Pete was in his jacket bouncing around in front of the door by the time she got downstairs. Leena was on a recliner in the living room with a book in her lap and a steaming mug at her side. Myka wasn't sure if the innkeeper ever slept. It was part of the mystery surrounding her and she was a bit hesitant to ask questions concerning these innumerable mysteries.
"Where's Artie?" She addressed the exuberant man by the door.
"Over at the Warehouse catching some Z's. He said to call him when we get there. He doesn't have much information. Something about the Regents sending a liaison to meet us and explain everything?" Pete shrugged.
"Hmmm," Myka frowned. "That is a little unusual.
"Haven't you noticed Mykes, our whole lives are 'a little unusual' lately!", He responded, using air quotes. "We better get going." He handed her a set of keys and a GPS.
"Oh sure Pete, I'll drive." She rolled her eyes taking the items he offered.
"Well, I figured you are probably much more awake than me. If you know what I'm say-"
"I know what you're saying; I just wish you wouldn't say it." Then, remembering the blonde nestled in her bed addressed the woman sitting in the next room. "Hey Leena, Charlotte is upstairs."
She felt her face flush as Leena looked up from her book and gave her a knowing smile. "On a Tuesday," She replied.
"She uh, I told her it was no problem if she stayed. Is that okay?"
"Of course it is." Her smile warmed. "Be safe, you two." She addressed them both before turning back to her book.
"Shall we m'lady?" Pete tilted his head and offered his arm which Myka glanced at before brushing past him and heading out the door.
Ten minutes into the ride Myka felt her tiredness start to creep in. She glanced over at her passenger and couldn't help but smile at his gaping mouth and the small snorts coming from his nose. She reached over and turned the radio on to a low volume to try to shake away some of her sleepiness.
As she watched the road, her thoughts drifted to Charlotte and she felt herself start to smile. The blonde had snuck into her life at a time when she hadn't expected it. Dating and relationships were the furthest things from her mind the day she walked into the public library in Univille.
It was the middle of January and things were unusually slow at the Warehouse. Artie suspected people tended to get into less trouble when they were huddled inside to evade cruelties of winter. Myka had spent the past few weeks tucked away in her room, relishing in the unexpected reading time. Surprisingly, she had gotten a little tired of being holed up inside and was running short of new reading material, so she decided to venture into town and check out the public library.
A feeling of comfort washed over Myka as she entered the modest library located at Univille's center. With the exception of the Warehouse, surrounded by books was the only time she truly felt at home. She approached the apparent deserted front desk and glanced around, looking for a librarian. She cleared her throat and a woman popped up from behind the desk.
"Hi," the blonde all but shouted, "Can I help you with something?"
Myka couldn't help but smile at her energy. "This is my first time here, I was hoping to get a card."
"Oh, sure." The librarian reached behind the desk and produced a sheet of paper and a pen. "Just fill this out and I'll need a driver's license."
Myka pulled her driver's license out of her back pocket and handed it to the woman before she picked up the pen and started to fill out the form.
As she wrote she felt as if she was being watched. She glanced up at the blonde woman at the computer who quickly cast her eyes downward. Myka went back to the sheet.
"Myka?" She lifted her head at the sound of her name and met the librarian's eyes. "Is that how you pronounce it?" The woman met her gaze with a stunning smile and Myka took a moment to realize just how beautiful the woman standing in front of her was. Her deep blonde hair was thick and layered over her shoulders. Her light blue eyes held the look of a teasing joy behind the thick brown frames of her glasses.
"Ye-yea." She stuttered over her response, silently cursing this unexpected reaction.
"What a beautiful name." She smiled before going back to her computer.
"Thank you." She managed to croak out. The Secret Service Agent half moved her attention back to completing the form, chancing a glance up every once in awhile. Her brain was turning over and over on itself the way it often did when she started to get nervous. That usually only happened when she was in a job interview or when she was- No. No, she couldn't be attracted to this woman. She wasn't even attracted to women. Except for-. And then of course there was her first boss… and her college roommate. Okay, maybe she was attracted to women.
