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“Thanks,” I said. I waved and smiled like a damn idiot and moved myself to the other side of the counter where drinks were being slid to their owners.
Shortly after I placed my order, my cell rang, blaring Christina Aguilera’s “Come on Over Baby.” My cheeks warmed up instantly as she belted that tune inside the painfully quiet corner where I stood. It was enough to make me move elsewhere from embarrassment.
“Sorry,” I mouthed to those nearby, attempting to avoid the evil eyes dotting at me from all sections of the shop.
“Julia!” My best friend, Eve, shouted through my phone. Almost as loud as Ms. Aguilera herself.
Damn it.
Luckily, my order was immediately placed onto the counter, almost as if the cute barista was shoving me out the door, but politely. Embarrassed, I swiftly waved my hand as I yanked my coffee and muffin off the counter, while clutching my singing phone against my chest.
Temporarily muting Eve, I turned the volume from a ten down to a one but could still hear her yelling at me for placing her on mute. She knew me too well.
“Julia, I’m not kidding. Unmute me!” She cried out.
I pushed past the wooden door, bringing my phone up to my mouth, “Ok, ok, I’m here Eve!” I exhaled out loud hoping to find peace on this journey. “What’s going on? Aren’t you supposed to be at work right now?” I found a nearby bench and sat down to enjoy my coffee and warm muffin. It was complete bliss.
“You’re never going to believe this, but… I bought you a ticket to come see me! Well, me and your dad. You leave tomorrow morning.” She chirped excitedly in a proud tone.
“Eve! What? I thought nurses didn’t take time off work? Or is this one of those trips where you’ll be working the whole time and I’m just alone with my laptop?” Actually, that didn’t sound like a bad option.
“Well, this bitch has saved enough lives this year to earn herself a couple weeks off. Besides, I desperately need my best friend; it's been too long. Please.” I could feel her puppy dog eyes on the other side of the phone. Funny, how you can know someone for so long, that you can feel their expressions radiate without seeing them.
I sighed because Robbie would frown upon it. Especially it being last minute. He was a complete control freak, and I dreaded imagining what our conversation would entail.
Besides if he didn’t trust me enough to go get coffee, why would he agree to this? I must have been silent for too long, or Eve could read my mind; one of the two.
“Anyway, I know what you’re thinking, and it’s non-refundable, tell Robbie. Besides. I need to see you before you decide to walk down the aisle. Fuck him.” I bit the inside of my cheek in thought.
Decide. Interesting word choice.However, with how I’d been feeling lately—like a trapped prisoner inside this relationship—I deserved to go home and visit. Alone.
“Fuck him! You’re right. I need to see everyone.” Being in the city had been a nice change, but I hadn’t felt so far away from home until these last few months.
My little family of two, I missed them more than I could stand, and I needed my dad’s famous bear hugs right about now.
“Pack up and come back to sweet home North Carolina!” Eve shrieked and clicked off. She loved being dramatic.
North Carolina.
It felt like a universe that was far away. I left North Carolina because I was never fond of small-town living. Part of me didn’t want to go back to see the sad life I once fled. Even my accent flew out the moment I began my life as a city girl. Not sure I wanted my southern twang to come back with vengeance. I did love Dad and Eve, but their love wasn’t enough to keep me trapped there. New York on the other hand — I’ll do anything to keep my life in one piece, even if it may be complicated. Complicated was normal, right? It seemed that way in the city at least; chaos was its middle name after all.
Suddenly, my heart sank into my stomach knowing that the conversation I would have with Robbie wouldn’t be great. I chugged my drink back, threw my trash away, and headed back upstairs.
One of the great things about New York was how you could step out and you were seconds away from a cup of coffee, cream cheese filled bagels, or cheap slices of Joe’s pizza. The phrase ‘the city that never sleeps’ couldn’t be any truer. People drank until four in the morning, or until they passed out before closing time.
I turned the corner of my apartment hallway, and Robbie was waiting at our doorway like a scolding father. His brow furrowed as he watched each step I took, judging me up and down, until I passed him.
“Hey… Robbie.” I softened my voice a bit. I lunged at him, attacking him with a big hug. “Guess what! I’m going back home for a week.” I squeaked out, and his eyes narrowed in on mine. “Eve got me a ticket to go see her, and I’ll be able to see my family as well right before the wedding. It’s been a while, and I need this.” I paused. My index finger circled around the exposed part of his chest. I exhaled loudly, almost out of breath at my fast speech. “I leave tomorrow morning.”
A few silent moments lingered in the cold air between us. Not knowing which way he would go as his angry furrowed brows relaxed into a sad glance.
“Ok,” Robbie softly replied, almost defeated. His eyes sunk low, viewing the floor beneath us. Did he really just agree without a fight? Although we have had more great moments than not, my old Robbie was shining through in his own way again.
“Ok?” My voice pitched at the end of my sentence, in surprise of his response.What gives? Oh fuck, why did I care? I’m going home.
2
Julia
