11. Tempi

CHAPTER 11

TEMPI

I 'm dropped on my hands and knees with a curse. Even through my wet jeans, I feel the beginnings of a bruise from where my knees hit the concrete. Apparently, my destiny is to be in pain after every fucking blackhole.

"This is fucking bullshit," I snarl, dragging myself up and onto my feet. "I'm so sick of this shit!"

"Sick of what shit?"

I whirl and nearly breathe a sigh of relief at the sight of Leo standing in front of the hub. He's got a cup of coffee in his hand from the local coffee shop. Looks like Ben still hasn't figured out the coffee maker. I'll never understand why the kid doesn't get it. It's really not that hard.

"Leo!" I exclaim before shoving my wet hair out of my face.

His eyes trace down my body, but not in a sexual way. It's purely clinical when he wrinkles up his nose. "You go for a swim?" he asks, before looking up at the clear blue sky. "Or did it rain?"

I run a hand through my wet hair and wring it out. Saltwater drips onto the concrete at my feet. "I think I'm losing my mind, Leo," I admit.

He tilts his head. "I heard you passed your psych eval."

"I did. Patty just gave me a few days' rest off. She said I'm running myself ragged is all." I sigh. "I passed it, but. . . I don't know how to explain it."

He studies me for a minute, his eyes taking in my expression and the general disheveled appearance I know I'm sporting. Whatever he finds there, he doesn't comment on it. Instead, he gestures to the hub.

"Well, go get changed and you can explain it to me in the rig. You're late for your shift anyway. I've been holding off the boss, but?—"

I frown. "I'm off today."

Leo blinks at me. "You really must be losing your mind, Temp. Since when are you off Wednesdays? Patty said you were cleared for work today again."

"Wednesday," I repeat, staring at him like he's grown two heads. "It's Tuesday, isn't it?" I reach for my phone in my pocket and swear when I realize it's waterlogged again. I don't know if the insurance will cover two replacements so close together.

"No, it's Wednesday," Leo repeats. "I'm usually the one that loses track of days around here. You sure you're good? I can tell the boss you need another day off."

"No," I say, sighing at the insanity my life has turned into. "I'm fine. I have another uniform in my locker. I'll go get dressed."

"Hurry it up," Leo orders, sipping his coffee. "Ben is already in the rig. Kid is always in a rush to kiss your ass." He glances at the parking lot and frowns. "Where's La Llorona?"

The realization that she's still at the college an hour away makes me wanna punch the wall. For fuck's sake. Puedo tomar un descanso?

"I walked today," I answer. "Needed the air."

"Even as dirty as the air is today, I can understand the sentiment," Leo nods. "We'll wait for you. Don't take too long though."

I rush into the hub and go back to the lockers. Luckily, I always keep a spare uniform in there. It's usually in case of body fluids getting on me, which happens far more than I'd like, but the practice of having a spare comes in handy now.

Wednesday. I can't believe it's fucking Wednesday already. I know for a fact I wasn't in the Deep Seas that long. What the hell is happening with time? Am I just losing my mind? I should have asked Puss about that. He probably would have known.

I reach into my pocket and pull out my wallet. It's soaking wet, but when I flip it open, at least the photo of Bella is fine. I smile gently at the sight of my daughter smiling up at me and close it again. I quickly change my clothes and tuck the wallet into my back pocket. I manage to scrap my hair into a frizzy ponytail before I close my locker and head back out to the rig.

Ben meets me with a terrible cup of coffee and a bright smile. Despite the morning I've had, I take it with a smile and thank him. It's hard not to like the kid. Even if he makes the worst cup of coffee I've ever tasted.

I take a sip and wince. It really is the literal fucking worst.