“Sorry, I didn’t have time to eat lunch today. I’m famished,” I said, not caring what he thought as I slurped up another noodle.
“You’re cute even if you eat Chinese food like it’s the Last Supper,” he said.
I winked at him and grabbed a dumpling, but I wasn’t feeling as chipper as I was pretending. For some reason, our banter was feeling forced all of a sudden.
“Your presentation will go great. I know it. There isn’t anyone more qualified to help bring his vision to reality. You should have more faith in yourself. You’re only twenty-five and bringing in these kinds of clients is a huge accomplishment. Be proud of yourself,” Josh said.
There it was.
“Thank you,” I said and kissed him on the cheek.
He was always so good at making me feel like I was at the top of my game, and I always let him. When it came to work, I fought hard to keep up momentum and please all my clients. Josh was my main motivator and exactly what I needed to keep moving forward. I knew all my hard work would pay off with him by my side. I was afraid that was where it ended, though. If only he was what I needed in all departments.
“Are you even watching the movie?” I asked.
“Nope. Too busy watching you eat.”
“Ew, that’s so creepy. You’re lucky you’re cute,” I said.
Josh laughed and collected his plate and empty containers. He grabbed mine on his way out of the room and put the dishes in the dishwasher. He was always on top of things.
“Hey, do you want me to take your garbage on my way out?” he offered. “It’ll probably stink up the place.”
“Oh, you’re not staying tonight?” I asked. Shocking. I wasn’t sure why I even bothered asking anymore. If we ever ended up getting married one day, we’d probably be sleeping in separate bedrooms.
“No, I have to be at the office early tomorrow and I still have so much work to do tonight. I’m sorry, babe. Another night.”
“I understand. One of these days, we’ll have nothing to do and we can actually spend more than a few hours together,” I said. “Who am I kidding? No, we won’t.”
We laughed, knowing our jobs always came first and our social lives second. And maybe love came after that. It was surprising that we had even lasted this long.
Josh put on his coat and grabbed the garbage. He leaned over the arm of the couch and kissed me on top of my head. What a romantic send-off.
“I’ll text you when I get back to my place. Don’t forget to lock up,” he said and walked out of my apartment.
I sighed, getting up to lock the door before making my way back to the couch. I grabbed a blanket and curled up so I could watch the rest of the movie alone. Sometimes—no, most times—I preferred it this way. No distractions. I could zone out and let the actors take over my thoughts. Just as I pulled the blanket up over my shoulders, my cell phone buzzed. Sara.
“Hey, girl. What’s going on?” I asked from underneath my blanket shelter.
“You sound…cozy. Did Josh just leave?” Sara asked.
“Yup, he said he has more work to do for the deposition tomorrow. I guess this one is really important and will have a huge impact on his career. If he wants to make partner—”
“Then he has to leave his amazing girlfriend to go home and work. Blah, blah, blah,” Sara interrupted. “I’m telling you, girl, it’s always work. Don’t you get tired of being second to his job? I mean, I’m not saying you should always be first because his career is important, but come on!”
“Oh, stop. You know it’s not even like that. And it’s not just him. I’m always staying late at work to finish something up. You know I did that even before we started dating, so don’t start with me.” I laughed despite the fact that her words were burrowing their way past my excuses.
“I’m just saying! I know this relationship is my fault, but I think you need to talk to him. Or, at the very least, take a long look at yourself and where you see this going because this isn’t normal. And I would really hate to see you waste your life in an unsatisfying relationship just because you’re comfortable.”
“Sara, I truly appreciate you looking out for me, but I’m fine. Josh and I are fine. This is what works for us. And I do like my alone time after he leaves so I can unwind from my own busy day,” I said. Honestly, at this point, I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince Sara or myself.
“I love you, girl, but I could shake the shit out of you,” Sara teased. “You’re gonna marry this kid someday and end up sleeping in separate beds. I can just see it now.”
