He took a self-assured sip from his cup as he leaned against his chair. “What do you do?”
“I—” Mia’s standard answer froze on her tongue. “I’m still figuring it out.”
“Aw, a free spirit. I wish I could be like that. Free spiriting isn’t going to pay the bills, though. That’s life.”
She checked the time on her phone. “Sorry, I actually have to go. It was nice talking with you, Jake.”
“Yeah, you too—I’m sorry, what was your name again? I’m horrible with names.”
“Mia.”
Jake did a finger gun in her direction. “Right. Mia. You haven’t finished your drink yet. I’ll stop talking your ear off. No reason to rush off.”
“I’m done. Really. I have to pick up my laundry, and I kind of want to get home to lie down. I’m not feeling that great. But it was nice to meet you.” She actually couldn’t wait for the comfort and security of the studio.
That’s life, Jake had said. But was it? And did it have to be? She wasn’t sure which type of life she was embracing. And Mia liked the life she had with Ross. That felt more like living than what she was doing now.
That night, after eating microwave popcorn for dinner, Mia laid restlessly in bed while debating whether or not she had to puke. It was hard to know because of the constant lump in her throat and nervous buzzing in her stomach. What she wanted to do was cry while eating a carton of ice cream. But she didn’t have a gallon of ice cream, just a box of generic ice cream sandwiches. And no one nursed a heartache over ice cream sandwiches without looking ridiculous.
Her eyes drew to the cell phone on the nightstand and her thoughts went to Ross. Mia untethered her phone from its charging cable and squinted at the bright screen after unlocking it. She found the last text she sent. It was still unanswered. She wanted to reach out to him again, to reassure him she would never give up on him, she’d always care for him, but Mia had no faith in her ability to find the magical collection of words which would make everything better between them.
Instead, she returned the phone to the nightstand. It was late. Plus, Ross probably hated her for real this time.
Her phone vibrated. Mia wondered if she suddenly possessed the capability to force her will upon the universe. On second thought, it had to be Natalie. She grabbed her phone, and unlocked it.
“Hi.”
Ross. She stared at it, not quite believing it was real.
An additional text popped up a second later.“How’s Texas?”
A spark lit within her. It was him, and he didn’t hate her. Mia’s desire to assure himthings were greatandeverything was goodwas automatic. But a distaste for any iteration of a lie or pleasant platitude caused her nausea to grow worse. She’d give him the truth.
“I’m managing, I guess. Been feeling anxious. How are you doing?”
“Managing.”The dots below this message continued to blink, teasing Mia with the possibility of more.“You’ll do great. Already a success. Nothing can change that.”
The lump in her throat grew larger. Mia blinked away tears in the dark and typed,“What are you doing up this late?”
“Couldn’t sleep. Trying to read Odyssey.”
“Again? You’re such an overachiever, Rosso.”
“I like Greek tragedies—maybe because my life has kind of felt like one. But I like Odyssey because it reminds me of you.”
Mia smiled at this.“Do you think of me as an irresistible siren, tempting men to their doom?”
“Ha. No. If anything you are Odysseus going out to find your glory and I’m Penelope waiting at home.”
“So does this mean you’ll soon be busy fighting off beautiful suitors?”
“Yes. I had to fight you off,”Ross responded.
For the first time in weeks, Mia laughed. She missed this. All of it. Her heart almost felt like it wasn’t missing a piece.“You might have to again. I’m going to come back someday. I need to buy my favorite ring when I finally have some real money.”
“When? Need to make sure it’s in stock.”
“Maybe when I get tenure…so ten years on the fast track.”
