34. Telling my story.

Pushing open the door to our apartment, I was immediately greeted by my best friend and roommate Lyra. Her eyes went wide when she saw me.

"Stella! What are you doing back so soon?" Lyra rushed over, taking my bag from my hand.

I sighed heavily. "There was some kind of emergency, so we had to cut the trip short and come home."

Lyra's eyes danced with curiosity as she pulled me over to the couch, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. "Oooh, do tell! Did you bring back any goodies? Was there any steamy vacation action to report?" She gave an exaggerated wink.

Rolling my eyes, I corrected her. "It wasn't a vacation, Lyra. It was a business trip with my boss."

"Potato, potahto!" She waved a dismissive hand. "Same difference when you're traveling to fabulous locations. Now spill - did anything hot and heavy go down? We have so much to talk about and I have something very important to tell you!"

I opened my mouth, then closed it, feeling the sting o