39. Jenna
39
JENNA
Our last week flew by as I squeezed in packing, job hunting, and as many hours with my best friend as I could manage. Sy was in and out too, juggling work, apartment showings, and spending time with me.
But tonight was our last hooray, our last karaoke before my flight in the morning. Manhattanhenge had been our last city date and tonight would cap off the best summer I’d ever had in this magical city.
I finished heating up leftovers, popping up the nearly empty fridge. We’d spent the last couple of weeks trying to get rid of as much as we could from the kitchen.
I smoothed down the flyaways on the top of my head, my hair falling down my shoulders in loose curls while Sy got ready in the other room. I’d thrown on a simple pleated skirt and tucked a silky tank top in for our last night out.
It was too hot to wear anything else and I knew all the singing would make my whole body sweat.
A part of me wanted Sy to see me, to grab me and take me one last time. Even if I knew it would be bad for both of us in the long run.
“I’m gonna start eating.” I hollered into the next room as I placed the stack of papers I’d held in my room on the coffee table. By the time I finished my food, Sy was stumbling out of her room.
My throat tightened when I saw her, her blonder locks slicked back and her shoulders broad in her fitted button-down.
Wow . I knew it was best to keep that one to myself.
Grabbing her bowl from the counter, Sy sat down next to me. It only took her one bite to notice the papers on the table, her forehead wrinkling with confusion as she set her food down.
“What's this?” She grabbed the papers and started flipping through them, her head tilting as she scanned the pages.
Clearing my throat, I nodded. “I spoke with management. I got your name added and I asked them to move to a month-to-month. So you have some time to figure out what’s next for you.”
“But I can’t cover the rent alone…” Sy started.
“I know, which is why I’m going to keep paying my share so long as I’m living with my parents.” I reached across the couch and grabbed her wrist. “You made this summer so special for me and it meant putting off your own apartment search. It was the least I could do.”
Shaking her head, Sy’s head dropped into her hands and the papers. “Jen…”
I bit my lip, nervous I’d overstepped. “But your name is on it, so if you end up finding a roommate, you could keep staying here and keep the rent-stabilized. It was the best I could do but management doesn’t know I’m leaving so you’ll have to keep that secret to yourself.”
“That’s not fair though. It’s too expensive. That’s the whole reason you’re moving.” Sy shook her head.
I squeezed her wrist. “Well, it’s the no job, high rent, expensive city combo that’s too killer. But I’ll have a job at my parents’ firm next week and no rent so I’ll have some wiggle room. Besides, they’ll probably pay for most of my groceries anyway.”
My chest rose and fell quickly, worried Sy would be offended.
But when Sy lifted her head from her hands, she just wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I smiled at her and pulled away. “I just love you and I want you to know how much I appreciated your attempts to make me fall in love with New York again.”
Sy scoffed, “Yeah.” Checking her watch, Sy threw her bowl of food in the fridge. “We’ve gotta get moving, we’re gonna be late.”
“Late for what? Casual karaoke?”
All Sy could do was nod and point to the door. “You have an early morning tomorrow, I don't want to keep you out all night.”
As I rose from the couch, I had a feeling Sy had something else planned. But I wasn’t about to ruin her final surprise for me.
So I put on my sneakers and walked out the front door for a night out for the final time. The thought hit me like a ton of bricks to the heart.
I’ll be back. I have to come back .