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I rechecked every entrance. Finding each one still locked, I realized I should call Alida. Maybe she could help me sort it out. An idea nudged me in the side, and I hurried into the kitchen. Spotting the large trashcan, I flipped open the lid, my eyes widening when I saw the contents.
“Son of a bitch.” I reached for the L’Oréal black tube, then removed the lid. The lipstick had been used. Running down the hall, I rushed into my bathroom and scribbled on the mirror. It was a match.Oh. My. God.I hadn’t lost my mind. Well, at least not in this instance.
My thoughts whirled from processing the events, and I tossed the lipstick in the trash. It was definitely time to call Alida. She would be the key for me to understand what had happened.
Locating my cell on my nightstand, I pulled up her number in my contacts, then held it to my ear. To my surprise, she answered on the second ring.
“Hello?”
“Alida? It’s Brie. I’m surprised I didn’t have to leave a message for you.” I walked to the living room, then sank onto the couch. Grabbing the throw pillow, I hugged it tightly to my stomach.
“You just caught me before I left for the day,” she responded, sounding tired. I couldn’t imagine how exhausting her work was.
“I can call tomorrow and let you get home.” I closed my eyes, mentally pleading that she had a few minutes.
“Brie, in three years, you’ve never used this emergency line before. Talk. I’m here for you.” I imagined her attentive, kind eyes looking at me.
“I think the sleeping pill did a hell of a number on me last night.”
“What happened?”
I rattled off the events to the best of my knowledge. The dream was still hazy, but I’d finally remembered a man in a mask.
“Brie, I’m sorry you had that experience, and I’m glad you called. Did the pharmacist review the possible side effects with you?” Her voice was even and calm, and I felt a little better just hearing her talk.
I slapped my palm against my forehead. “They asked if it was new, and I said no. I don’t know why other than I was distracted.” I could practically hear her frown through the phone.
“Okay, so there should be a pamphlet that came with the prescription. You always need to read those for new meds, Brie. Promise me that you will, moving forward.”
“I promise,” I muttered, pissed at myself for not taking a few minutes to look it over.
“Okay, so sleeping medication can be tricky, and everything you described to me fits in with the side effects—sleepwalking, dreams you can’t remember, brain fog, or feeling hungover the next day. It’s pretty normal.”
“It is?” Relief washed over me like the bucket of water thrown over the star player of a football game.
“It is. There’s nothing wrong with you. With that information, let’s back you down to one-fourth of a tablet, and try it for a week. However, if you have any more issues, please call. Don’t wait until the next session.”
“I will. I called today.”
“You did. Are you feeling better now that we’ve talked?” Papers rustled in the background, the sound filling the line, then silence.
“Yeah. Thank you, Alida. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“I appreciate your kind words. Try and get some sleep tonight, okay?”
“I will.”
After our goodbyes, I hung up the phone and tossed it on the floor before I flung myself onto the couch. Fuck, that had scared the shit out of me. Hopefully, the lipstick had been left by the previous renter, and I hadn’t gone dumpster diving in the neighborhood. It wouldn’t have been the first time I’d unlocked the cuff in my sleep, but it was rare. I rubbed my temples, ready to relax and find some food.
My phone vibrated with a text, and I scooped it off the floor and read the message from Gabby.
Hey, babe. You need me to stop by and bring you some dinner? Coach was cool.
My fingers flew over the keyboard as I responded.
Yes, I’m starving and feeling so much better. I slept for almost three hours. Get your cute ass over here.
My cell buzzed with another message, and a huge grin eased across my face as I stared at the picture of my family decorating the front yard of our house for Halloween—skeletons, a coffin, spiderwebs in the trees, Frankenstein, and anything else Dad could talk Mom into. I’d been so busy with school that I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed them until they texted me.
