I nodded as she made her way to the door.
I did know what I wanted. Not only was I going home to Jesse, I thought of a way to make it even better.
After our meeting, I headed back to the hotel and called Sabrina as soon as I shut the room door behind me.
“Hello?”
I glanced at my watch, forgetting once again that I was three hours behind her, but she sounded more breathless than sleepy.
“Hey, sorry to bother you this late. But I’m coming home.”
“You are? When?”
“As soon as I can wrap things up here and get a flight to New York. And I had an idea for a surprise homecoming if you’ll help me.”
“I’d love to.” I heard a loud thump, as if the phone dropped, followed by muffled whispers.
“Is someone there?”
“What? No?” Sabrina’s shriek pierced my ears.
“I’d be so grossed out about what you’re probably doing on my sheets if I weren’t going to let you keep the apartment.”
“You’re letting me keep the apartment? Does that mean what I think it means?”
“She’s letting you keep the apartment? Where is she going?”
I shut my eyes, covering my mouth to stifle a laugh as I recognized the low whisper.
“Tell Caden I’m coming home, and I’m going to need his help.”
28
JESSE
“Will you perk up,for fuck’s sake?”
I didn’t look at Caden as I wiped the glitter off my kitchen counter. Maddie had made me an early birthday card and was so excited to give it to me, I had to accept that our kitchen would sparkle from every angle for a very long time since she’d managed to get glitter everywhere.
“I’m fine. I’m not sure why you all wanted to celebrate my birthday a week early, but I’m going along with it.”
“Going along with it?” He lifted Maddie’s masterpiece from where I’d hung it on the fridge. “Look at the effort your niece put into this.”
I grabbed it from his hands and clipped it back on the fridge.
“I see the effort and the trail of glitter it leaves whenever it’s touched. It’s great and I love her for it, I’m just not into celebrating anything.”
“I know. That’s why we’re all here trying to cheer your grumpy ass up.”
I ignored him as I grabbed the hand vacuum and attempted to suck up the green and white sparkles along the floor. I hadn’t heard from Emily other than short texts for the past couple of days. Despite my attempts to have a good attitude about mygirlfriend on the opposite coast, it was wearing on me. Maybe she hadn’t called because she had to be there longer and didn’t know how to tell me. She had said it could be up to six months, so I had to find a way not to lose it after two.
I’d gone twenty years without Emily. I should’ve been able to handle a few months.
But I wasn’t. At least, not well.
“Can’t have a party without streamers,” Sabrina said as she came into the living room. “Maddie, can you help me put these on the wall behind the couch?”
“Sure!” My niece paused the video game on the TV and popped off the floor.