“Oh, shut up! But seriously, I was just thinking that same thing.” I laughed, not at all surprised that we had the exact same thought. “You’re just bitter because you’re alone.”
“Well, yeah. Maybe a little,” Sara said.
“Speaking of which, how did your date go last night? I can’t believe I forgot to ask you about it today at work. I’m assuming by your lack of enthusiasm that it hadn’t gone as you’d hoped?” I asked.
“It wasn’t all that bad. He was…nice. But we had nothing in common except that we come from similar backgrounds. He’s the son of mayoral candidate George Reid. You’d think that having a father with that type of background would push you to become someone of importance.
Nope.
He literally dropped out of college to work for some start-up company, lost all of his investment, and now lives back home with his parents. He doesn’t work at all and has no desire to start looking for a new job or go back to school. He actually told me he was thinking about becoming a professional online poker player or trying to make money playing video games. I swear, I thought he was joking, but he was completely serious.”
“Stop! Oh my gosh, that reminds me of that kid in college. What was his name? C.J.?” I replied.
“Yes! I totally forgot about him. But at least he graduated. I don’t know how, though.”
“Do you remember those god-awful cargo shorts he would wear? Shit, I’m going to Hell for this. Whatever, it was forever ago anyway.”
“If you’re going to Hell, then save me a seat on the train. And yes, I totally remember the shorts. And the stupid matching pants. Why on earth did he always wear a jersey of some sort? Seriously, a basketball jersey over a long-sleeve T-shirt is not the way to win over the ladies,” I replied.
“He was funny, though!”
“If I’m not mistaken, Sara, didn’t he ask you out?” I asked. “I feel like it’s all coming back to me now. He wanted to take you to that all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, and you told him you couldn’t because you had to wash your hair every night for the next two years.”
“I completely blocked that out of every corner of my brain. Leave it to you to unlock those doors. If it weren’t so late, I would say I’m coming over so we could drink and reminisce, but I’m beat,” Sara told me.
“Next time. I’m gonna watch a little more of this movie before I shower and go to bed. I’m not looking forward to waking up for work tomorrow.”
“Me neither, girl. Me neither. But I’ll bring you a latte. If you’re lucky, I’ll even throw in a lemon poppyseed muffin for you.”
“You are too good to me! All right, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Sleep well, my friend. Text me in the morning if you want anything else,” Sara offered.
“I will, thanks. Night.”
I had no idea what I did in my lifetime to deserve a friend like her, but I was so thankful to have her in my corner. Even if she did pry a little…or a lot. Okay, ALL the time.
After I finished the movie, I brushed my teeth and took a quick shower. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Sara had said about me and Josh. I knew that no relationship was perfect, but was this really not normal?
2
“Happy Wednesday, folks. I come bearing lattes,” Sara said flatly as she sauntered through the office. Her usual bubbly grin was masked with a forced smile, and she stopped when she reached my desk. She handed me the to-go cup I knew
was filled to the brim with the piping hot chai latte I had been dreaming about all morning.
“Two days in a row?” I asked, delighted to have a second cup of caffeine.
Sara winked as she sat down at her desk. Anyone else in the office wouldn’t have noticed a difference, but I knew her so well that I could tell something was off. I grabbed my phone and sent a quick text, asking her what was wrong. Her eyebrows rose when her phone pinged, and she grabbed it and replied immediately.
Sara: Meet me in Boardroom C in fifteen minutes.
I watched the clock nervously. Sara wasn’t one to bring anything from her personal life into the office, but she was acting strange and I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Had her ex-boyfriend Ricky shown up again? I thought he was in jail, but who even knew anymore? Could she have lost her trust fund? Not like that would have even mattered since she was one of the hardest working women I had ever known.
My thoughts trailed on until I saw Sara head to the boardroom. My heart sank as I made my way to my best friend. I wasn’t sure I was ready for what she might have to say.
“Sara, are you okay? What’s going on?” I asked nervously.
