I suck! When he's gone, I let my head fall onto the counter with a thud.

Ow. I'm pretty sure I just gave myself a concussion.

Oh, Violet, you are a prize.

Chapter 9.

The next morning, I wake up feeling hung over. Not that I know what that feels like, since I don't drink. Or smoke, or do drugs. I'm a good little virgin, all right.

I wish I could take a quick shower to wake up, but Zane's home, so there's no way I'm going in his room.

I settle for splashing my face with cold water. I move like a zombie as I dress in my blue work scrubs and wind my long hair into a tight bun. On the way out, I grab a sports drink from the fridge, hoping it will give me some much needed energy.

It's still dark out, which makes me feel vaguely depressed that I'm not lying snug in my bed. Yawning, I climb into the car and start the fifteen minute drive to work.

Sunset Park is a grand two story white clapboard building, surrounded by trees and colorful flowers. As far as facilities go, you could do worse. At least they make an effort to make it a cheerful and cla.s.sy environment.

I park in the back, in the employee section. I'm happy to go through those gla.s.s doors again-I just hope not too much has changed since I was last here.

I run into Liz while I'm clocking in. She greets me with a hug, and immediately starts filling me in. Both the Freemans have pa.s.sed, within a week of each other. That is sad, but not surprising-and I'm glad they went around the same time. I learn Ginnie had a stroke, which I'm shocked to hear. Ginnie was in better shape than me-she went swimming at the Y every day.

"We got two new people downstairs, but they're pretty self-sufficient," Liz is saying. "Oh, and Helize was asking yesterday when is her 'flower' coming back."

"Aww," I say. "How is she?"

"The same," she replies, pulling her dark hair back into a ponytail. "But Irma broke her right hip a month ago, so now she's a full a.s.sist."

"Poor Irma."

We head over to the office for a meeting. Everyone there welcomes me back with hugs and questions about my vacation in Hawaii. But was it really a vacation if you're working full-time in a bakery? According to the others, as long as you're in Hawaii, you're on vacation.

I look through the communication log for updates on my residents while we have our meeting. After it's over, I grab my walkie and pager and head for the storage room to get a box of tissues. Helize always needs tissues, and she's the first one on my list.

She's already awake, lying in her bed.

"Rise and shine, woman," I announce, flipping on the lights.

Her clear blue eyes blink up at me. "Is that my flower I hear?"

"Your one and only." I turn off her oxygen concentrator on my way to her bed. "Good morning, beautiful."

Helize frowns at me, causing her delicate skin to bunch around her mouth and eyes. "I was just lying here, trying to think of your name. Lily, was it?"

"Close. Lily is my mother's name. I'm Violet."

"Ah, that's it."

I help her pull back the covers and begin the long process of helping her sit up. Then we work at untangling the nasal canula from her fine white hair. Meanwhile, I tell her all about my summer in Hawaii, and my mother's surprise engagement.

"And what have you been up to?" I ask her as I push her wheelchair over.

"Oh, the same. Not much changes around here." She sighs tiredly and reaches for a crumpled tissue stuffed in the sleeve of her nightgown.

"No wild parties? Dancing on tables?"

Helize cackles. "Oh, my table-dancing days are long over. Have I ever told you about that time in Nogales when the federales thought I was a prost.i.tute?"

This is what I love about Helize. You can say anything to her and she'll come up with something even more wild.

I get her up and in her chair, and start pushing her toward the bathroom. As we pa.s.s her mini fridge, I fish in my pocket for the magnet and slap it on there.

"I got you a souvenir from Hawaii," I say, stopping so she can look at it.

"Oh, sweetheart!" Helize peers at the magnet, then frowns slightly. "Violet! Is that a v.a.g.i.n.a?"

"What?! No-it's a humpback whale with its mouth open! Here, put on your gla.s.ses."

I hand them to her and she slips them on. "Oh, I see it now!" she exclaims. "It's like one of those paintings that you have to stare at a funny way until you see the picture."

"No, it's actually nothing like that," I say, wheeling her into the bathroom.

After getting her situated in there, I get to work on straightening out her room. I make her bed the way she likes it, and throw away all the crumpled tissues she has stashed everywhere. Gross.

It's weird how easily I fall back into my old work routine. I get all my residents down to breakfast, then before I know it, it's after lunch, and time for shift change. I stay for a few extra minutes to catch up with the mid-shift girls, and then I'm clocking out and on my way home.

That went good! I'm not even tired. I can't wait to have a nice long soak in the tub, and then eat something. A whole cake, maybe. I'm so hungry! All that running around.

I check the garage like usual to see if Zane's home, but his car isn't there. If that's disappointment I'm feeling, I do my best to ignore it.

As soon as I get in the house, I grab some clothes, my ear buds, and some candles and make a beeline straight for the bathroom.

I really need a relaxing bath right now. I quickly peel off my yucky scrubs and start the bath. While it's running, I light the candles and turn off the lights. The sound of running water and the flickering lights makes me feel calm and spiritual, like I should have a dagger and an altar, or something.

