“We’re also neighbors, which makes spending time together that much easier.”
“True, I guess. She’ll be home tonight, yeah? Back at it tomorrow?” Breck’s voice ticks up, enthusiasm over the promise of surfing clear on his face.
“I’m down, but whether she comes with will depend on how tired she is. This was a long trip for her.” I hope that she’ll want to go. That picture of her pops back up inside my mind and—no. I mentally shake myself, focusing my attention on Breck. “You going to be able to take off early today?”
He looks back toward his office and the papers strewn over his desk. The excitement from a moment ago is immediately replaced with something strained. He’s tired. I know he loves this business, that it allows him to pursue his passion, but it can be draining.
“Soon. I’m going home soon, regardless of whether I’m done with all that.” He rubs the back of his neck and sighs before walking away.
I feel a twinge of guilt as I slowly pack up my stuff and prepare to head home, knowing he’ll be here for a few more hours. In the last month, I think I’ve seen him leave before five o’clock less times than I can count on one hand. But with all my paperwork done and no flights until next week, there isn’t much else I can do around here today.
Joss is on her final flight and will be back early this evening, so we’re planning to grab dinner with Jaz. Aside from mycoffee runs, I haven’t spent much time with her, and Joss seems excited for me to get to know her best friend. At this point, any friend of Joss’s is a friend of mine. Though, Jaz seems to be the only friend Joss ever mentions, and I often wonder why that is. The girl is magnetic.
I walk by Breck’s office on my way out and see him hunched over his desk. “See you later, buddy.”
“Enjoy your night with your ‘friend,’” he says, using finger quotes onfriend, which earns him an eye roll to go with my wave.
Aside from his jabs, I’m finding that working with my best friend is the most rewarding part of the job. The dynamic in the office between Breck, Talia, and Drew—their business partner—is still something I can’t quite get a read on though. The carefree Talia I remember from college is different to the one crunching numbers as the head of the finance department. She seems detached somehow, aloof. More concerning though is Drew. Since he’s part of their inner circle, I’d assumed he and I would hit it off. Instead, he feels like a walking red flag. He’s overly nice to my face, but I get the vibe he doesn’t appreciate Breck bringing in one of his “mates” for a position that would normally be up to him to fill.
Where Breck is the brawn of this operation, creating and organizing each excursion, I guess you could say Drew is the brains. He and Talia run the behind-the-scenes stuff, but they’re all equal partners. And from everything I’ve seen, Drew is as type-A as they come, meaning that my being here has thrown him off-balance.
I pass by Drew’s office on my way out and hear his and Talia’s voices through his closed door. This is what I mean—why isn’t Breck in on whatever meeting they’re having? Seeing as everyone else has left for the weekend, I consider stopping and, I don’t know…poking my head in? But that seems ridiculous no matter how much I dislike the guy, so I hike my bag up my shoulder and carry on.
While I wait for Joss to make it home, I grab a beer from the fridge and head out to the balcony. I walk past my bookshelves, giving them an apologetic look as I pick up my Kindle from the ottoman. They look less barren now than when I first moved in, and I’ve always loved the feel of a physical book in my hands, but the Kindle is just so damn convenient. I settle into the chair and prop my feet on the railing, taking a minute to appreciate the city skyline.
I’m just about to pick up where I left off with my latest thriller when my phone chimes with an incoming call. Nervous energy floods my system when I see that it’s a FaceTime from Rory. I always love seeing her, but how mad is she going to be? I drop my head back and take a deep breath before swiping to answer her call.
When her face fills the screen, I’m prepared for the worst. But I’m met by her soft laugh and a small smile playing around her lips.Huh, that’s not what I expected.
“You look scared, Wessy. Worried your little sister is going to scold you?” She chuckles, and I instantly relax.
“You’re not mad?”
“Oh, I’m plenty mad. Unfortunately, you’re a grown-ass man and I can’t really tell you what to do. Plus, you’re in one piece, so…” She shrugs like thisanswers everything.
“It was incredible, Roars, seriously. I was nervous, but… I don’t know. It was good too.”
“No panic attack?” Her question is soft, genuine. She’d never make light of the fact that she’s seen me in the throes of a flashback.
“No, none. It felt liberating, like some of that baggage fell out of the plane with me and was lost to the wind.” I scrub a hand over my face. That probably sounded stupid, but I feel lighter after today’s jump.
When I bring my gaze back to hers, there’s hope in her eyes, like maybe she’s finally realizing this move was what I needed.
“That’s really great.” She drops her eyes, like she’s thinking over what to say next, and then brings them back to mine. “You’re doing okay then?”
She and Breck are the two people who fully understand what I’m dealing with. What I left behind.WhyI left.
“Yeah. Coming here was a good call. It was what I needed. I think… I think this is where I’m meant to be right now.”
She nods, but her face is sad. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too.” I hate knowing I put that look there, that I’ve put it there too many times. “Maybe you need to come visit. I think you’d love it here. Breck and I can show you around.”
Her laugh is light and her eyes say yes, but her words don’t match them.
“Maybe. You know I’d love to. Life just feels extra busy right now.”
“Yeah. Of course. But, you know, you’re allowed to take time off. That’s what vacation days are for.”