When she finished the paper she slid it back to the woman across the counter. She felt herself bite her lip as the other woman took the paper from her hand and smiled. "Did you just move here?"
"Yes." She shook her head. "Well, no. I mean, I moved here a few years ago, I've just been really swamped with work. I haven't had a chance to make it down here."
The blonde kept her gaze on the screen while she typed, nodding. She glanced at Myka over top of the monitor. "So, what is it that you do, for work, exactly?"
Myka let out a soft chuckle. "I work for the IRS actually."
The woman's blue eyes widened. "Oh God, that sounds so… boring." Myka laughed. "Sorry! That just came out. Sometimes I speak before I think."
"That's okay, it's cute." Myka's own eyes widened. Now who was speaking before she thought? "I mean, uh, you would be surprised."
She swore she saw the librarian's cheeks turn a light shade of pink but maybe that was her own wishful thinking. She watched the other woman's eyes narrow and forehead crinkle. "Hm, I'm not familiar with your address. Which is unusual since I was born here and Univille is not that big of a town."
"Oh," Myka said with a wave of her hand. "It's just a small, small Bed and Breakfast. It's pretty much in the middle of nowhere." She finished, nodding.
"Is it anywhere near that new Thai restaurant everyone has been talking about?" She asked handing Myka back her license, her fingers brushing past Myka's in a way that made her heart rate speed up. "I'm not sure." Myka frowned.
"So you haven't been there yet?"
Myka shook her head. "Not that I'm aware of anyway." She teased.
"Would you like to go there sometime? I mean, with me? Unless you aren't… Oh God, sorry, I just assumed- I mean not that you look like- but I guess I was just hoping." The blonde put her hand up to her mouth as Myka smiled back.
"I am- Well, I'm not- Yea, yes, I'd love to go there with you sometime." Myka felt her face get hot as the blonde returned her smile.
"That is, if we can get through dinner with all this stammering we seem to be doing." The blonde paused and put her hand to her forehead. "There I go speaking before thinking again. Sorry, it's actually really cute." This time Myka was certain there was a pink blush on the other woman's cheeks. And she was pretty sure her face matched. "Well, I think I'm done embarrassing myself today. I'll call you. I have your number." She picked up the paper Myka had just filled out and waved it.
"Sounds great. I'm looking forward to it." Myka turned away, then remembering an important element, turned back. "Wait, what's your name."
The other woman laughed. "I guess that's pretty important, huh? My name is Charlotte."
"Well then, I can't wait to hear from you, Charlotte."
Their first date had been a little less awkward, with significantly less stuttering on both women's behalf. It was nice for Myka to talk to someone outside the Warehouse family. Charlotte was able to keep up with her intellect and she made Myka laugh. It didn't take long before she found herself letting her guard down for the woman. She didn't think that was possible after… well, after her past experiences. They had been dating for two months Plus, the sex was great, amazing even. Remembering the past few hours in her room at the Bed and Breakfast, she started to feel an ache between her legs and shifted in her seat.
Myka shook her head at herself for her thoughts dipping into the gutter. She supposed she was spending way too much time with Pete. She sighed and adjusted again in her seat; silently apologizing to every guy she had dated in college. This feeling was really very painful. As she shifted she accidentally pulled the wheel too far to the right and the car rolled over the rumble strips on the side of the road.
She glanced over at her partner who stirred in his sleep. "Sorry." She whispered. He moaned but his eyes didn't open. She chuckled and glanced at the GPS. Only two minutes from their destination. She followed the purple route around a curve then felt relief at the prospect of crawling into a nice, comfortable bed at the hotel towering in front of her.
She began to pull into a spot in the parking lot so quickly she missed a figure standing to the right of one of the parked cars. Letting out a yelp she slammed her foot on the brake, stopping inches from the person she nearly hit. She rushed to unbuckle her seatbelt in order to get herself out of the car and yell at the stupid, irresponsible, idiotic-
She gasped out as the figure lifted their head, dark brown hair brushing behind their shoulders and she could finally see the person's face.
"HG?"