“What are you doing?” I asked as I came closer.
“Good morning.” He pecked my lips as if it were just any other day. “You should have texted me when you were ready. I would have come up to carry your suitcase down.”
“I’m fine. I carried it up three flights of stairs at the Anchor. No worries.” Joe took the suitcase from my arms and slipped it into my trunk.
“I didn’t know The Beach Pub had porter service.” I crossed my arms and leaned against the back of my car.
Joe rubbed his neck and came closer. “We’re full service, Ms. Longo. Complete with take-out window.” He motioned inside my car. “I packed some food for you and slipped an iced coffee in the cup holder, so you don’t have to stop on the road.”
“That was very thoughtful. Thank you.” My voice cracked as I closed the tiny distance between us and ran my finger along the collar of his polo shirt, blinking away the tears threatening to spill from my eyes.
“I told you, no tearful goodbyes. It’s not like we won’t talk later on or see each other soon, right?”
“Then why do I feel like we’re Danny and Sandy from Grease?” My gaze slid to his, and I waved my hand at him. “You’re a guy, so you probably have no idea what I’m talking about.”
“I’m a guy with a mother and sister who watched that damn movie on a loop. I think my father still has a video of me at my kindergarten graduation singing a cleaned-up version of ‘Greased Lightning’.”
“Please find that video for me.” I cupped his cheek as he laughed, turning his head to kiss my palm.
“I’ll see what I can do. So, you’re about to tell me this was the best summer ever and how it’s not fair you have to go away.”
“Not bad. And you’re going to say how this isn’t an end.”
“And I’d be right.” He grabbed me by the waist and pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“If you remember, it wasn’t so easy when summer was over. Their beginning didn’t start until almost halfway into the movie.”
“Because Danny Zuko was a dumb kid who didn’t know what he wanted or how to fight for it. I know exactly what I want.” He framed my face, his thumbs gliding over my cheekbones. “I want you. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone else, and bridges and highways won’t get in my way.”
I bit the inside of my cheek and nodded. I wanted him, too, but was afraid if I tried to speak, I’d lose the battle with the tears threatening to spill down my cheeks. I covered his mouth with mine instead, our lips crashing together in a bruising kiss. I fisted his T-shirt before our kiss slowed, dropping my head into his chest to breathe him in one more time.
“I’d better get going,” I whispered, hating that I couldn’t delay the inevitable anymore.
Joe cupped my chin and eased my gaze to his before reaching behind me to open my door.
“See ya,” he whispered with a sad smile.
I kissed him one more time before slowly pulling away and sliding into the driver’s seat.
“See ya, Zuko.”
His shoulders jerked with a sad chuckle. “Drive safe.”
I nodded before he shut the door. After I started the engine and took off, I spied Joe in my rearview mirror, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he watched me go. I blinked away an errant tear and focused on the road ahead, not what I was leaving behind, no matter how I wanted to stop the car and make a U-turn.
I took the long way out of town, remembering all the side streets Joe had showed me. I grew more agitated as I headed closer to the highway and farther away from him. One of the older hotels at the last traffic light before the entrance caught my eye. It reminded me of the Anchor with the vibrantly loud outdated colors and flashing neon “no vacancy” sign.
A shiver skated along my limbs as an all too poetic realization hit me. Joe and I had “no vacancy” for anything. We were already booked to capacity. How would there be room for one more commitment? Especially a commitment that lived three hours away.
Joe and I were perfect together in Ocean Cove, in his apartment, living carefree on the sand. But once I went back home, was there room for each other in our lives? Our real lives—not the fantasy we’d lived out for the past couple of weeks.
We’d try. We’d hurt, and possibly never get back the magic we enjoyed all this time. But the rotten feeling that filtered through me from my head down to my toes didn’t feel like fleeting magic. It felt a lot like fate. And like my car was headed in the wrong direction.
I pulled into my assigned parking spot at my apartment complex after three and a half hours with no stops. Exhausted, cranky, and bone-sad, I balanced my suitcase, laptop bag, and the large insulated bag Joe packed for me until I unlocked my apartment door. I put the food in the fridge first, all five tins plus a box of cookies, and headed to the scene of the crime.
Scanning the living room for the first time after I flew out of here two weeks ago, everything looked the same but unfamiliar. I glared at my once beloved couch, angry I couldn’t lie on it without being disgusted.
“Well, look who decided to come home.”
I swiveled my head toward Trent, leaning against my living room wall.
“Ugh, I’d forgotten about you.” I kicked off my sandals and plopped into the recliner. The furniture needed a good cleaning, followed by some holy water. Thanks to Trent, I had a long afternoon of tossing sheets and scrubbing, and just looking in his direction exhausted me.
“Well, that’s pretty obvious. I’ve been ready to talk, and you’ve been gallivanting at the shore.”
A humorless laugh tumbled from my lips. “Ready to talk? Not entertaining more houseguests?” I raised an eyebrow and leaned back. “I told you to get out. I gave you plenty of time to pack your stuff and leave by the time I got back.”
“I said I was sorry.”
“No.” I shook my head slowly. “You didn’t.”
