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I’d been promptly told I had at least three more days off, but I didn’t want them.
I wanted to get back into my routine as quick and easily as possible.
I needed something to do to keep me busy. Something that would keep me from wallowing in the way I was feeling. That would keep my mind off of every mistake I’d made since we’d left on that cursed vacation anyway.
Jimmy nodded with understanding, and I opened my take-out box, forcing myself to eat a few bites of the club sandwich and a few of the fries since I knew he’d be reporting each and every little thing to Marnie. The woman would at least know I was trying to take care of myself.
I had a feeling she was going to stop by in the morning, anyway.
We made it back to town in record time for that time of year, and he took the turn off for the back of my building before I knew it. He parked near the door and shut the engine off. I looked up at the familiar building. Only a few vehicles were in the lot, including my own, hidden under several inches of snow. I was too tired to go over and brush it off. I’d put it on my to-do list for the morning.
“I’ll take the bags in…” Jimmy said as he saw me reach for the door handle.
I was about to say no when I realized just how exhausted I was.
“Just set them in the doorway, I can drag them in,” I said with as much energy as I could muster, which wasn’t much.
We stepped outside, the slamming of the truck doors seeming to echo in the stillness around us. There was no sound at all, and more snow was already starting to fall slowly down.
In moments, he had the tailgate open, pulling my bags out. I carried the take-out box and my purse, grabbed my keys from their usual spot, and let us in the little side door with the stairs up to my apartment.
Jimmy stomped the thick snow off his boots before climbing the stairs.
I took a deep breath. Instantly, the smell of the Chinese food from the restaurant hit me. I glanced at the hallway leading to the restaurant then back up the stairs. Jimmy had probably made it to my door by now. I turned to make sure the door closed behind us, slid the lock in place, and headed up.
He smiled at me. “Marnie says no go, kid. You’re off tomorrow whether you like it or not.”
He lifted his cell phone so I could see the text.
Those were her exact words.
I wanted to cry. In spite of myself, though, I laughed softly. “Fine. I won’t work. But maybe I’ll stop in for lunch. I don’t have anything in the fridge, anyway…”
“I have a feeling you’ll get a delivery…” He winked as I opened the door to the apartment, set the bags inside, and turned the lights on for me. “All good?”
He looked at me closely, and I could tell he was waiting to give me a giant hug if needed.
I nodded, glancing around the familiar space. “All good.”
“’Night, kiddo.” He squeezed my hand then took off down the stairs.
***
I’d tried not to overhear Lucas’ conversation with his boss the morning before we left. He’d happily accepted the transfer, and I’d heard dates mentioned. Trip out there, they’d help him find a place, meet the higher ups at the new firm, and a very firm start date of early February.
I also knew that with how bare Lucas kept his apartment, he could probably pack everything into a handful of boxes and be gone at a moment’s notice.
Every day, I found myself wondering when exactly he was leaving. And then, I turned my phone off, not wanting to get that goodbye text. I didn’t want my heart to break all over again.
I kept myself busy, taking on an extra shift or two at the diner, but every night when I came home, I saw things the way Lucas described them.
My studio apartment above the Chinese restaurant.
Yeah, definitely could smell the food below. I’d realized that when I’d walked in the night Jimmy dropped me off.
Even though it was cold and snowy out, I pushed open the window by my bed, letting the chilled air in. I shivered and pulled a sweater out of my dresser, slipped my arms quickly through the sleeves and shivered again, pulling the sleeves down over my hands and hoping it would help me warm up.
I had my work gear in the corner. My cameras, including the one Lucas refused to take back, sat there. My hard drives, my computer, my old untouched portfolio tucked beside it, leaning against the wall.
