“Your car is fancy,” I say as he loads my suitcases into a shiny black car.
“Thanks,” Josh laughs. He opens the door to the backseat and waits for me to get in.
“Do you mind if I sit in the front?” I ask. “I like talking to people. I feel weird sitting in the back,” I explain, and Josh smiles. Without saying a word, he closes the door to the backseat and opens the door to the passenger seat.
“Or did you want to drive?” he jokes, and I shake my head.
When Josh closes the door for me, the realization hits even more. I am in Chicago, and I never have to go back to James. I don’t have to worry about who he is with on the weekends. I don’t have to worry about what mood he is in when he gets home. The only thing I worry about is that he threatened he’d always be connected to my life.
Josh gets into the driver's seat and turns the car on. Cold air blasts from the vents, startling me.
“Sorry, I like cold air when I’m driving,” Josh apologizes. He’s about to turn it off when I stop him.
“I don’t mind. I just didn’t expect a tornado to hit me when you turned the engine on,” I laugh. “Leave it.”
Josh nods and leaves the cold wind blowing in our faces. It feels refreshing.
We take three turns before we merge onto the highway. The dashboard navigation tells me we have a twenty-minute drive ahead of us, and I can’t wait to see Zane.
“Have you been driving for a long time?” I ask Josh, and he nods.
“For ten years now,” he answers me.
“Do you still like it?” I ask as Josh passes a truck.
“I really do. Nowadays, I have a set list of clients I work with. That definitely makes it a lot easier. It’s nice knowing who you’re getting into your car,” Josh explains, and I nod.
“Except for when your client tells you to get his sister,” I laugh.
“It’s ok, he warned me about you,” Josh says calmly.
“He what?” I ask, surprised as I face Josh, and immediately I see a smile form on his face.
“Just kidding,” he says shyly, and I laugh.
“I like you, Josh,” I say as I lean back into the seat, letting the view of Chicago wash over me.
The rest of the drive, we continue talking. We talk about what we like and dislike about Chicago. Josh even tells me how he has lived here for twelve years because of his wife’s job.
“Thanks again for picking me up,” I tell Josh as I take the suitcases from him.
“Are you sure you’re going to be ok bringing them up yourself?” he asks, and I nod.
“The building has an elevator. I should be ok,” I confirm.
“Well, here’s my card if you ever need a ride,” Josh says, handing me a business card.
“I thought you said you didn’t take any new clients,” I reply with a smirk.
“Goodbye, Lisa,” he tells me as he walks back to the car and gets in.
The doorman to Zane’s building opens the door for me, and I quickly turn around to wave at Josh as he drives away.
“Good afternoon,” the doorman says as I turn back, and he gives me a polite nod.
“Hi,” I smile back as I step into the lobby. I’ve been to Zane’s place often, but knowing I’m going to stay here for a bit makes it feel different.
The two suitcases are loud in the lobby, and an older lady looks at me. I smile at her, but she keeps staring at me. Yep, I’m definitely back in Chicago, I think, grinning to myself as I head for the elevator.