“What the fuck, Leah?” Sara exploded. “I’m so over this place. I’ve put my blood, sweat, and tears into this company, and it’s almost as if Cameron just keeps me around to be the office eye candy. Tell me why Karen has been here all of six months, yet she was just offered Leisure Services for the Caribbean team.”
Holy shit. I was not expecting that at all. Sara was always the calm, cool, and collected one. She never let things get the best of her, and she almost always saw the positive side of every situation. That didn’t mean she wasn’t aware of the negativity around her; she just preferred to live her life without the added drama.
“What are you talking about? I didn’t even know there was an opening on your team. Why didn’t you tell me you were gunning for it?” I asked.
“I didn’t know it was an option. I just found out through email that Karen was taking over the position. Apparently, Bill is retiring early and moving to the Carolinas to spend more time with his grandkids.”
“I don’t even know what to say. It’s too late to do anything about it since she’s already accepted the position, but I do think you should talk to the board and let them know you’re interested in advancing. This way, the next time they have an opening, maybe you’ll get a heads up,” I told her. “I’m so sorry this happened. You definitely deserve to move up in this company.”
“I’ll wait a few days before I draft an email. I’m too upset right now, and I don’t want to say anything I might regret. You mind reading it for me and giving your thoughts?” Sara asked.
“Of course. I have to get back to my desk. I have a conference call in ten minutes and I’m not prepared at all, but let’s get back to this when you’re ready to talk more.”
“Thanks, girl. You’re the best,” Sara replied.
I smiled and nodded at my best friend. It wasn’t pure luck that we both ended up in the same freshmen year algebra class at New York University. I truly believed it was fate. I had never had a friend like Sara before, and her friendship was a warm welcome coming to the big city from such a small town.
I got back to my desk and rifled through my folders until I found what I needed for the call. VERMONT was stamped neatly across the top. This would be the last call before my big presentation, and I needed to get everything right.
When I first started in travel, I only helped people book vacations. Over the years, I had become the go-to girl for expanding business and bringing in new clientele. But this was the first time I had single-handedly helped another corporation create their own travel destination.
I had known I wanted to get into the travel business ever since I was a young. With a degree from New York University in tourism and hospitality, I knew I was in the right place to follow my dreams. Although my job was to create a reality for other people’s dreams, I had yet to leave the United States and see the rest of the world for myself.
My phone chimed loudly, and my assistant’s voice rang through the speaker.
“Ms. Abernathy,” Casey said. “John is on the phone ready to speak with you. Should I put him through, or would you like to use the phone in one of the boardrooms?”
“Patch him through, please. Thanks, Casey,” I replied. It was go-time.
“Leah Abernathy,” I answered in my usual work tone.
“Hello, Leah, how are you today?” John asked.
“I’m great, John. Thanks for asking. I trust all is well with you?”
“Always is, my dear. How’s everything coming along with my passion project? Are you ready for Friday?”
“I am! I’m excited to share my ideas with you. You and your team have been so much fun to work with, and I’m looking forward to seeing you all again.”
“Wonderful to hear. So, let’s briefly dive in on the final touches for the larger cabins.”
What was supposed to be a quick call turned into a two-hour pick-apart of the smallest of details. I wasn’t annoyed in the slightest, though. I lived for this. For me, travel wasn’t only about the final destination, but also what I could gain from the trip—the experiences, the memories. I wanted everyone to love seeing the world. And I was lucky because my job allowed me to interact with the owners of these establishments and not the travelers themselves. That was Sara’s department.
I continued to work on the project through lunch, proud of myself for remembering to bring food this time. Before I knew it, Sara was standing at my desk, letting me know the workday was done. Shit, already?
“What a day!” I said. “I’ve been working on this project for so long, I feel like I’m actually living at the resort in Vermont.”
“Rub it in,” Sara responded, rolling her eyes. I couldn’t tell if she was really annoyed or not.