“That’s because you didn’t give me a chance.”
Rage boiled in my gut at how, even now, he was blowing off what he’d done as a flippant mistake, not a deliberate act of blatant disrespect.
“Look, Cat, we can make this work. I’m headed to the Mets game tonight with some clients, but we can talk about this when I get back later.” He grabbed his keys off the rack before pausing to search my gaze. “What were you doing there after your friends came back? I figured you went to your mother’s house, but she said you were still on vacation.”
He didn’t believe me when I’d left or when I’d stayed or that I’d really meant to get the hell out of my apartment. To him, I was good old reliable Cat. The woman who’d never push him or make a fuss about anything. I was a doormat and an easy means to an end.
I replied with a shrug as he looked me over. Little did he know about the glorious loophole I’d found, thanks to his indifference. His name was on the lease, but he’d never made it to the landlord’s office to sign it. With the absence of a signature or security deposit on his behalf, I could legally throw him out.
I was almost glad he wouldn’t leave on his own. For the first time, being underestimated was fun.
“I enjoyed myself so much, I decided to use my mountain of earned vacation time and stay for a few days longer. Nothing like a little ocean air and sand to give you clarity.” Or a beautiful man with a huge heart to open your eyes to all that was missing—and wrong—in your life. But I wouldn’t give Trent the satisfaction of knowing about Joe. Like everything else about me now, it was none of his business.
“Knowing you, a vacation by yourself would be a dream.” I swore I caught an eye roll as he unlocked the door. How long had he been a dick, and how stupid had I been to stay?
“It was. Have fun at the game.” I crossed my legs and waved. Trent shut the door behind him without another word.
I pulled my phone out of my purse and dialed my cousin.
“Cat? You have some explaining to do, little cuz!”
“What the hell are you talking about, Pete?” He owned a hardware store do
wn the block from my apartment and worked as a locksmith after hours. All of my family was scattered around Brooklyn, mostly in Bay Ridge, which had its great points and its awful points. For the quick favor I needed, it was great, but the way extended family immersed themselves in my business, not so much.
“Running away on vacation by yourself was enough of a shock, but I saw Claire in the store the other day, and she told me you shacked up with some guy you met over there. No one could believe it. Did you get drugged or something?” I bristled at his hearty laughter.
I cringed at the universal reputation I had for a boring existence. This also meant my mother had found out I’d been staying with a strange man before I’d had the chance to explain. She couldn’t ground me in my thirties, but I was still in a load of trouble. None of us in this family ever grew up to the point of escaping our crazy parents’ rage.
Claire and her loose lips were dead.
“I promise, I’ll tell you all about it, but I need you to do me a solid first. How fast can you come over and change the locks?”
“What’s wrong? Did that douche hurt you?” Pete roared so loud I had to stretch the phone away from my ear. My family had never been crazy about Trent. He had this dry sense of humor that sometimes came off as arrogance, but I used to think he was cute and funny. How long ago that was, I couldn’t recall, but I’d beat myself up about it later. I had more pressing matters at hand.
“Before I left for the shore, I caught him with another woman in our apartment. I told him it was over and to get out, but he won’t leave. He just went out for the night, and I’m stuffing his clothes and whatever else he has into garbage bags to leave in the lobby. While he’s out, I need a quick—”
“Say no more. I’ll be there in twenty.”
“Wait, can you ask Aunt Nancy if she has any of that homemade industrial strength cleaner and an extra pair of gloves? I need to scrub down my furniture.” I peeked into the hallway closet and thanked God for the new bedding I’d bought last month that was still in the packaging. The sheets were going down the trash compactor, but I would salvage my furniture.
“You got it. And you better start talking when I get there.” Pete hung up. For a forty-three-year-old married man with two young kids, he loved gossip a little too much.
I made my way into the kitchen to gather some garbage bags when my phone buzzed in my hand.
Joe: Just wanted to see if you got home yet. And tell you that I miss you like fucking crazy already.
After a shitty welcome home, seeing Joe’s name flash across my screen was like having a cozy, sexy blanket draped over me.
Caterina: I’m home. And I miss you like crazy, too. I’m disinfecting my apartment now, but what time do you get off work tonight? I’ll call you.
Joe: Probably late. The place is packed today. But call me whenever you want. And I mean it. Whenever.
Caterina: Four a.m. it is ;)
Joe: I’d still answer if it was you.
A smile curved my lips as I stretched my arms over my head. Things would change now that I was home, and I’d start by taking out the trash.
34
Caterina
“Someone came in this morning and told me the video in our story was cool. I had no clue what the hell they were talking about until they showed me their Instagram.” The deep rumble of Joe’s laugh echoed in my ear.
I cringed and drew back in my office chair.
“Sorry about that. I logged on and posted something last night before I went to bed and forgot to tell you. But hey, it worked!”
“Of course, it did. My girl is a marketing genius. It’s the last weeks of summer, and we need all the business we can get. Still can’t come out on Labor Day?”
