

Cyrus stepped even closer, so that he was almost pressed up against me. He bent down, bringing his face impossibly close to the place in between my neck and shoulder, and inhaled deeply.

Delicious flutters washed over me, almost knocking me off my feet. I inhaled sharply, filling my lungs with his delectable manly scent.

“Like jasmine, and citrus fruits,” he said under his breath, and for a second, I almost felt like he was going to kiss me.

~Get a grip, he’s your boss!~