AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It is me who finally takes a step back and breaks the spell. As I slice the sourdough bread, his words keep playing over and over again in my head.
“I do,” I say. “Sometimes I do wonder what could have been.”
10
JOE
“Who are you trying to call?” my father asks, folding his copy of the Rockville Tribune, one of the few local papers still in existence.
“Fiona.” I get her voicemail again and hang up. No need to leave more than one asking her to call me back.
“Maybe she’s sleeping in. Everything okay between the two of you?” He folds his paper and sets it down on the table.
“Honestly, I don’t know. There are moments when I think ... It doesn’t matter. We’re working together, and she wants to keep this professional.” I shrug.
“If she doesn’t want to get back together, you need to respect that, son. No matter how much it hurts.” He looks at me, concern in his eyes.
“I know. It was my decision to leave.” I was the main reason we broke up. I just hadn’t realized that would be the consequence of me jumping at the opportunity to head to the movie capital of the world.
“You were young. Both of you. Give her some space. The two of you will be spending a lot of time together. Who knows what will happen?” He smiles at me and gets back to his paper when my phone rings.
“Joe, it’s Isabelle. We got your apartment ready a day early. You’re welcome to move in today if you’d like.” It’s the bit of good news I need today.
“Wonderful. I’ll be down in a few hours. Do I pick up the key at your office?” I ask my new rental agent.
“You do. I’ll be here until noon,” she says.
That’s just enough time for me to pack up and drive back.
“You’re leaving?” my father asks when I hang up the call.
“I am. You’re right. We need a little space to figure out how we feel about each other.”
He nods. “Do you need help moving?”
I shake my head. “The only thing I have is the luggage I brought up here with me. I’m already checked out of the hotel. It’ll take me five minutes to move in and a month or two to furnish the place.”
“Don’t leave without saying goodbye to your mother and have us over at your new place once you’ve had a chance to get settled in.”
I nod, and an hour later, I’m on the road, pleasantly stuffed from the huge breakfast my mother insisted on making for us while I packed.
It isn’t until I have the keys in hand and walk into my place that I realize it is down the hall from Fiona’s. “Maybe this wasn’t such a brilliant idea,” I mutter to myself, staring at the large, empty space in front of me. The walls are blank white canvases, the gray fake-wood floor adding to the cold, sanitary look. At least it isn’t that beige carpet every single rental I’ve lived in the past seven years had.
I’m almost relieved when my phone rings.
“Will?” I’m surprised by the call from one of my best friends out in LA. I lean against the kitchen counter, the only furniture-adjacent items in the place.
“Hey, man. I thought I’d check in. Looks like you guys are getting the ball rolling on that movie of yours. You’re the talk of the town.”
“Word travels fast.”
“It does. Where are you? Airport?” Will asks.
I laugh. “No. I’m in my brand new, totally empty apartment.”
“Sounds like you have your work cut out for you. Why didn’t you rent something furnished?” Will sounds mildly amused.
“It was a bit of an impulse rent. Seemed like a good idea at the time. The view is pretty.” I walk out of the kitchen and to the large sliding glass door that leads out to the balcony.
