Because I couldn't stand to be in my apartment, and going to the lab sounded like a fresh hell on earth, I locked up and headed for my office.
At just after nine, the building wasn't quite deserted— but close enough, and I managed to escape human contact except for one quick nod-and-hello encounter with a zoology professor I'd met in passing.
Ten minutes after I'd arrived, right as the Mr. Coffee had started spitting and hissing like an angry cat, the doorknob rattled, and Meredith slipped in, shutting and locking the door behind her.
I'd gotten so in the habit of keeping myself to myself, especially when I had something personal on my mind, that it came as a shock to realize I'd been expecting her. Hoping for her to arrive, in fact, and even counting on it.
