Naomi paused by the doorway of her living room, the quiet morning light spilling across the table where her bag rested. For a second, she just stood there, her hand brushing over the smooth leather strap, as though grounding herself before the day began. Her reflection in the dark television screen caught her eye—eyes a touch brighter than yesterday, lips curving ever so slightly, as if the simple act of being ready on time had shifted something in her.With a soft sigh, she slung the bag over her shoulder and stepped out of her apartment. The hallway smelled faintly of someone else's breakfast—toast and butter mingling with brewed coffee—and she thought how, for the first time in weeks, she wasn't dragging her feet out the door.
Down on the curb, the city's rhythm greeted her.cars honking, heels clattering, the low hum of voices layering into a chorus of routine. A yellow taxi slowed when she lifted her hand, the brakes giving a faint squeal as it pulled up. She slid inside, the leather seat creaking beneath her."Where to, miss?" the driver asked, his voice brisk but not unkind."Downtown, Wellington Avenue," Naomi replied, settling back against the seat.The car eased forward, weaving into the stream of traffic. Naomi glanced out the window, watching pedestrians rush across crosswalks, their umbrellas tucked under arms, their expressions already glazed with the weight of Monday.Her fingers tapped idly against her phone on her lap. She could have driven. Her car sat in the apartment lot like an old friend waiting to be remembered. But lately, the thought of gripping the steering wheel, navigating the chaos of traffic, felt heavier than it should.
Since last week, taxis had become her refuge—sometimes even Tasha's laughter-filled rides when her friend insisted on playing chauffeur.A faint smile tugged at Naomi's lips at the thought of Tasha. Without thinking, she unlocked her phone and scrolled to her contact."Cuppies."The nickname alone made her grin. It was stitched into their friendship like a private thread—born one late night years ago when they'd sat curled on Tasha's dorm bed with steaming cups of cocoa, spilling secrets until dawn. Since then, no matter how heavy life became, Tasha was always Cuppies.She tapped the call button, pressing the phone to her ear.It rang twice before the familiar warmth of Tasha's voice spilled through. "Hey, Cuppies."Naomi couldn't hold back the burst of excitement in her tone. "Hey, Cuppies!"Tasha chuckled softly. "Well, well. Someone's in a good mood this morning."Naomi tilted her head against the window, letting the cool glass kiss her temple. "I am." She almost surprised herself with how easily the words slipped out."I can tell. You sound like you're about to skip down the street singing."Naomi laughed under her breath, a nervous, giddy sound. "Don't tempt me.""So, what's the occasion? Coffee? A miracle? Or…" Tasha paused, her voice laced with mischief, "…something else?"Naomi rolled her eyes, though the corners of her mouth wouldn't stay still. "Please. Can't I just be happy for no reason?""Mhm. Right," Tasha drawled, clearly unconvinced. "Anyway, I just got to the office. Where are you?""On my way. Taxi today.""Oh, so you're letting someone else do the driving again.""Yeah," Naomi admitted, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Didn't feel like getting behind the wheel.""Still?" There was no judgment in Tasha's tone, just the kind of gentle curiosity only a best friend could pull off."Still." Naomi's voice softened, then brightened again as she asked quickly, "Hey, is Michael at the office yet? Did you see him?"The pause on the other end stretched long enough for Naomi's heart to thump against her ribs."Michael?" Tasha finally asked, her tone dipped in amusement. "You mean the manager?""Yes, Tasha." Naomi forced her voice to sound casual, staring hard at the blur of buildings outside the window."Nope, haven't seen him," Tasha said, her words slow, deliberate. "Why asking?
"Naomi's throat went dry. She reached for the seatbelt strap with one hand, tugging it tighter against her as though it could anchor her in place. "Oh, nothing. Just making sure I'm not the last one to get in."On the other end, Tasha chuckled, low and knowing. "You're lying to me. You know that, right?"Naomi swallowed, biting down the laugh that threatened to betray her. "You're ridiculous.""No, you're ridiculous." Tasha's voice shifted into that teasing rhythm Naomi knew too well. "Girl, you're asking about him first thing in the morning, like he's your attendance checker. Don't even try to sell me that excuse."Naomi's cheeks flushed, and she was grateful the taxi driver was too focused on the road to notice. She turned toward the window, watching sunlight streak across the tops of parked cars. "I'm serious, Tash. It's nothing."Tasha scoffed playfully. "Sure. And I don't love chocolate. Look, you can spin it how you want, but your voice gave you away the second you asked."Naomi pressed her lips together, caught between protest and laughter. That was the thing about Tasha—she saw straight through the walls Naomi built.
"Fine," Naomi muttered finally. "Forget I asked.""Oh, I won't forget," Tasha shot back, amusement crackling in her tone. "You better get in quickly because we are going to talk about this. I want all the gist, and don't even think of escaping."Naomi shook her head, fighting back a smile. "What gist? There's no gist.""Lies, lies, and more lies." Tasha's laughter spilled through the phone, bright and sharp, filling the silence of the taxi. "You better not hang up on me, because if you do, I'll be waiting at your desk with popcorn when you arrive."Naomi laughed too, unable to help herself. "You're impossible.""And you're transparent," Tasha said smugly.
The driver slowed as traffic tightened ahead, but Naomi hardly noticed. Her chest felt lighter than it had in days, her heart caught somewhere between amusement and that quiet, restless flutter she refused to name."Fine," Naomi said again, softer this time. "I'll see you soon.""You better. And, Cuppies?""Yeah?""Don't bother lying when you get here. You know I'll wring the truth out of you one way or another."Naomi tilted her head back against the seat, laughing as she shook her head. "You're too much.""Love you too, girl. Hurry."The call ended, the screen dimming in her hand. Naomi lowered the phone into her lap, her fingers brushing over the edges as though reluctant to let it go.
For a long moment, she simply watched the city blur by, her reflection ghosting faintly against the glass.Michael.The thought came uninvited, curling warm and dangerous in her chest. She exhaled slowly, steadying herself, then pressed her palm flat against her bag as though to ground her in the present.Still, no matter how she tried to push it away, the smile tugging at her lips refused to disappear.