Billy:No problem. Do the drops.
Me:Yes, sir. Any news about my sister?
Billy: She’s here and already started telling people that she broke up with me because I cheated on her with you.
Me: No.
Billy:Yes.
Me:But what about your promotion?
Billy:What will be will be. Which reminds me. There’s a rooftop deck if you feel like getting some air. Stairs are down the hallway from the third bathroom. Make sure you don’t lock yourself on the roof. It’s chilly. Wear a coat.
Me:A rooftop deck? Wow! I’ll wear a coat, Dad.
There is a pause before his next message arrives.
Billy:Please don’t ever call me “dad” again. K?
Me:LOL. K.
After our series of texts, I decide to get to know Billy’s place a little better. First stop? The rooftop deck. It’s cold outside, so I only want to take a peek right now. I find the stairway he mentioned and walk up about ten steps to a door that is mostly glass. His rooftop deck doesn’t take up the entire roof, but it’s large enough for a table and chairs on one side, an area with more comfortable lounge-like seats with a firepit, and an outdoor kitchen adjacent to that. There are empty pots around the entire place that I could picture filled with colorful flowers or even some tomato plants in the summer. There’s a wooden arbor, or maybe you’d call it an awning, over the top of the entire space that lets light still shine through the wooden slats, but it would also provide shade. “I can’t wait to spend time out there this spring and summer.”
Wait a second. Hold the phone. Did I just say that? Do I really expect to be living with Billy in the spring? I give myself a solid eye roll. “You’re ridiculous, Josephine.” Yeah, I’m talking to myself. What did you expect? Someone’s gotta speak the truth. I’ll just have to do it myself.
With a sigh, I grasp the knob and turn. I’m surprised it opens without unlocking something. Pushing it open, I step up onto the patio level all while holding onto the door. I don’t intend on going any further today. I’ll investigate when it’s not below freezing. Plus, it’s windy up here. I push up onto my toes to get a better view of what lies beyond the deck and think I spy some blue. “Lake Michigan?” I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a lake view. It’s one of the things people like about living out here.
Back inside, I pick up my phone from the counter and head to my bedroom and flop onto the bed. Pressing a couple of buttons, I wait for Julie’s voice mail to pick up. When it’s actually her answering, I say, “Oh, you answered.”
“Hey, Joey! Yeah, I stayed home from work. I took the two days off after Christmas. All I’ve been doing is sitting around my house moping. I should have gone to work. At least there I could pretend to do work. Here, I’m just staring at the walls.”
“I’m sorry, Jules.”
“I know.” She sighs. “Breakups suck so hard.”
“I know.”
There’s silence for a minute or two. “Thanks for not saying the usual drivel like ‘this too shall pass’ or ‘you’re better off without him.’ None of that shit helps. All it does is make me want to punch the person speaking.”
I laugh. What? It was funny. “Well, lucky for you, I’ve got no room to give advice. All I can say is it sucks and I’m sorry you’re going through it.”
“Thank you. I knew I could count on you. So, are you in the city?”
“I am. Want to have a girls’ night tomorrow night?”
“Yes. But I don’t want to go out. I want to cuddle up under that quilt of yours and watch Disney movies. I also want to drink lots of beer and eat cheese.”
“Very specific. I think I can oblige. Can that cheese be in the form of a pizza?”
Julie laughs, and it sounds good. “Abso-fucking-lutely.”
“You’ll have to buy the beer, though. I’m broke.”
“God, I wish you still worked at the rag.”
“Me too. I think.”
“Who’re you staying with? Your demonic sister?”
