Ocean Breeze

by Laura Conway

  I could go see Eve in Tampa.

  Tampa was warm this time of year.

  Abbey Googled the weather forecast. She smiled to herself when she read that it was in the low seventies this weekend and glanced out the window of her apartment at the snow flurries that were just starting to fall.

  She leaned back in her chair, looking around her home office, her eyes scanning the bookcase, returning to the dreary weather outside her window.

  She picked up her phone and dialled Melissa’s number.

  “Hi. How are you feeling today? You went pretty hard on the whiskey last night.”

  “I’m fine. How are you? You sound like you’re out. I can call back later if you’re busy.”

  “No. I’m just bargain hunting in the sales. What’s going on?”

  “Well,” Abbey said with a sigh. “I’ve been thinking about what you said last night.”

  Abbey opened up another tab and searched for photos of Tampa and some nearby beaches.

  “What made you change your mind?”

  “The weather,” Abbey said with a laugh. “We’re getting a storm tonight, at least six inches of snow, and in Florida it’s sunny and seventy degrees.”

  “Florida?”

  “I might as well go somewhere warm and I have a friend from college who lives in Tampa. I don’t know if you remember her. Eve?”

  “The name rings a bell. I can’t picture her though.”

  “I haven’t been in touch with her for years but I think I’ll send her a message, see what she’s up to.”

  “So are you going to take a year off?”

  “I think so.”

  Abbey had to pull her phone away from her ear while Melissa made a shrill noise somewhere between a cheer and a scream.

  “Is it safe to talk now?” Abbey asked.

  “Yes.”

  “What’s Jake’s timeline?”

  “He’s ready to get started. He’s already left his firm.”

  “Okay. That’s great. I’m looking at places online right now. What date should I book it for?”

  “The end of January? That’ll give us time to get Jake up to speed.”

  “Okay. I’ll see if I can find a suitable place.”

  “Abbey, this is going to be so good for you.”

  “I hope so.”

  Chapter Five

  January 28th

  Abbey folded another pair of shorts and a few more tank tops, placing them in her suitcase. She found two pairs of flip flops under her bed and added them to the pile. When she was finished packing, she had to lean on her suitcase to get the zipper all the way around.

  She’d set up an AirBnB account two weeks ago, uploading photos of her apartment in Brooklyn, and created a listing. She had one person who wanted to rent her place for six months starting on February 1st.

  Melissa agreed to help her out with the apartment and show her new tenant around.

  Abbey took one last look around her room. She’d packed up all her personal belongings. Twelve boxes lined the wall opposite her bed, full of photos, jewelry, souvenirs and winter clothes. She’d put them all in storage until she got back this time next year.

  Abbey was heading to the airport in a few minutes but it still hadn’t sunk in. She was really taking a year off.

  She’d gotten in touch with her friend, Eve, and she couldn’t wait to see her. She promised Abbey that she would love Florida.

  Abbey lifted her suitcase off her bed and wheeled it to the door. She went around the apartment one last time, making sure she hadn’t forgotten anything.

  She’d cleared out her home office a few days ago, handing over all of her current case files to Jake. He was settled in, taking over her office for now.

  Her buzzer rang and she knew it would be her taxi. She shut her apartment door behind her and made her way down the hall and into the elevator.

  The taxi driver took her bag and put it in the trunk while she got in the backseat. She checked her bag to make sure she had her airline ticket.

  This is really happening.

  She held herself tight, almost hugging herself. It was like watching a movie, instead of living her own life. She’d never done anything like this before.

  Abbey didn’t know what she’d do when she got to Tampa. She didn’t know anyone other than Eve there.

  She’d also never had any downtime. Her evenings were always filled with work, whether that was at home or over dinner with a client.

  “JFK?” the driver asked as he pulled away.

  Abbey swallowed the lump in her throat. “Yes. Please.”

  Chapter Six

  Abbey lifted her suitcase off the carousel and wheeled it behind her through the doors, her eyes scanning the crowd of people waiting, looking for someone holding a sign with her name on it.

  A dark-haired woman was leaning against the rail, clutching a sign with ‘Abbey Butler’ printed across it.

  “Debra?” Abbey asked as she made her way over to her. “I’m Abbey.”

  “Hi. Welcome to Florida,” she said with a smile. “I’m the property manager you’ve been emailing.”

  Abbey noticed the suitcase that was at Debra’s side and the ticket that was in her other hand.

  “Unfortunately,” Debra said, “I can’t actually show you around the house myself. I’m catching a flight to L.A.”

  “That’s okay. I’m sure I’ll manage.”

  “Here’s the keys,” Debra said, handing her a key ring with two keys on it. “This one’s for the front door,” she said, holding up a copper colored key. “The other one’s for the back door.”

  She also handed Abbey a piece of paper that had a map on it and a photo of the house.

  “There’s the address,” Debra said, pointing to the map and the address printed below it. “Everything else you need to know is in a black binder in a drawer in the kitchen.”

  “Okay,” Abbey said, her heart rate increasing slightly. This wasn’t how she imagined things going. She thought Debra would be driving her to her new home for the next year and show her around.

