‘You’re going to be able to go. Didn’t the doctor say he thinks, based on the location and stuff, that the lump,’ I correct myself, ‘that Sal is benign?’
‘Well, yeah, but I was thinking today that, just in case, if I can’t go, you could maybe go instead of me?’
My mouth falls open slightly and I blink at Millie. ‘I can’t do that. I’m not a marine biologist. Also, everything is in your name.’ The more I think about it, the crazier it sounds. Millie has had some insane ideas in the past – dyeing Murphy’s hair green for St Patrick’s Day, convincing our dad to eat a weed brownie, but this takes the cake.
‘But you got a bachelor’s degree in marine science – and you know how to take photos! It’ll be easy! And you’re scuba certified!’ Millie counters, her eyes gleaming, clearly prepared for the argument. ‘And everyone says we look alike, and the visa only takes, like, two days to process, you have plenty of time. Plus, it’s over Christmas break anyways, so no one at work will know that I didn’t go. I’ll get a fake tan and pretend that I went . . .’ She pauses and swallows. ‘Don’t tell me I told you so, but a lot of the trip is non-refundable. It was so much cheaper to do it that way. All that money shouldn’t just go to waste . . .’
‘Millie—’ I try to erase the annoyance in my tone ‘—this is crazy. And . . .’ I hesitate because my voice starts to break. ‘I don’t even want to entertain the possibility that you can’t go. Why are we talking about this now when we don’t know anything?’
At this, Millie softens. ‘OK,’ she says. ‘We don’t have to decide now. It just could be nice for you to . . . you know . . . get out there. And you’d be doing me a huge favour . . .’
I huff. ‘I know how to get myself out there, I’m just not ready.’
‘Andi, I’m not asking you to be ready for anythingromantic, I just think it could be good for you to get out of Columbus for a little. So much of your life has changed lately, maybe a vacation will help make sense of that!’ she says excitedly, clearly attempting to lighten the mood.
‘Ugh,’ I groan. ‘I don’t need a vacation. I’m doing fine.’ I gesture at my apartment. ‘My house is clean, Murphy is fed. I’ve hardly cried. I’m fine.’
Millie raises her eyebrows at me in an expression of disbelief that only older sisters can truly master. ‘Right,’ she says, her voice sharp, ‘because all I dream for your life is one that’s fine. Not great, not good, but fine.’
I raise an eyebrow at her.
She grins. ‘So, you’ll think about it? Just in case?’
‘Yes,’ I lie.No way, I’m thinking.Not a chance. I’m good here. In my apartment with Murphy.But as Millie scoots out the door into the freezing Columbus November, I can’t help but think about the sun of the South Pacific on my skin.
Chapter 2
Iwake up the next morning with an aching jaw and a headache, something that only happens when I’ve been grinding my teeth all night.
I don’t even make it all the way to my cubicle before texting Millie, asking if we can respond to Hugh –Learnt? Who does he think he is? But she never responds. The day passes slowly, and I alternate tweaking a slide deck that I need to send to my boss and drafting snarky messages I wish I could send to Hugh.- Becca nags me until I reluctantly agree to sneak out of the office with her to get bubble tea. Accompanying Becca on her relentless pursuit of drinks and snacks is the foundation of our friendship. I offer to buy her tea as a thank you for being the only reason I see sunshine most workdays, but she refuses, insisting that I’ve repaid my debt by listening to her litany of complaints about online dating.
When Becca heard what happened with Zach, she was shocked. She couldn’t believe I turned down the chance at a stable, pre-planned future with a nice guy. My explanation that ‘I felt trapped,’ didn’t cut it. ‘Trapped by a man is all I want to be!’ she exclaimed. I almost offered to give her Zach’s number.
When one of my afternoon meetings gets cancelled, I decide to take matters into my own hands and, in an uncharacteristically bold move, I DM Hugh.
Well, technically@millieandipaxtonDMs Hugh. Millie and I had started a joint Instagram account when we went to India together, chronicling our trip to the ‘Golden Triangle’ – New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Mostly for our parents, the feed was filled with pink palaces, golden vistas, colourful saris, and giant, lumbering elephants. It was one of my favourite trips I’ve ever taken – nothing compares to the vibrancy of a New Delhi evening – and looking back at the photos I remember why I used to love travelling so much. I’m so overwhelmed at how long it’s been since I’ve taken a trip – two years, to be exact, the entirety of my last relationship – that I almost forget why I’ve logged on to Instagram in the first place.
Hugh’s Instagram is private, but his bio reads ‘marine biologist USYD’. His profile picture is so small that even screenshotting it and zooming in does me no good, all I see is a pixelated outline of a face.
@millieandipaxtonI just wanted to let you know that I don’t plan on taking logic cues from someone who spells ‘learned’ ‘learnt’.
@hughharris94It is most effective to communicate with your audience using their preferred speech patterns (I learnt that at university). When one is writing about the Great Barrier Reef (located in Australia, let me remind you) it makes the most sense to use Australian English. Therefore, ‘learnt’ would have been the correct way for you to write your response. I was just pointing that out.
@millieandipaxtonTouché.
@hughharris94Hmmm . . . you really don’t know your audience.
@millieandipaxton?
@hughharris94Aussies aren’t a huge fan of the French. But, of course, someone from Ohio wouldn’t know that.
@millieandipaxtonReal original, coming for Ohio like that. Actually, now that I think about it, I would trade Ohio seasons for an endless cycle of natural disasters. *Fire emoji*
@hughharris94I would say that’s a low blow, but I don’t expect anything better from an American.
@millieandipaxtonLike Australia is that much better.
@hughharris94We have better healthcare, living standards and lower crime rates.
