Rory harrumphs again.
“You sound like my grandad when you make that noise,” I clip. “What is it?”
“Nothing… I just… Never mind. Listen, being friends sounds good. Let the rest go and see what happens. You’re both there for a while, so that sounds better than being uncomfortable around each other.”
I want to force her back a step and make her tell me what she was thinking, but I don’t have the energy.
“Yeah, the first couple weeks were brutal.”
“I can’t believe you waited this long to tell me. I could hit you.”
“If only you weren’t half a world away.”
“True. I wish I was there.”
“Me too. You’d like her. I always thought that. Maybe you and Breck and Willow can come visit sometime this year,” I say. I’d loveto have them come and meet my grandparents… and Avi. “Speaking of, how is everything going with their visas?”
“Good. It looks like they’ll actually make it here by the Fourth of July for the fireworks. Now I just need to find somewhere for us to live, which has been tough. As much as I love the little one-bedroom apartment you found me, it’s not going to work for the three of us.”
I laugh. “No, that place is definitely not a family home.” Although… “I have an idea.”
“Yeah? I’m all ears, because I am tearing my hair out being dragged around to listing after listing.”
I sit up, excited that this is a problem I can actually solve. “Why don’t you guys move into my condo?”
“Jamie…” Rory drawls.
“No, hear me out. It has three bedrooms. It’s on the mountain, which I know you prefer. This will give you basically a year to find someplace else before I come back.” Assuming everything here is settled by then. That thought sticks in my head. Going home would mean Grandad…No, I can’t go there. I plow on ahead with my idea. “This way I don’t have to think about putting it up as a vacation rental and it won’t sit empty for a year either.”
“I don’t know, Jamie. We can’t afford what you could make on it as a vacation rental.”
“Oh come on, you don’t think I’d give you a best friend discount? You cover my mortgage and we’ll call it square, yeah?” It’s not like I’m paying rent here, and my second book’s advance allowed for a sizable down payment, meaning my mortgage isn’t heinous.
“Are you sure?” she asks, and I can picture her worrying her thumbnail between her teeth.
“God, woman, just say thank you and ship me a pack of Tim Tams when Breck gets there. I know he’ll bring a ton of them with him from Australia.” I laugh and it feels good. I’ve missed this, our easy friendship.
“Fine,” she says with sass, and I’d bet my next royalty check she rolled her eyes when she said it. “Thank you, Jamie. Can you get a lease written up? I’d like for it to be legit.”
“Aye, if you insist.” It’s my turn to roll my eyes, but she’s probably right. We should at least have a lease.
“Look at you, saving the day once again. What would I do without you?”
“Be homeless,” I deadpan.
“Har har. Seriously though, thank you. If there’s anything you need, you call me, okay? And I want to talk to you more, I miss you.”
“I miss you too.”
“How did Brent take the news that you’re taking a break? When you emailed me, I was shocked so I’m guessing he wasn’t pleased.”
“Yeah… He did not take it well, but we’ve agreed on a six-month sabbatical, and I’ll reevaluate at the holidays to see if I’m ready to go back into negotiations with the publisher for a new deal. But I…”
I close my eyes. Am I ready to voice this yet?
“You what?” Rory prods.
“I think I have an idea for a new project,” I say quietly, like I’m afraid Brent might hear me and jump into my inbox demanding details.