  “Well, enjoy your time in Florida.”

  “Thanks.”

  Abbey made her way outside and got in a taxi, giving the driver her new address. The drive took about forty-five minutes but she took in what she could of Tampa.

  When they pulled up outside the house, Abbey paid the driver and let him help her with her suitcase. The white two-storey, three-bedroom townhouse looked exactly like it had in the photos.

  Abbey stood on the sidewalk, gazing up at it as the warm breeze blew through her wavy chestnut hair. She could hear the ocean. She knew it was only a block away but she hadn’t expected it to feel so beachy. She’d always loved that smell, the salty sea air. She took a deep breath, taking it all in.

  Abbey wheeled her suitcase up the driveway and took the keys that Debra had given her out of her pocket to unlock the door.

  She pushed it open, leaving her suitcase inside the door while she looked around. The sand colored walls and the pale blues and grays that were used throughout the living room with cushions and knickknacks, again reminded her of the beach.

  The walls were covered with photos, framed in black and matted, and that’s what drew Abbey in. She took off her shoes and padded across the cream carpet to get a closer look at some of the photos.

  There were beach landscapes, some of which were probably local, but the rest were a mixture of portraits, cityscapes, and close ups of nature. It was a real mix but they didn’t seem to clash with one another. They were all so beautifully shot.

  She explored the rest of the house, climbing the carpeted stairs and choosing to head down the hall to the right. Evening rays of sunshine poured through the windows and onto the bed.

  Abbey wasn’t sure if this was the master bedroom but she liked the vibes she got from this room. She walked around the bed to see if she could see the ocean but she involuntarily cried out when she saw a woman sitting on the floor, between the bed and t
he windows, with her legs crossed.

  The woman fell backwards at the sound of Abbey’s voice, hitting her head against the bedframe.

  “Jesus Christ!” the blond woman yelled, her hand on her chest. “What the hell?”

  Abbey’s heart was still pounding as she took in the woman in front of her. She was probably in her late twenties, her blond hair in loose waves, flowing across her shoulders. Her arms were dotted with tattoos, words here and there, probably quotes or lyrics.

  “Sorry,” Abbey said, running a hand through her hair. “There must have been a mix up. I’m Abbey. I’m renting this place from today… When are you checking out? Our bookings must have overlapped.”

  Abbey met her blue eyes as she stood up. She was wearing a loose, navy tank top and long jean shorts.

  “Fucking Debra,” she muttered.

  “What?”

  “I’m Payton,” the woman said with a sigh. “This is my house… And there’s definitely been a mix up. I was supposed to be traveling for a few months, spending some time in Europe, but I cancelled my trip and Debra said she’d take care of it. She was going to cancel any bookings that had already been made and she was supposed to block off the next few months because I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

  Abbey stared at Payton, trying to process what she was saying.

  “How long are you staying for?” Payton asked. “We can probably work something out, give you a discount…”

  Abbey’s hands moved to her waist. “A year,” she said with a sigh.

  Payton laughed, a smile spreading across her face. “Oh…,” she said softly, her face falling. “You’re serious.”

  “Look, it’s not your fault. I’ll find somewhere else to stay.”

  “It’ll take you a few weeks to find something that long term and get everything signed. We can still work something out. Stay for free,” Payton said, rubbing the spot on her head where she’d bumped into her headboard. “I can’t just kick you out.”

  “What? No. I can’t stay for free…”

  “Well, at a massive discount anyway,” Payton said, that charming smile returning.

  Abbey took a deep breath. She came here to relax, not share a house with someone she didn’t know but Payton had a point. She’d probably have to stay at a hotel or a short term let until she could find somewhere that would rent to her for the year.

  “Why don’t I give you a little tour of the area?” Payton offered. “I’ll buy you a drink. We can get to know each other and maybe this will all work itself out.”

  Abbey returned her smile. This wasn’t her fault. This was as much of an inconvenience for Payton as it was for her.

  “Okay,” Abbey agreed.

  “I’ll be downstairs when you’re ready. I’m just going to make a quick phone call. The guestroom is just down the hall. You can’t miss it.”

  Chapter Seven

  Abbey brought her suitcase up to the guest bedroom which was down the hall to the left. She passed what looked like a home office on her way and there was a bathroom across the hall from her room.

  She didn’t unpack, since she didn’t really know what to do, if she’d be staying here or not. She just freshened up, spritzing herself with perfume and touching up her makeup.

  She met Payton downstairs fifteen minutes later and they strolled down the street, heading towards one of the bars near the beach.

  The streets were so quiet but it was January, which Abbey had to keep reminding herself. She was used to New York City winters or visiting her parents in Buffalo. Either way seventy degrees in January was a foreign concept to her.

  “So, what brings you to Tampa for a whole year?” Payton asked as they walked.

  “My business partner and best friend sent me away. Apparently, I work too hard.”

  “Ah. Well, if you can’t relax down here, you probably never will. You’ll see, everything is a bit slower here. People aren’t in as much of a rush.”