“Shit, I’m sorry.” I grimaced. “I wasn’t even thinking.”
“No worries. I’m just teasing you,” Sara said.
My phone buzzed loud on the top of my desk. I already had a feeling I knew who it was and didn’t have the energy to deal with any of that.
“Ugh, I don’t even want to answer this right now,” I said and tossed my phone back onto my desk.
“What? Who is it?” Sara asked.
“Josh. I just don’t feel like talking right now. I don’t even know why. I haven’t talked to him all day, and I was sort of okay with that,” I admitted.
Sara made the “zip your lips” motion and looked at me.
“Don’t even say it, Sara.”
“I’m not saying a thing. You want to go to McNally’s Pub and grab dinner and some beers?” she offered.
“Yeah, let me text him at least. I owe him that.” I had never ignored Josh’s calls before, and honestly, I didn’t know why I was today. I had just been so confused on what the hell the two of us were even doing together anymore, but the thought of walking away stressed me out just as much as staying.
Leah: Hey, babe. Still at the office. What’s up?
Josh: Same here. About to leave. Was wondering if you wanted to grab a bite to eat downtown.
Leah: I can’t tonight. I told Sara I’d go out with her for dinner and drinks. It’s been a really long day.
Josh: Understood. Tomorrow? I can try to get out earlier.
Leah: I have my presentation with John and his team on Friday, so I think I’m gonna stay in and work on that tomorrow. But I can meet you for breakfast Friday? I can go into work a bit late if I need to.
Josh: That sounds great, babe. It’ll have to be early, though, because I have that dissertation at eight-thirty. Do you want to plan to meet me Holly’s Diner at seven?
Leah: Perfect.
Josh: All right, love you. Have fun tonight and say hi to Sara for me. You two stay out of trouble!
“Geez, you writing a novel?” Sara teased, and put her coat on. I stuck my tongue out at her and sent off one last text.
Leah:
Haha. I’ll tell her.
I locked my phone and threw it into my bag without even telling him I loved him back. I tried telling myself it wasn’t intentional, but a little voice nagged in the back of mind that it was. I had definitely woken up on the wrong side of the bed every morning this week.
“He says hi and to stay out of trouble,” I told her.
“Us, get into trouble? Never,” Sara said with a mischievous smile. “Never.”
I know what you’re thinking, Sara, and it’s not happening.
“All right, let’s head out before they run out of shepherd’s pie like last time. You’ll owe me two weeks in a row of Giuseppe’s if they’re out,” I threatened.
“Ouch! Okay, let’s go. Wouldn’t want the princess to die of pie starvation over here,” Sara gently elbowed me and laughed. “Cab or subway?”
“Cab,” we both said in unison.
It was still early enough that the crowd was pretty quiet. We definitely didn’t mind a little music and conversation, but it was nice to have some quiet every now and then. Especially after the day we both had.
“Hey, ladies, can I start you off with something to drink?” the waiter asked, his eyes fixated on Sara.
I knew Sara almost better than she knew herself, so I jumped at the chance to order beers before she could ask for shots. I hoped dinner would be a nice way to unwind and wouldn’t turn into a sobfest or an all-night rager. That wouldn’t solve anything.
“We’ll have two Sam Adams Winter Lagers, please, and a basket of fries,” I said, noticing the waiter hadn’t taken his eyes off Sara. “Do you still have any shepherd’s pie?”
“What?” He dragged his eyes to me reluctantly. “Oh, sorry, apple pie? I’ll have to go to the kitchen and check. Two waters?” he said.
“No,” Sara said annoyed. “Two beers, a basket of fries, and do you have shepherd’s pie?”
“Got it,” he answered, his cheeks turning a deep shade of pink. “Yes, it’s been a slow dinner crowd tonight, so we have plenty. I’ll be right back with your beers, and I’ll go put in that order of fries. Did you want to place your dinner order now or wait a few?”
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