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I need a fucking change.
Start new where I can reinvent and rid myself of this life I had relied on, the people I had relied on.
I pull my cell out of my pants pocket, scrolling through my phone until I come across my cousin Charlie’s number. Pressing dial, I wait patiently for the call to connect.
“Um, excuse me, sir,” Charlie greets, flatly. “Do you have the wrong number?”
A laugh escapes me. The sound of her voice is a welcoming change from my draining thoughts.
“I know, I know, I’ve neglected my cousin duties.”
“Neglected would be an understatement,” she informs me, her tone softening and more relaxed. “I’m surprised you’re even alive. It’s been like what… close to two years since I last spoke to you?”
“I comment on your posts.”
“That doesn’t count.”
“I’m sorry, okay?” I offer my apology, sincerely. “Life has been…”
“Busy?” she answers, letting out a sigh. “For me, too. Okay, so before I grill you for not meeting your nieces yet, how have you been?”
I pause, trying to piece a reasonable answer together before she interrogates me even further. Charlie and I were close as kids whenever we spent our summers together. My mom and her dad shared the same biological father. According to my mom, she was the result of an affair my grandmother had with Charlie’s grandfather while he was married. My own grandmother claimed it was a mid-life crisis affair on her behalf, but I’ve only met her a small handful of times since she remarried and moved to Washington state.
While Mom tried her best to stay in contact with her brother, Mark, it was actually Charlie’s mother who became close to her, which is why we spent time with each other growing up.
I’d always thought of Charlie as a big sister rather than a cousin. We made so many great memories, but much like other families, time slipped away, and we both grew up so quickly.
“I’m thinking of coming out to LA,” I mention, casually.
“Sounds great,” she rushes with excitement. “When? You’ll probably need at least a week to see everything—”
“No… I mean for good.”
It has been on my mind nonstop for the last month. All I need to do to make it official is hand in my resignation. That, and lease out my condo.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” I pause again, letting out a sigh. “I just need a change of pace.”
“But what about your job?”
“There are other jobs.”
“Noah, c’mon, it’s me,” she reminds me. Although we don’t speak as often as we probably should, when we do, it’s as if time never passed. Charlie knows me too well. “This isn’t like you. You love Boston, plus your mom is there and your best friends. I know those boys are like brothers to you.”
“People change,” I counter, dismissing the mention of Benny and Tom. “It’s time to start somewhere new. So, any chance I can crash with you until I get myself sorted?”
I realized over time, I’d burrowed myself into a comfort zone here in Boston. Moving to California seems like a great idea, but I don’t want to rent or buy a place just yet if I can’t see myself staying for long.
“Listen, I’ll have to clear it with Lex, but since he knocked me up again, I’ll say yes for both of us,” she grunts, seemingly unhappy with her predicament.
“Oh, shit.” I laugh, curling my fist and bringing it to my mouth. “Congrats are in order, but hey, listen, two weeks at most. I just need to make sure it’s right.”
“Please don’t congratulate me, I want to throw up,” she complains with a groan. “So, when are you thinking of coming?”
“I need to give notice, settle things here so probably in a month or two?”
“We’ll be waiting.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “Built-in babysitter.”
