Sarah B: Dr. Richardson, thank you so much for your hospitality. You really didn’t have to. I could have stopped somewhere and gotten something on the way, but I’ll enjoy it. I hope you’re having a good morning. What time do you usually take lunch? P.S. - You’ll probably be getting a work related email from me at some point today.
I shower, taking time with my makeup and putting my hair into a thick bun at the top of my head, leaving a few tendrils to frame my face. Smearing a berry lip gloss on my lips, I take a second to admire my dark, sharp-winged brows and decide I don’t need blush today because I'm not having any problem keeping color on my face lately.
Going through my clothes I find a red button-up romper that hangs mid-thigh and pair it with some nice golden sandals.
AR: It’s Alex, please. Lunch is around 1p for me today. Why, what’s up? (eye raised emoji) What’s the ‘B’ stand for anyways?
I pad downstairs carefully with a hand on the rail, still feeling rather shaken up.
Rounding the foyer I see I missed a text from Shelly stating the apartment will be ready to move in tomorrow, and I can get the keys any time before five in the evening. Yelping with excitement, I enter the kitchen with a joyful smile on my face.
Sarah B: I’d like to bring you lunch as a thank you. B stands for Bella. My apartment will be ready tomorrow. I love salad. Buffalo fried chicken salad is my weakness.
I pour myself a to-go cup of tea, grab my sandwich out of the warmer, and turn the coffee pot off before unplugging both appliances.
My phone pings again just as I get in the car right on time at eight-fifteen. When I start it, I see my gas tank is full, making me furrow my brows in confusion thinking that maybe I fell too hard on Thursday. IknowI was almost on empty before Friday.
AR: I would love lunch, maybe we can go over Vancouver plans? Set an itinerary? Sarah Bella is quite beautiful, bravo to your parents.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to properly prepare to reschedule my clients, so I have to see them. I feel a pang of guilt knowing I'm going to have to source a backup therapist just in case of emergencies and decide that it's going to be a projectI’ll begin in the next few weeks. I have that empty office, and it would help me out to have someone split the bills. But I’d need to furnish it first, and that's going to take money I don't have yet.
Sarah B: Hey, I said that I was okay, remember? I’ll get to Vancouver fine on my own, Dr. Richardson. You’ve done enough.
AR: It’s Alex, remember? And do you not remember what I said, hmm?
I bite back a smile, putting my phone away before beginning my drive out of the driveway. I'm never late, and I'm not going to start being late today because I was texting my sexy friend psychiatrist.
The thought gives me an immediate pause and makes me frown because...are we friends?
Hearing another text from my phone, I decide to ignore it until I get into my office fifteen minutes later.
Sitting in my office chair I finish texting my parents, letting them know of my new apartment and the breakup with Brandon, keeping it simple. Next, I text Jerome and Christopher my new address, and that I’ll be getting the keys about five tomorrow afternoon if they want to come and veg out on Chinese food. Albeit, they’ll have to bring a folding chair as I won’t have any furniture.
With that thought in mind, I realize I’ll have to stop by the store and get an air mattress. I work fast, clicking through a few work emails, responding to some and deleting others that aren't relevant, when my phone dings again showing me that Jerome texted.
Jerome: Hey Sarah Beara, pick one- white or dark blue?
Sarah Beara: Hey J, what am I picking for? I need some context! (laughing face)
Jerome: I’m getting you a new bedding set for your new place. I was just going to pick it out for you, but I figured you might want to have input on the color. Christopher's getting you something too.
His kindness makes me smile, causing my heart to tug at all the nice things the men in my life have been doing for me lately, especially after all the hurt I’d been enduring for weeks. My stomach cramps slightly, and I put my hand on my tummy, thinking about Bumpy.
Sarah Beara: Thank you, J. Blue is fine. Love you, friend.
Suddenly an email from Alexander pops up on my computer, startling me out of my musings. A warmth starts in my chest, surprising me.
Sarah Bella,
Did you make it to the office? Hope you don’t think I’m being too forward; I just saw you’re online so was worried that you haven’t responded to my text. You doing okay?
AR
Interesting. My brow furrows.He's a little anxious…
It hasn't been that long, but that warmth burns just a bit broader at thinking he'd been waiting to hear from me.
Alexander,