Pretending that I'm a virgin sacrifice drowning myself in the waters of purity, I step delicately into the tub.

Aaah.

My whole body sighs in happiness as I sink into the hot water. The jets are all fired up, vanilla candles wafting their vanilla-ness...heaven. I pop my ear buds in and play some Aiden Cross on my phone.

I guess I drift off for a bit. The next thing I know, I'm blinking my eyes open and stretching languidly in the now cool water, completely relaxed.

That was great! I climb out of the tub and my stomach growls fiercely. Right, time to eat. I towel off and slip on a long white sundress, then I clean up after myself. Wouldn't want Zane to think I'm a big slob. I gather my things, open the door, and- Aaaaaaughh!

The first thing I see is a naked chick, crawling around on Zane's bed.

It's not Nata.s.sia this time, it's some blonde chick, according to my shock-filled eyes.

I'm rooted to the spot. The naked blonde girl notices me standing there and screams, grabbing a sheet to cover herself with. Zane is lying on his bed, fully clothed, hands tucked behind his head in a casual position.

"Hey," he says, turning his head to look at me. "I didn't know you were home."

He says this so calmly!

"Oh, my G.o.d, I'm so sorry!" I blurt out, clapping a hand over my mouth. "I swear, I had no idea you were home! I was just taking a bath with candles, and I had my music on, and I think I fell asleep-ear buds..."

"No worries," Zane says with his half-smile. "Violet, this is Anna. Anna-my roommate, Violet."

"Hi." I wave lamely, trying desperately to imagine her completely dressed.

Quick-I need to say something to her to diffuse this awkward situation!

"Um...nice a.s.s!"

Not that, though.

"Oh, G.o.d, I didn't mean that!"

Naked Girl stares at me, mortified. She crosses her arms over her chest, and angles her body away from me-like I'm some kind of peeper!

"I was just trying to make conversation. I didn't mean it, like, s.e.xually," I babble, making it worse. "It was just an observation. Yeah, I'm gonna...go. Now. Okay."

I stare down at the ground and make a run for it. I don't stop until I reach my room. I throw myself on my bed, facedown, and order myself not to move as punishment for gross stupidity.

Maybe twenty minutes later-or an hour-there is a knock on my door. I don't answer, but someone comes in, anyway.

Zane. I could sense his presence in the pitch dark.

"Hey," he says, and I feel a tug on my foot. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," I say into the mattress. "Thanks for checking. Bye."

The bed dips down from a sudden weight. Holy c.r.a.p! Zane is sitting on my bed!

I flip over and scramble into a sitting position, scooting away from him like he's fire.

Never in a thousand years would I have dreamed of someone as gorgeous as Zane sitting on my bed. Ever.

I lock my arms around my knees and peek up at his smiling face. "I'm really sorry about-what happened. I had no idea..."

"No, I'm the one who's sorry," he says. "I shouldn't be bringing my dates home. Not while you're staying with me. I put you in an awkward situation, and I apologize for it."

I shake my head. "No, it's your place and I'm the one that intruded. And I'm not a little kid," I point out. "If you want to bring a different girl home every night, go for it. Maybe we could work out some kind of system...I could put a sock on the bathroom door when I'm using it, or something."

Zane starts chuckling as he rubs his chin. "Hey. I wouldn't say I'm with a different girl every night."

"Right" I roll my eyes. "I've been here almost a week, and so far I've seen you with five-no, Naked Girl makes six-different girls."

"Yeah, well, I like variety." He shrugs adorably.

"Really? Because they all seem kind of interchangeable."

"And by interchangeable, you're saying...?"

"They were all s.l.u.tty. And dumb."

Zane bursts out laughing. He reaches over and taps my knee. "Hey, Anna is a Yale grad."

I don't say anything. The spot where he touched is still tingling. I struggle to keep a neutral expression.

Zane grins and nudges me again. "She does have a nice a.s.s, though."

"Oh, G.o.d!" I groan, dropping my head into my knees. "I can't believe I said that! I should go apologize."

"You'll have to catch her on the road. She's on her way back to L.A. right now."

My head shoots up. "Because of what I said? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin your date!"

"Nah, forget it," he rea.s.sures me, waving it away. "It was me she was p.i.s.sed at."

I frown slightly. "You? Why?"

Zane glances at me sideways, eyes crinkling in amus.e.m.e.nt. "After you left, I wouldn't stop laughing."

"Oh," I say. "Umm..."

Helplessly, I start laughing and he joins in. We chuckle together for a few seconds. In that moment, I can literally feel my little crush on Zane grow exponentially.

So not good.

He stands up and arches his back, stretching. I try not to notice how his gray shirt molds to his stomach to show off his ripped abs.

"You wanna get something to eat?" he asks, looking down at me. "My treat. You can tell me all about how work was."

I should have said no, made up some kind of excuse-I'm too tired, or something. Because I could sense the danger of remaining in his presence, the overwhelming temptation to say yes to him.

I'm balancing on the edge of something here, and when I agree to go with Zane, I can feel myself falling...