In the month since I’d been back, getting into a normal groove was kicking my ass. We had a campaign launch coming up the first week in September that took up most of my days, and, as we got closer, my nights and weekends too. The timing of the launch barred anyone on my team from making Labor Day vacation plans. I knew that at the beginning of the summer, but now that it cost me three days with Joe, I wasn’t so okay with it.
“No, I can’t. I’m hoping not to work the whole weekend, but it’s going to be a bitch. I would if I could.”
“I’m sorry you’re going to miss the Labor Day party we’re having. And my bed is lonely as hell. I’m not used to having all the covers anymore.”
“I don’t steal the covers.”
“Please, you almost hog the whole bed. I never minded since you were always on top of me, anyway. Like I wish you were right now.”
“Joe,” I groaned, my eyes clenching shut as I wished the same thing. “Don’t get all sexy when I’m spending the afternoon going through spreadsheets.”
“Don’t get all sexy?” His husky laugh made my heart squeeze. “I’m not sure if I could help it. Just comes out, you know?”
“Don’t I know it.” I rubbed away the ache in my chest, missing him so much it was painful. “Try to save it for later.” Joe still had moves across the distance, but phone sex depressed me. It only made me yearn for the real thing and pissed me off about a wasted long weekend even more.
“Come on, Cat. I’m starving and not eating at my desk again.” My friend Amy tapped me on the shoulder. “Let’s get some air for a change.”
I turned to her with a nod and held up a finger. She nodded as she mouthed boyfriend. Not wanting to explain the semantics, I nodded.
“Listen, I’m going to get something for lunch. My friend is forcing me out of my office. Talk later?”
“Of course. I’ll hold in the sexy until then.”
“I’m sure all the women still notice.”
“Doesn’t matter if they do or if they don’t. I don’t notice anyone but you.” His voice dipped low as the air shifted between us, even across the miles. Even though I was plagued with daily doubts of how we’d get this to work, the one thing I never questioned was how Joe felt about me and about us. He was all in, and so was I. Figuring out how to be all in yet so far apart was the taxing part. “Get out of the office and eat.”
I held the phone for a couple of seconds after he hung up. He kept asking when I could come out to see him, but I never had an answer. I hated the hope followed by disappointment laced in his tone whenever he’d ask.
“It’s been almost a month, and you haven’t told me anything except that you broke up with Trent and met someone at the shore,” Amy told me as she popped open her container of salad. We sat at a table in Pershing Square near Grand Central Station. Eating outside in the sunshine reminded me of Joe’s outdoor patio. Everything reminded me of Joe. I’d sworn I’d spotted him on the train three times this week. A guy with the same light brown hair and profile made my heart jump, although, my head knew it wasn’t him. It sank when he’d turned around and confirmed it.
“Trent and I broke up right before I left. It’s why I left early,” I explained as I dug through my salad for the two pieces of avocado I’d asked for but couldn’t find. “He did something I couldn’t forgive, so I told him to get out by the time I got back home. But he wouldn’t leave.”
“Was he sorry and wanting to work it out?” Amy frowned. She didn’t know Trent as the douche he really was. She only knew the cordial, yet aloof man, I’d taken to the company holiday party.
I choked out a laugh as I twisted the cap off of my bottle of water.
“Sorry that he was losing a two-bedroom apartment in walking distance of the subway station? Yes, very sorry. Hurting me? He couldn’t have cared less. While he was out, I stuffed all his belongings in garbage bags and had my cousin change the locks.”
Her jaw dropped. “I’m in awe. Good for you, Cat.”
“Don’t be in awe. Things should have ended long before he—” I skipped over the blow job on my couch. My hands were raw from scrubbing that damn thing every day, and it still seemed tainted.
“I left the bags in the lobby with the building’s security guard, who ended up calli
ng the cops to have him removed from the premises. I was able to watch the whole thing on my intercom camera feed.” Still, I wished I’d asked the landlord for a copy of the tape. That was great TV.
“Anyway, Joe owns a restaurant in Ocean Cove. We met the night I arrived, and, long story short, we’ve been together ever since. I stayed with him an extra few days after my friends went home.”
Amy grinned. “Judging by the hazy look in your eyes, I guess things are still hot and heavy.”
“Well, we said we’d give long-distance a try, but I have no clue when we’ll be able to see each other.”
“Why can’t you go see him this weekend and work from there? All the other managers do it.”
“That’s why the other managers are hated,” I said before taking a long swig of water.
“Some, yes, but that’s not why. Plus, I know you’d work from a gas station if you had to and still get more done than all of us. You could make it a long weekend whenever you wanted.”
I nodded. That did sound amazing. It was hard to reconcile the fun-loving Caterina from the shore and the nailed-to-her-office-chair Cat. I used to think I was working toward a goal; now, it just seemed as if I was missing out on all the important things.
“Anyway, show me a picture.” She propped her elbow on the table and held out her hand.
I unlocked my phone and swiped past the picture of the selfie Joe took of the both of us in bed before I handed it to Amy. We were covered by the sheets, but that one was only for my eyes.
Amy gasped as she scrolled though the pictures. “You spent two weeks with him and still came back? He’s hot, Cat. You guys look amazing together.”
A smile touched my lips. We were amazing together when we were actually together.
No Vacancy Page 18