  “Where are you from?” Abbey asked her.

  “Philadelphia.”

  “How long have you been living here?”

  “Since I was nineteen. I came down here with a few friends after we graduated from high school and I just knew… This is the place for me.”

  “And you’ve been here ever since?”

  Payton nodded. “Yeah. Ten years now.” She pointed to the bar coming up on their right. “This is it.”

  Abbey sat down across from her on a bar stool, a barrel as their table, and looked over the drinks menu. When their waiter came over, she got a pint of beer and Payton asked for the same.

  “So, you said you were supposed to be in Europe?” Abbey asked, noticing all the sports memorabilia on the wall behind Payton.

  “Yeah. I was going with my ex, Rachel, so when we broke up, I canceled everything. Debra handles my AirBnb account and takes care of meeting the guests. I told her that I wasn’t going away after all and to make sure that there weren’t any bookings and to block off the next few months but I guess she never did it.”

  “I’m sorry about your ex,” Abbey said as the waiter brought them their drinks.

  “It’s okay. We were too different. I’m a one-woman kind of woman and she’s not… It was never going to work.”

  “This is my first time doing something like this,” Abbey said as she took a drink. “I rented out my apartment in Brooklyn while I’m here.”

  “Yeah. It’s a great idea. I know it’s strange at first but you get used to it. I travel a lot for work. I’m a photographer… So I rent out my house when I’m away for a few days or weeks depending on a job… I just need a new property manager now.”

  “You fired Debra?”

  “Yes… I’m really sorry about all of this,” Payton said. “This isn’t the way your vacation should have started.”

  “Well, I’m here to relax. That’s pretty much my goal for this break. I don’t have any other plans.”

  “And having a housemate probably doesn’t fit in with that idea.”

  “Right,” Abbey said, bringing her glass to her lips.

  “Look, why don’t we just trial it? Give it a month? You can stay for free and you can keep an eye out for somewhere else if you want. If this doesn’t work out, you’ll have a new place to move into to.”

  “That sounds pretty logical,” Abbey said, resting her forearms on the edge of the barrel. “Okay… We’ll see where we are a month from now.”

  “Alright.”

  Chapter Eight

  January 30th

  Abbey’s flip flops gently hit the soles of her feet with each step as she crossed the wooden walkway down to the beach and the beautiful white sand, palm trees on either side of her.

  This was her second morning coming down here and she could see herself doing this every day. It was nothing like how she’d spent her mornings in New York.

  Even though she lived close to work, she was always rushing. She tried to get to the gym a few mornings a week or go for a run but she liked to be the first one at the office each day so it meant a lot of early mornings.

  She was still waking up early here but it was much more relaxing. She was waking up to make herself a cup of coffee, read a book and then come down to the beach.

  Abbey knew she was far from the person she wanted to be at the end of this trip. She was still thinking about work, the cases that she’d handed over to Jake, and how Melissa and the rest of their firm were getting on without her.

  Speak of the devil.

  Abbey answered her phone while she kicked off her flip flops. “Hey.”

  “Hi. So, how’s Florida? Are you all settled in?”

  Abbey couldn’t help laughing. “Well, there was a bit of a mix up,” she said as she picked up her flip flops and walked through the sand.

  “What happened?”

  “The owner of the house is still here.”

  “When are they leaving?”

  “They’re not. She’s probably going to be here the entire time that I’m
here… I don’t know. Her property manager forgot to block off the next few months when Payton canceled her travel plans.”

  “Shit. What are you going to do?”

  “We’re going to test it out for a month… See if there’s any chance that this can work. I don’t really want to go looking for another place and she feels bad that I came all the way down here to rent out her house and then it’s not actually free.”

  “Do you think it’ll work?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. Just because I came here to relax doesn’t mean that I need to live alone. The house is big enough for the two of us.”

  “Is she hot?”

  “Payton? What?”

  “I’m just curious.”

  “No. Well. Yeah, I guess. I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it,” Abbey said in a rush. She could hear Melissa laughing at her.

  “Don’t be a stranger, okay? You can call me anytime. Just nothing about work. I want to know what it’s like down there… I’ll live vicariously through you.”

  “I’ll stay in touch. I promise.”

  “Talk to you soon.”

  “Bye.”

  Abbey hung up and slid her phone back into the pocket of her jean shorts and turned around to head back.

  When she woke up yesterday morning and unpacked her things, Abbey knew that she wanted this to work out. The house was beautiful, comfortable and so close to the beach. She’d hate to have to pack everything up again in a month and find somewhere else to stay.

  She liked Payton. She was twenty-nine but she was mature. Abbey wanted to put herself out there more on this trip, make friends outside of work, and Payton could be it. She’d also be able to introduce Abbey to some of her friends and at the very least be her drinking buddy.

  Abbey thought about Melissa’s question again.

  Is she hot?

  Abbey didn’t want to admit it to Melissa but she’d thought that Payton was incredibly attractive from the second she saw her, when she’d nearly given Payton a heart attack, scaring the life out of her in her own home two days ago.