One Day Soon (One Day Soon, #1)(83)

I clung to him, not wanting to let go.

He pulled out of my grasp.

And then he was gone.





The Present

I woke up to laughter.

It was a strange sound that didn’t quite fit.

Deep and genuine, it filled the room.

I sat up in bed and looked around in a daze. For a minute, it was like every other morning.

Lonely.

But then I remembered Yoss and I had a momentary panic. What if he had left? What if he had slipped out while I slept?

I held my hand over my racing heart and tried to calm my breathing.

Then I heard the laughter again.

It wasn’t just one voice.

It was two.

I frowned and got out of bed, finding my robe and putting it on.

I could smell brewing coffee as I walked out into my living room. I wasn’t sure what I expected to see.

Yoss and Lee chatting in my kitchen was definitely not it.

Yoss was chopping onions with a smile on his face. The kind of smile that I hadn’t seen in far too long.

Lee was standing at the stove, dropping cut peppers into a pan. The smell of cooking eggs and vegetables made my stomach growl.

“I told her that Madonna was definitely not the look for her. She seemed to take it very personally that I didn’t appreciate the cone bra getup she had on,” Lee snickered, flipping the omelet.

“I can’t see Imi in a Madonna costume. Did you take pictures?” Yoss asked, chuckling. It warmed me to hear. Then I realized what they were talking about.

“Actually, I think I have some on my phone—”

“Don’t you dare, Lee Cutler,” I warned, stepping into the room.

Lee looked up and grinned when he saw me. “If it isn’t Sleeping Beauty,” he teased.

Yoss gave me a shy smile, which I returned.

“Yoss, can you get some plates? Imi keeps them in the cabinet by the sink,” Lee instructed, waving the spatula.

“Sure.” Yoss turned to me. “Uh, I made coffee. I can get you some. You still like it with milk and sugar, right?” Yoss asked.

“That sounds great,” I told him. Lee waggled his eyebrows once Yoss’s back was turned.

I returned his look blandly.

“Yoss said you had a late night so I turned your alarm clock off and let you sleep in a bit,” Lee said, flipping the omelet.

“You turned my alarm off? What time is it? I’ll be late for work!” I checked the time on my phone and saw that it was only seven thirty. I had plenty of time.

Lee rolled his eyes. “Chill out, the world won’t fall apart if you’re a little late. You need to work on loosening that rigid control you have over every aspect of your life.”

I noticed Yoss was watching the exchange between Lee and me with interest.

“You’re making a mess in my kitchen,” I pointed out.

“And your house is a pigsty. What’s your point?” Lee volleyed back, not bothered in the least my gruff attitude. “Yoss and I have been having a great talk. I came over to bring you some happy eggs that Kevin brought home last night. You know they’re called happy eggs because the little hens get lucky. No artificial insemination for them. Nope. It’s just them and the rooster and a whole lot of hot poultry action.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Thanks,” I interrupted.

Lee glared at me before going on, “Anyway, I came over and Yoss answered the door. He tells me he’s on old friend of yours and you’re letting him stay here. I told him that the Im I know isn’t one for spontaneous house guests, so he must be special.” Lee gave me a significant look that demanded an explanation.

Yoss put the plates on the counter and Lee filled them with his egg concoction. We all sat down together at my kitchen table. It was beyond odd having them both there. My past and my present lives crashing into each other over omelets.

“So old friends, huh? I’ve never heard you mention a Yoss. Unique name. I would have remember that one,” Lee pestered, taking a bite of egg.

“Where’s Kevin? Shouldn’t you be at your couple’s yoga class this morning?” I asked my friend, evading his questions with a less than subtle change of topic.

Lee made a face. “Kevin decided he wanted to take his mother to breakfast instead. And I wasn’t going to subject myself to an hour with the in-law. If it ain’t a holiday, I’m not doing it.”

“That’s very selfless of you, Lee,” I replied blandly.

“It’s called self-preservation, Im,” Lee corrected. “I’m sure Yoss understands what I’m talking about.”

Yoss moved his food around on his plate, not eating. “You could say that.” Yoss put his fork down and stood up suddenly. “I’m going to get a shower, if that’s okay? I was too tired to get one last night.”

“Oh, of course. I warned you about the girly shampoo and I think there’s an extra toothbrush in the medicine cabinet,” I said.

“Okay, thanks.” Yoss turned to Lee who was watching us with that analytical shrinky way of his. “Lee, it was nice meeting you.”

“Sure. It was nice meeting you too, Yoss.”

As soon as Yoss was gone, Lee pounced. “What the hell, Im? Who is that guy? Is he really an ‘old friend?’ Or did you pick him up somewhere? Is he some illicit one-night stand that hasn’t left yet? He’s ridiculously hot, so good for you if he is. Though that doesn’t sound like you at all, which disappoints me greatly.”