Chapter 49: Strange Glances

By the time I woke up that evening, Naomi was already home. As soon as I stepped out of my room, she looked up from the couch and her eyes went wide. "You're back early? No overtime tonight?" "I took the day off. Didn't go in." I stretched with a yawn and answered her casually. "You took the day off? Hold on. Did hell freeze over or something? You, taking time off?" Naomi stared at me like I'd just told her the Earth stopped spinning. I just gave a small shrug. I wasn't really in the mood to explain. She stared at me for another second, then narrowed her eyes. "You didn't come home last night. Where were you?" "Working late at the office." My voice faltered slightly. Guilt bubbled up in my chest even as I said it. "Working late? Really? You expect me to believe that? What kind of office keeps people all night?" Naomi lifted one eyebrow, her tone full of suspicion. She didn't finish her sentence, but she didn't need to. The look on her face said everything. My cheeks flushed instantly.