His response surprises me. Maybe it’s less of a new development than I thought. This just seems so out of character for them, especially Breck.
“Meaning what?” I press.
“They’ve been at it a lot lately. Not my business.” He shrugs again, like he couldn’t care less that his business partners are fighting in the other room.
“Right.” I want to roll my eyes at him, but I hold back. “Since it seems like they’re busy, I won’t hang around to talk to Breck. Can you ask him to give me a call when they, uh, finish up?”
“I’m not a secretary.” Drew’s voice is flat and irritated.
I blow out my breath in a huff, an attempt to keep myself from asking what his problem is. “Whatever, I’ll just text him.” I turn on my heel, grab my packages, and walk back out to the truck.
Once I’m settled behind the wheel, packages stowed in the back, I pull out my phone.
Me
Taking the truck for the weekend, give me a call when you’re done at the office.
I still don’t know what to think. Breck has been stressed lately, but I assumed it was all to do with the sale. Maybe it is, and maybe that stress is putting strain on their relationship. I rub the back of my neck, relieving the tension there. I’ll have to see if Breck can get out for a night soon, just the two of us.
I park the truck in the lot by our building and pile the packages into my arms, regretting having them sent to the office. I awkwardly make my way up to my apartment, having to drop the packages in the hall to dig my keys from my pocket.
Once I’m inside, I feel the buzz of a text in my jeans.
Grey
I’d love that. Last night away and then you’re all mine for a week! I can’t wait. Call you later ; )
A wink from Joss means something completely different than the one I sent to Rory. As it should. I shudder to think of my sister sending a text with the same meaning to anyone. I want to remain blissfully ignorant of my sister’s love life for as long as humanly possible. Maybe forever.
Me
Yes please. You have your own room tonight?
Grey
Yes sir
I nearly groan out loud.
Me
Are you trying to kill me, woman?
Clearly her being gone for a week has made a weak man out of me if her flippant use of the word “sir” takes my brain down the gutter.
I get down to business opening the boxes, looking over into the corner where the other things that arrived this week sit, fully assembled and ready to be arranged. I have a lot to accomplish before Joss gets in tomorrow—I think it’s going to require a beer or three.
Waking up without Joss in my bed has become the worst kind of torture. She’s only been gone for a week and her scent has nearly completely evaporated. I miss hearing her sing in the shower when she gets ready in the morning. Hell, I missjoiningher in said shower.
I still can’t believe that in the span of five months, everything about my life has changed. I came here trying to escape the man I was, the man I’d been forced to leave behind when I left the Navy. Instead, I ended up finding myself in more ways than one. Joss has played a major role in the way I now envision my future, and I’m enjoying showing her how committed I am to making things work with us. Earning that trust has been a special privilege.
Even though I took the day off, I have a lot to do today. When I told Rory my plans last night, I swear she was thrilled enough to jump through the phone. She even had a few ideas on how to make the weekend better.
Nothing helps to dissipate the excited energy rolling off me, making me eager to go for a run. I haven’t spent much time pounding the pavement since the move, allowing surfing and swimming in the complex’s pool to fill most of my workout time. Plus, running with my knee can be a challenge, but there’s still something cathartic about it that I crave.
As I run down the street toward the harbour, I take in the beauty of this city that is now my home. It’s still bizarre for me to think of Sydney in that way. I miss Tahoe, but I’ve lived such a nomadic lifestyle with the military that it hasn’t beenhomefor me in a long time. The contentment I feel as I look around, knowing that I don’t have to leave this place, that no one is going to order me to upheave my entire life and move somewhere new, is incredible.
If you’d asked me a year ago how I’d feel about having complete control over where I lived, I would have told you that the prospect was terrifying. There was comfort in being told where to go and when, of not being rooted to any one place. That terror played a huge part in me running to Sydney, to somewhere I assumed would be a placeholder until I decided what I really wanted to do. But now, knowing that I can choose Joss, choose Sydney, choose to be here without the prospect of another move, another change being right around the corner… It’s freeing.
