Down Time

Missie groaned as she hurried out of bed and into the shower. Her apartment got so chilly this time of year. She hit the small space heater in the bathroom and turned the shower on. She rushed through her shower, knowing that if she lingered she'd be late.

She dried her hair and quickly did her make-up. She loved this time of year because she got to wear her summer dresses with tights and boots. It was usually only a few weeks for maybe a month that she could do that. Before long she'd be in sweater dresses or long pants and sweaters.

She opted to swing through her favorite coffee spot instead of fixing her own at the house. She was out of breakfast bars so she'd grab a muffin. Twenty minutes later she was tucked behind her desk nursing her coffee while she surfed her dailies online. She ran through the maintenance requests from the weekend before diving into her muffin.

The weekend had been a whirlwind. She'd gone home with Mike on Friday and spent most of Saturday in bed with him. She'd had yesterday to herself to catch up on her sleep and get some laundry done. Gina had gone to visit her parents yesterday and they'd agreed to have lunch and catch up today. She started a pot of coffee brewing when she realized that one cup wouldn't be enough to get her through the morning.

She flipped the switch and listened to it gurgle. The pool was behind the offices, and of course it was empty. She needed to follow up with Marcus. He'd been supposed to clean and cover it last week, but it was still open. The phone began ringing and she padded over to the lobby phone.

"Poplar Lane Apartments, this is Missy." She answered. The door rattled as a tenant dropped their rent in the drop box.

"Hi Missy. This is Joshua Greene. I'm moving in next week?" Missy smiled. How could she forget Mr. Hottie.

"Hi Joshua, what can I do for you?"

"Well, I'm scheduled to get in on November 14th but the furniture warehouse screwed up and scheduled the move date for the 13th. Is there anyway someone can let them in to deliver the pieces?"

"Sure, hang on one second ok?" She put him on hold and refilled her coffee cup before running into her office.

"Ok, Joshua. You there?" She grabbed her day planner.

"Here." He said. She scribbled a note on the box for the 13th.

"You just need to type a memo saying that you don't hold the agency liable for anything that happens during the moving of the furniture, have it notarized and drop it in the mail. I'll have someone there to make sure the apartment is unlocked.

"Thanks Missie, you're a doll." She smiled. He was a charmer. She gave him the mailing address and he assured her that the release would be there by the end of the week.

Missie drained her coffee and sent Gina a text. Where are we going? Surfing her favorite stores online to check for sales she made a mental note to find her water bill tonight. It should be due sometime this week. Her phone buzzed with a text.

Angelo's. I'm taking the afternoon and I need wine. Missie laughed and shot back. You didn't get enough alcohol this weekend?

There was only a time in the response, 12:15. that was fine with Missie. She loved Angelo's pizza and she'd have left overs enough for at least two meals.

It was twenty after when she pulled into the lot at Angelo's but Gina was still in her car so she couldn't have been there too long. Missie pulled in next to her and grabbed her purse. Gina emerged from her car less put-together than Missie had ever seen her. She wore blue jeans tucked into cowboy boots, her hair was up in a messy pony and she wore a short tailed graphic tee that had "that's what she said" written across the front of it.

Missie stopped short and pulled her sunglasses off of her face, trying to pick her jaw up. Gina's huge aviator's covered most of her face but her glossed lips pursed before she said, "Just leave it alone today." She walked ahead of Missie into Angelo's and Missie just shook her head as she followed behind.

There would be an explanation later. Missie settled in across from Gina and ordered a diet coke, while Missie got a water and a glass of the house red. The two talked about nothing. Gina didn't ask about Mike so Missie didn't bring him up. Gina talked about her parents and Missie talked about the bar. Gina ordered another glass and they finished their meal. While they were waiting for the check Gina sighed.

"You know Missie. I'm just tired. I'm tired of waiting for something to happen." Missie sighed, settling back into the booth. Whatever happened to Gina must've thrown her for one hell of a loop because this wasn't anything like her friend.

"What can I do?" She asked. Gina shook her head and gave a forced smile.

"Nothing. I'm going to go home, get in my pjs, watch lifetime and eat ice cream, and when I wake up tomorrow I'll be fine." Missie just nodded and swiped the check when the waitress sat it on the table. Gina gave her a look but she just shook her head.

"Don't argue. I got this." They both laughed and Gina didn't argue. Missie picked up lunch and the girls went their separate ways, Gina to her pjs and Missie back to work. Missie wished there was something more she could do for Gina, but she was a private girl, and Missie was going to give her some space. She'd come around when she was ready to talk about it.