Chapter 45: Farewell Face Masks

I texted Daniel from the hospital and made plans to visit him at his apartment the next day, one place I generally avoided. When I arrived, to my surprise, his apartment looked a little homey, a little less like the stark bachelor pad I knew. Daniel had always kept it pretty clean, but now there were actually a few pictures in frames sitting on a side table. And he had pillows on the couch, adding a nice decorative touch. I’d never seen his apartment so spruced up.

“What’s with the pillows?” I asked as I came in and sat down on the couch.

“Polly,” Daniel said, plopping down next me and putting one of the pillows in his lap.

I nodded. “She’s good for you.” He nodded too.

“What’s up?”

“Like I told you last night, old Mrs. Rosa hurt her hip. I can’t leave her, Daniel.”

“Stella, don’t worry. I can handle it.”

“You?” I looked at him, doubtful. “I love you, and you’re a badass trainer, but you can’t take care of an old woman.”