I think about what Jack’s told me and how hard it is for him when people leave. I can’t imagine what he must’ve felt when he believed that I purposely hadn’t texted him after our night together.
“Maybe it’s worth tugging that thread a little, to see what happens,” Talia says as she runs a hand through her hair and flips it to the other side. “And I did not mean that in a sexual way. Then again…”
My jaw drops. “Tal!”
“For this trip, are you both staying in different hotel rooms or is this going to be a One Bed type of situation?” she presses.
I roll my eyes and whack her with the butter pillow. “This is real life. Not a rom-com novel. We’ll each have our own separate rooms on thiswork trip,” I say, carefully articulating the last two words.
Between us on the couch, my phone lights up with a text message from Jack.
Talia peers over to see who it’s from. “Looks like you got that phone number situation sorted out,” she says, raising her eyebrows.
I grab my phone and hold it close to my chest dramatically. “Your point has already been made.”
Before Talia gets up from the couch, I reach for her. “Hey. You know you’re the best friend ever, right?”
“I mean, I know it, but it’s nice to hear it,” she says, flipping her hair back over her shoulder dramatically.
“Thank you for being here for me,” I say.
“I’m not here for you. I’m here with you,” Talia says, pulling me in for a hug. “And I know it feels like I’m helping you, but the RSG name has drawn a lot of attention to the gallery. That’s helped sales in general. Your time will come.”
While Talia makes tea, I read what Jack texted.
Sprinkles has landed.
I smile at the attached photo of Sprinkles peeking out from a cardboard box with a rocket-shaped cat house printed on the side.
Another text comes through.He likes the box the cat house came in more than the actual house.
In the corner of the picture, I spot a stuffed star and a tub of catnip. The thought of Jack shopping for cat toys makes me smile harder.
I flop back against the croissant. It’s official. Wherever it is I am, a dense forest or a phaseless moon, I’m in too deep and am way too close.
Chapter 19
JACK
Who decides to meet at the beach on a Friday night at rush hour?” I mumble.
Rooney’s sitting in my passenger seat rattling off directions even though we’re at a standstill.
“Once we get off the 101, we need to get onto the 405,” she explains, pinching and zooming the map on her phone. “Thanks for driving me, by the way. Talia has the car tonight. Now that I’m seeing it on the map, though, I’m realizing this is pretty inconvenient for you.”
“It’s no problem.” I stare straight ahead at the row of red taillights. “Can you tell me the exit once we get closer, let’s say, in an hour or so? If we’re lucky.”
Rooney shoots me a concerned look. “An hour? Jack, it’s four forty-five. I’m supposed to meet the group at six. The sun sets at six twenty. Google is saying there’s still… an hour and a half to get there? How is that possible?”
I glance at her phone screen. We’re north of Glendale. “There must be a concert tonight or a game,” I say. “Or nothing at all. This is LA.”
“When my mom comes to visit in a couple of weeks, she is not going to like this. The art show she’s taking me to is also in Santa Monica. We’re going to need to leave three hours early.”
“That would probably be best,” I agree.
She throws her hands up. “We haven’t even moved a car length, and it’s been fifteen minutes. What are people doing?”
“Exactly.”
