I pushed open the door and stepped into the quiet of my apartment. The sudden silence was almost shocking after the chaos of the café—the harsh buzz of lights, the clanging dishes, the constant beeping. My feet ached from standing all day, and I kicked off my work boots, feeling some of the weight lift.
I collapsed onto my bed, pulling the thin blanket over me. My eyes closed, but sleep didn't come easy. The noise of the day still echoed in my mind, making it hard to settle.
Then my phone lit up. Elias.
I stared at the screen for a moment before answering. "Hey," I said quietly.
"Hey!" Elias's voice burst through, way more energetic than I felt. "So, tell me—how many coffee cups did you have to save from certain doom tonight? How many lives did you rescue from the evil clutches of caffeine withdrawal?"
I chuckled, the corners of my mouth twitching. "Honestly, probably a dozen. And I'm pretty sure I'm part espresso at this point."
Before I could say more, he started singing off-key, "Espresso, espresso, can't get enough of that espresso…" The ridiculous tune caught me off guard, and I burst out laughing.
"Stop it, you're horrible!" I teased.
"I know, I know. But hey, someone's gotta keep your spirits up!" He laughed.
I sighed. "Honestly, I'm wiped. My feet hurt, my head's pounding. My whole body feels like I got run over by a truck."
There was a pause, then Elias asked in a mock-serious tone, "Wait, wait. Did you cheat on me? Because that's the only explanation for all that pain."
I laughed loud enough to wake the neighbors. "Cheat? What, by working hard? Nope, just me versus the grind."
He snorted. "Classic Ermelinda—always working harder than a superhero. I'm over here trying to figure out how to keep my plants alive."
I smiled. "Your just stupid"
"Hey, thats not very nice. And if you ever want to rant or just need a break from being a superhero, I'm your guy."
"Yeah yeah all you have is money, no brain" I said softly.