“Oh—th-thank you.” I feel so weird and actually a little sick about this. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“No, it was my pleasure. The least I could do after springing this on you. Anyway, we’ve had a heck of a week here and are excited for you two to get back. Jenny, I know I said take tomorrow off, but could you come in? I need you.”
“Of-of course. If you want me to get started on some things now, send them to me. I have the flight and I’m sure we’ll have some delays. Plus my laptop is fully charged from being powered down all week.” I laugh but the reality of the apartment and owing him a blood debt and now all the catch-up I have is giving me heartburn.
“No, no. I’ve sent the company jet to get you. They’re waiting for you. Go home and unpack your boxes. Get settled. I’ll see you girls in the morning.” His jovial tone is forced for our benefit. Something’s wrong. Is he regretting giving me the apartment? Does he know about Cap and Lawrence? I can’t handle this.
“Okay,” Sukii says as if this is all just fine.
“Rest up.” He hangs up the phone with a ruffling sound like he’s brushing a microphone against his jacket.
“Oh, Stan.” Sukii lies back in the limo and sighs when the phone call ends. But he doesn’t stay the topic of discussion for long. “So Cap gave me his digits and asked me out for dinner tomorrow night.” She lifts her eyebrows and offers a sly grin.
Deciding not to stress out right now, and frankly I’m too tired for it, I go along. “He means business. Who asks someone out for a date on a Monday?”
“I know,” she squeals. “I really like him. We went fishing and hung out and spent as much time by ourselves as we could. It was nice.” She blushes and lowers her gaze to the floor.
Fortunately, she was so preoccupied with Cap all weekend, she doesn’t know about Lawrence and me.
“How are you feeling about Ben now that we’re going home?” she changes the subject again. Sometimes with her it’s like facing a tommy-gun firing squad, and I’m not in a great place for it right now.
“I didn’t think about him much.” It’s not a lie. “And I guess now that I am, I feel a bit weird about my decision to ghost him,” I choke back the words, hating that I did it.
“You shouldn’t. The guy’s a twat.”
I snort.
“And don’t think you’re getting off easy, I’m coming home with you. I wanna see the new digs and help.”
“Dude, we’re both exhausted.”
“All the more reason for me to come and help.” She squeezes my hand before letting go and getting comfortable.
Deciding to use the time to distract myself, I comb through my messages and open my emails to tackle the list of them.
It takes the whole drive from the farm to the airport for me to junk out and answer with quick responses of calling back tomorrow.
We climb out as the driver gets the door. The air is warmer here out of the mountains. A valet comes for us, directing us to the private jet. I’ve never been on one before but it’s everything I expect and hope for.
Comfy leather seats, snacks and beverages, and the ability to lie back flat. After the night I had, closing my eyes on the jet is a nice surprise.
Landing at the airport is discombobulating.
For half a second, I have the strangest sensation I have nowhere to go. Or rather I don’t know the way home. It’s odd and keeps me moving quickly after the valet who has our bags on a trolley. But the familiar smell and feel of New York is calming.
“I can’t believe it’s over. I could swear we were at that wedding for a year. It’s like the lotus-eaters,” Sukii says as we climb into the limo.
“I know.” I laugh, still in disbelief of the turn of events. Only I would go from screaming at and mocking a guy to having the most insane sex with him.
“But you had fun, right? Even with all the shouting at Lawrence and them forcing you to play the drums.” She cackles.
“I still can’t believe Stan told Bev that I helped my brother with the band when I was seventeen.” I cover my face, sensing the steam starting to rise.
“Oh man, it was so amazing seeing your face.” Sukii holds her stomach and laughs harder. “It was like when Phil from Accounting found that old video on YouTube of you playing with the band and sent it to the office.”
“And all you assholes changed your ringtones to the song so I had to listen to it for weeks.” I fold my arms over my chest. “I hate you all.”
“You make it so easy to target you.” She slaps my thigh and wipes her eyes. “Who plays the drums and guitar and shoots like an assassin and speaks multiple languages and was on Team Canada for two gold medals? Like overachieve less.”
“Shut up,” I mutter. “Canada is bilingual. And my mom was the music and French teacher at my school. And I don’t know if you’ve been to North Vancouver Island, but it rains ten months of the year. It was a lot of time to perfect random shit like the drums.”
“You and I both know you’re a rock star, maybe not the same way Josh is, but you’re amazing.” She cocks an eyebrow. “So no one feels sorry for you. You’re like one of those homeschooled kids, but you also have a killer personality to go with it.”
“Lots of homeschooled kids have great personalities.”
“Yeah, they need multiple to get through the boredom. Trust me, I did a semester of it.
