33. Chapter 33
Chapter 33
I opened my eyes reluctantly the next morning and groaned as I searched around for my sleep mask, which had slipped off my face, as usual. As I scanned the area, I saw 6:20 am on my bedside clock. Of course, I had no reason to get up early on a Monday, so I settled back under the covers and made sure my sleep mask was firmly in place.
Ten minutes later, I threw off the covers and mask, grudgingly accepting that I wasn’t going to fall sleep again. It was never this easy to awaken when I had a work deadline or a long run to do. At least I wasn’t hungover. I pulled clothes randomly from my closet and padded to the adjoining bathroom.
I winced at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes and skin looked tired and a bit blotchy, and my hair was limp, my highlights fading. Was that a grey hair along my part? I tried to smile at my reflection, but the forced effort only highlighted the tired strain around my eyes.
I groaned as I started my morning routine. I wasn’t the sort to obsess about my appearance, but no woman on the planet liked to see a tired and limp reflection in the mirror. And what reason did I have to be tired or stressed? I hadn’t been working, and I’d basically had zero responsibilities for weeks, with complete freedom to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. “Shouldn’t I be happy, or at least content?” I asked my sullen reflection. Sure, Gregory was a jerk, but I hardly thought of him now. Yet I was still miserable. Well, maybe not miserable. But not happy.
After staring into the mirror for several minutes, I put my hands on my hips decisively. I could either mope about the state of my appearance (and my life) or take action. I decided to take a day for pampering myself. Enough of this wretched self-pity and obvious lack of self-care. My apartment was spotless, but I was still a mess. For that matter, my apartment needed a makeover too. I couldn’t have my new workplace looking more beautiful and inspired than the place I lived.
No, it just won’t do.
I booked some appointments for the morning and then closed my laptop, smiling contentedly before my stomach rumbled. Some decadent coffee and scones were definitely in order.
When I walked into the café a bit later, my spirits rose as I took in the sensory experience of one of my favorite places, particularly the scents of my favorite food and beverages. As always, the warm cinnamon chip scone spoke to me. After placing my order, I leaned against the counter to wait.
I thanked myself silently for choosing to make it a self-care day. This was exactly what I needed, but I rarely prioritized it. As I scanned the place with a lazy smile, my gaze landed on a woman in a very short, very red dress. What woman could possibly pull off such a look barely after dawn on a Monday? I began to chuckle, until the woman turned around.
I gasped.
Annie .
Well, of course, she would be the one to pull off such a look . But what was she doing—
My breath caught and thoughts stopped short as I saw who Annie’s breakfast companion was.
Jack.
Before I could think further, I whirled around and pretended to busy myself gathering napkins and utensils as my heart beat furiously. Just then, my order was declared to be ready. Glancing at the tray with my order, I hastily said to the café worker, “Actually, I meant to ask for this to go. I can’t stay. Sorry.” I silently thanked the universe that Melanie wasn’t working today; she’d have seen through my myriad emotions.
A moment later, my order in hand, I needed to make a decision quickly. It would seem awfully strange if I didn’t go say hello, as they might have spotted me by now. But … Jack and Annie were quite possibly the last people I wanted to see that morning. And why they were here … together … so early? I tried to halt that line of thought before it could go any further.
My heart still racing, I took a deep breath and headed over to their table, nearly bumping into a child being chased by their caregiver.
“Vivi!” Jack said, looking surprised but genuinely happy to see me. “I never thought I’d see you here so early!”
I’ll bet you didn’t , I almost snapped. Obviously you would’ve chosen somewhere else, if you had.
I tried to conceal my dismay. “Well, that makes two of us. Or three, I guess.” My eyes darted to Annie and then quickly back to Jack.
Annie spoke up then, her tone polite but quiet. “Hi, Viv. Would you like to join us?” Her tone certainly didn’t match the boldness of her outfit, which … what on earth? Why was she wearing that , here , with him , in the morning ?
He smiled at Annie and then turned back to me. “Sure, pull up a chair.”
“Oh, no, I can’t,” I replied quickly. “I have a lot to do today.”
His bright smile remained but dimmed slightly. “You do? I thought you were free for another week until you started that new job.”
“Oh, you got a new job? Congratulations,” Annie said, her eyes smiling but tentative.
“Yes, is that so hard to believe?” I snapped, looking at my former friend and then him. “I do have a new job starting soon, and I do have things to do today.”
Jack and Annie looked at me with wide eyes and then looked at one another, their expressions hard to read.
“I’m sure we didn’t mean to imply—” he started.
“It’s fine.” I took a deep breath and massaged my temples briefly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just, I do have a busy day ahead, so I don’t really have time to chat. And I wouldn’t want to interrupt … your, well, whatever this is.”
Tilting his head, Jack looked at me with what I thought was hurt, or possibly confusion. Probably confusion. I was behaving a little out of character, and how could he possibly understand why? I didn’t even know why myself. I didn’t dare look at Annie.
Before either of them could speak, I forced a cheerful smile. At least, I hoped it looked cheerful. “I hope you two have a lovely breakfast,” I said before turning on my heel and walking away. Just before I reached the exit, I noticed a familiar handsome face by the door with three children. It was Melanie’s son, Jordan. And then a black-haired goddess sat down next to him, and he put his arm around her.
I left the building on the verge of tears. Don’t cry, don’t cry. Or scream. Or throw something. I didn’t know why, but I felt extremely agitated, to say the least.
Jack and Annie were having breakfast. They weren’t doing anything wrong. They had every right to spend time together, at any time of day. I had no right to be upset.
And Jordan had apparently found someone. I’d once thought he might be interested in me. But I’d done absolutely nothing to encourage him, so why on earth was I upset?
Jack and Annie were having breakfast, and Annie was wearing a last-night outfit. But it was none of my business who Jack slept with, and Annie wasn’t even my friend anymore. Maybe they hadn’t spent the night together, and it was some weird coincidence. So why was I upset?
I’m not upset. I’m not .
I’m just … just … maybe I’m still mad at Annie for not believing me . And I’m out of the loop. That’s it.
Yet I wasn’t at all certain about that.
Before I could torture myself with further self-analysis, my phone buzzed. I bit my lip, considering whether to turn off the phone for the day—that would truly be self-care, right? But the text came from Jane from Duluth, wondering how my book writing was going. Even in my agitated state, I had to smile, and I took a slow breath. Jane was already a great new friend. We hadn’t known one another for very long, but we already talked often. In some ways, I felt closer to Jane than to anyone else in my life.
If only Jane lived here instead of in Duluth.
My steps slowed slightly as I spotted my apartment building just a few yards ahead.
Wait, why not go to Duluth?
I stopped suddenly, nearly bumping into a scowling older woman who was exiting my apartment building just as I entered.
Ignoring the woman, I tried to keep up with my racing thoughts. What if I just drove to Duluth—like, today?
Was this crazy?
Did it matter?
Spontaneous, sure, but not crazy. I had nothing else to do this week before starting a new job. And I loved Duluth.
I’d never taken even a mini-vacation by myself before.
A change of pace for a few days would do some good. Clear my mind. And Jane was there.