“Is Monday too soon?”
James lets out a chuckle. “Heck no.”
This is happening. It’s really happening. “I can’t wait.” I really can’t.
He responds, “You just get yourself down here. We’ll take it easy that first week, ease you in, then schedule in some clients for you. How does that sound?”
I near-whisper, “Amazing.”
“Well, if you need anything, anything at all, just call. I’ll give you my private extension, as well as my cell number.” He rattles of his private numbers before speaking quietly, “I know what it’s like to be new in town. Five years ago, that was me, so I’m going to make sure your transition is as painless as it can be.”
Wow. That’s so nice. I love my new boss! “Thank you, Mr. Whitt—” I quickly catch myself. “Thank you, James. I’m looking forward to a change in scenery.”
“See you Monday.”
I hang up and thank God my new boss isn’t a mean old asshole. Still holding my cell in my hand, I press number 2 on my speed-dial. She answers within seconds, “Hey, bitch, I was just thinking of you.”
I snort. “Oh yeah? Let me guess…you saw a woman with a beard and it reminded you of me?”
“Moldy cheese, actually.”
I laugh before sobering. “Nat, the reason I called—”
She gasps, “Someone died?!”
I shout an exasperated, “No one’s dead! Jesus C! What is it with this morbid family?”
Nat returns, “You went all serious on me. What was I supposed to think? You scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry. I just need to ask you a favor is all.”
Silence...then suspicion lines her voice. “Which is?”
I try to keep the smile out of my own. “I need you to find me an apartment.”
I can almost see the confusion on her face. “Um, sweetie, wouldn’t that be easier for you to do, seeing as I don’t live in California anymore?”
I sigh. “I suppose so.” I pause a moment. “Of course, I don’t need an apartment in California. I need an apartment in New York. My new job is in New York, so finding an apartment in California would just be silly.” I grin. “Howdy, neighbor!”
A gasp, then a quiet, “Shut. Up.”
“I will not.”
Then louder, “You shut your lying whore mouth right now!”
A startled laugh bursts out of me. “Well, that got serious fast! No, no joke. I’m moving to New York and I need a place to stay. Like, soon…ish.”
I hear the shock in her voice. “How soon?”
“Like, Monday-soon.”
Another gasp. I hear slapping and a male voice mutter ‘Ouch’, and I just know she’s got the excitement slaps, Asher being the likely victim of the assault. “Oh my God, this is so awesome! I can’t believe you never told me you applied here, you lying sack of shit!”
We both laugh. My sisters and I talk to each other as if we hate each other, but the truth is, we love each other very much. We just have a weird way of showing it.
Excitement takes over. “We never found someone to take over the lease from my old apartment, so I guess we’re actually going to be neighbors. Real neighbors! Oh my God, we’re going to have so much fun! You can come here all the time, and we’ll eat together and cook together, and have sleepovers!” She gasps, then shouts, “We are gonna have so much fun!”
I bite my lip over my smile.
Monday can’t come soon enough.
Chapter Two
Helena
Four days later…
Taping up the last of the boxes, I look around my room. It looks so…bare. The walls are bare. The floor is bare. The bookshelves are bare.
My room is naked.
I don’t know how I feel about that.
If the pang in my chest is anything to go by, I’d say it makes me sad. This room has been mine from the day I was born. I played in this room, grew up in it, sought comfort, and hid away from the world in here.
This room has been good to me. I’m going to miss it.
Now, all that’s left of it are the eight boxes on the floor. I’ve organized for movers to come this afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out my new workplace would cover the entire expense. Asher called yesterday to let me know the apartment was getting a spring clean by all the girls and would be ready by Monday. Nat also let me know it had most of the furniture still in it from when she lived there, so I won’t need to spend a lot to set myself up.
I offered to pay for the extras in the apartment, but Nat refused while using a ton of cuss words. But, of course, I argued, which made Nat use some nastier words. Suddenly, Ash took the phone and simply said, “You aren’t paying for shit, girl. You just get your ass down here. You wanna thank me? Feed me.”
There really is no arguing with Asher. He’s firm like that.
A final sweep of my room reveals one last thing I need to do, but I’m torn. My Johnny poster still hangs behind the door.
It’s time.
But I’m not ready.
It’s time. He’s had a good life. Let go.
Brain is right. It’s time. I need to let him go.
Walking to the door, I stare into Johnny Depp’s eyes and my gut sinks. “I’m sorry. You’ve been a good imaginary boyfriend, but I’m a grown-up now. There’s no room in my life for a boyfriend. Not even an imaginary one.” But he just stares at me. “Don’t look at me like that.” But he does. He’s torturing me.
I sigh tiredly and rub at my forehead. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be. Please, Johnny. It’s over.” I’m getting a headache. I take my time pulling him down with the utmost care, rolling him up and putting a rubber band around him. I hold him in my hands and walk him over to the recycling bin. I lift the lid and put him in. I slowly close the lid and turn around.
My mother stands there, looking from me to the bin. I nod solemnly and whisper, “It was time.”
She smiles and shakes her head, and with a heavy heart, I let my first love go.
***
Ten minutes later…
My sock-covered feet slip around on the kitchen tiles. Hyperventilating, I open the cupboard under the sink and dig through the recycling ‘til I find him. I clutch Johnny to my heaving chest and turn to find both my parents having coffee at the dining table. They eye me with worry.
“I thought I could do it.” I clutch Johnny harder. “I can’t do it. He’s coming with me.”