You’re just pissing me off now. I have the juiciest gossip that you’re gonna want to hear and you’re not even checking your messages. Are you still alive?
I click the video button and walk up the stairs to my bedroom with the laptop in hand.
“Finally.” Sara appears on screen, her hair all messy.
“Are you?” I make her video bigger. “Naked?”
“You got me. I was having a nooner.”
“It’s five-thirty in the afternoon.”
“What can I say? It’s been a long session.”
“Are you done?”
Sara’s boyfriend appears on screen, shirtless. “Hey, Joy.”
“Why haven’t you answered my messages? Do you know how hard I’ve tried to contact you? I even sent you a letter by snail mail. Had to ask Nick for your next of kin address on file.”
“I’m sorry. I haven’t felt like peopling. What’s going on with you?”
“I have so much to tell you. I would’ve told you when I got home from work, but you’d left with no number or anything on your lousy note.”
“I’m sorry. Just tell me your news already.”
“Nick’s selling the business.”
“He’s what?”
“I heard everything the day your dad came in to the shop. He told Nick to stay away from you, even offered him money. Nick was like—she puts on a gruff tone—no amount of money could keep me away from her. She’s the love of my life, or something to that effect.
“This doesn’t make sense. He didn’t want me.”
“He wants you. Don’t you see?” She rolls her eyes. “He thinks he’s doing the right thing. He knew he couldn’t offer you anything with all his debt and didn’t want to hold you back from your dream job.”
I cover my mouth unsure if I should allow the smile tugging at my lips to form. I don’t want to give my heart false hope. “Did he say anything else?”
“He told your dad to fuck off.” She giggles.
My eyes widen to saucers. “Baubles.”
“To be fair. Your dad was offering him money to stay away from you. So he kind of deserved it.”
“Let me get this right. Nick ended things with me because he couldn’t offer me a job and didn’t want me giving up on my dream?” My brain ticks over all the things I can do to put this right. “And you’re certain he said he loved me?”
“Yes. Jeez, I wish I’d recorded the entire conversation now.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t.”
“I know I’ve never liked him much, but you seemed to bring out the best in him. He’s been really fucking miserable since you left, but worse than that, he’s looked tired. It all makes sense now.”
“Do you know which estate agents he’s used for the sale? How much is it up for?”
“I don’t know, but I’m sure a Google search will answer all your questions.”
I open up another window on my laptop to find the full details. “The building and the business are for sale and it’s a steal at that price.”
She laughs. “Yeah, if only you had the money to buy it. That would be so funny to rock up to his office in the New year and be like, move over sucker. I’m the boss bitch now.”
