Instead, I pick up my phone and text my girls.
Girls’ night. Stat.
They are all quick to reply.
Macy: Everything OK?
Candace: What’s going on?
Chasity: OMG, it’s day seven!
I don’t reply because I have no clue what to say, and I can’t even think about that right now, so I put my phone down and open my calendar to look at my week. I don’t know why because I know I have nothing going on. My life is my job; my job is my life.
I close my eyes again and breathe, trying not to have a panic attack or break out crying, sitting here at my desk.
Seeing my calendar just makes me realize how empty my life really is. I want someone to spend my nights with. I want someone to fill my calendar with. Thoughts of David’s family coming to New York for his sister’s dress fitting hit me like a stone wall. I dreamed of being able to meet them, and now I have no clue what to think.
I spent the weekend envisioning what my life would look like with this guy in it. I dreamed of waking up next to him, of goingon that first date on the Hudson, of just cuddling with him after a long day. I felt like a kid on Christmas, who had their presents all wrapped under the tree, just waiting for that special day, but now they’ve all burned to the ground.
“I was thinking?—”
I jump in my seat and open my eyes at the sound of David’s voice, making Jana chuckle under her breath, to which I give her the death stare.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” David says. “I was thinking we could go on Wednesday, spend the day touring the place on Thursday, and then fly home on Friday.”
“Yeah. That works for me. Do you want me to book the flights?”
“I already have them up on my computer. I just need your information.”
Wanting this interaction to stop as quickly as possible, I reach in my purse, pull out my ID, and hand it to him without saying anything else. Thankfully, he takes it and walks back to his desk.
“You guys have to fly somewhere?” Jana whispers. “Like, together?”
I open my eyes wide and nod.
She tries her hardest to hold back her laughter but fails miserably.
Again, I have no clue whether I should laugh or cry at this wild, messed-up situation I’ve found myself in.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Zoe
I barely make it through my day. As soon as it’s okay to leave, I grab my stuff and walk out the door, needing a drink almost as much as I need air right now.
It takes me a while to get to Joey’s bar, and thankfully, by the time I arrive, everyone is already there. Macy has my drink ready for me, which I grab before I even have a chance to sit down.
“Whoa, that serious, huh?” Macy asks as she watches me down the liquid thought minimizer in one go.
I place it on the table and motion to Joey that I need another, then finally sit down. All three of my friends stare at me, waiting for me to spill the tea. Everything I’ve been through today boils over the edge, and instead of blurting out my news, I drop my head to my arms and start to cry.
“Zoe!” Macy wraps her arm around my back.
“What happened?” I hear Candace ask.
I give my body the release it desperately needs and am thankful that my friends support me in doing so, no matter how ridiculous I must look to all of them right now.
“Hey now. What’s going on?” Joey asks in a concerned tone, setting my drink down in front of me.
