She read through some of the notes. Okay, Judson had a point. A few of these lacked the attention she usually put in. She’d let Zach and her desires for the new home distract her.Too bad she couldn’t bring herself to care about it. Her dream of moving to Jonathon Island was already dead in the water. See? Clichés.
Except, she really loved her job, remote or not.
Somehow she would have to find the strength to write her articles.
Tomorrow she would pull herself up by her bootstraps, stop using clichés likebootstraps, and get back on track.
Because she couldn’t afford to lose her job too.
Chapter Sixteen
Ava lay on the couch in her beige Chicago living room, staring at the ceiling. No one had told her that breakups could feel so awful.
When she’d broken up with Elias, it had been different. Maybe because she was still young and full of hope for a different future for herself. She’d had plenty of time to settle down. Breaking up with Zach was totally different. If it could even be called breaking up. They’d only spent time together for a few weeks, only had one date, only kissed once. As a writer, she should probably come up with a more accurate word for the experience.
Except, she knew she’d been falling for him.
And her heart was broken.
Breakup it was.
The room smelled stale after being closed up for the almost two weeks she was away. She’d gotten home late last night, submitted her revamped articles to her editor along with some of the snapshots she’d taken of Jonathon Island, and then collapsed into bed.
This morning, she’d wandered around the small space, given her droopy ficus a drink of water, and tried to summon up theenergy to do anything. Anything at all, really. Which was how she found herself lying on the couch, counting the bumps on her popcorn ceiling.
On the floor, her phone buzzed with a text message. She picked it up. Dani.
Dani
Thanks again for coming to Flavor Fest. We couldn’t have done it without you. I hope you’ll visit Jonathon Island again soon.
Visit.
Not live there.
At least the fight between her and Zach hadn’t completely turned his family against her. But maybe Dani was being polite.
Her phone buzzed with another text from Dani.
Dani
Don’t let my brother fool you. He’s a big marshmallow under all that bluster. I’m sorry you two ended on such a sour note. I’d love to get to know you better.
Okay. Not just being polite.
She keyed in a reply.
Ava
I was glad to see your island in person again. It was everything I’d remembered and hoped for.
She hit send, then hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard. Finally, she typed.
Ava
I enjoyed getting to know you and your family too.
Dani
