Chapter 59 Poppy
“ Y ou talked to Sally?”
Andi stares from across the table at me as we both polish off our second round of margaritas. This conversation feels like it will need a bit of tequila. For both of us.
“Yes.”
“Tell me.” She’s waiting for the blow of what she thinks I’m going to tell her, but the truth is I haven’t decided anything and am not anywhere near a decision. All I know is that I’m interested.
Having a job where I can use my art, my actual art , to make a living is a dream. I love what I do at the school. Teaching is a passion of mine, too, and the students are amazing. But how can I pass up an opportunity like this? Toronto was also beautiful and it could be a new adventure.
I decide to just dive right in. “Well, she is open to making the job what I am looking for,” I say, tentatively. “It could focus on material for marketing, taking photos, or social media, that sort of thing. She also wants my input on their concierge service for guests since I have experience being on the other side of that.”
She nods, taking everything in. Andi and I haven’t been apart for more than a day or two, aside from her honeymoon and when I was gone, so a move this big would be an immense change for us. My heart drops a little considering yet another facet of what a move this big would mean.
“But it would be there , you’d have to move?” Her foot kicks the table as she fiddles nervously. I can see her wringing her napkin within an inch of its life.
“Yes. The job is there.”
Her eyes glisten just the slightest bit, but she shakes her head and adds, “Of course I support you. But I would miss you so much. Have you decided anything? Talked to Owen?”
“No. We are apparently ignoring what is happening.” Absentmindedly, I check my phone to see if I’ve missed any messages from him. Nothing since his last gif of a cat seemingly drinking a margarita.
“You haven’t talked about it at all?”
“Not in detail. He has always wanted to settle down in a small town near his family. That was his dream in moving to Honey Cove. A move somewhere else, and a big city, no less, really puts a damper on that.”
He has been quiet about everything, but I can tell it’s bothering him. He is still sweet and affectionate, but I see the way his eyes linger on me and the sadness that’s behind them. He doesn’t want to move, and I think we’re both too terrified to actually have the conversation.
“Have you decided anything?”
“No. How can I? It’s choosing between two impossible things. I love Owen. And I love photography. I love Honey Cove and I love seeing new places.” Burying my face in my hands, I take a deep breath to keep myself from bursting into tears. I can’t imagine leaving him, but I also can’t imagine passing up an amazing opportunity like this.
“You don’t think he’d move with you?” She stirs her now empty glass, eyes darting around looking for our waiter before deciding on another bite of her burrito.
Shaking my head, I answer, “I don’t think I can ask him to do that and I want his dream of living in a small town to come true for him, you know? He talks all the time about how happy he is to be near his family now. I can’t take that from him right after he’s just gotten it.”
“I’m sorry, honey.” She reaches out and touches my hand, giving it a squeeze. “I can see why this is feeling so hard for you.”
“And before you say it,” I add, holding up my hand. “I know I need to just talk to him. I feel like this is eating me up without his input and it also feels like I can’t talk to him because I already know what he wants.”
She nods. “Yeah, but you never really know until you talk with him.”
“I think I just want to live in this bubble together for a while. Things have been amazing since Christmas and the time with our families. It’s been so nice.”
“Oh yes, the amazing post parental exit sex.” She raises her eyebrows and gives me a joking seductive stare before continuing, “Talk to him. It might help you figure out where your head is at with everything too.”
“You’re right, you’re right. Well, on the bright side, if I do take the job, you’d have a free hotel to stay in whenever you come to visit.” I know that goading her isn’t a kind thing to do with such a big decision, but I can’t resist the chance to tease her a little.
Andi gives me a shocked look before a loud, appalled scoff. “How dare you.” She turns her eyes up at me. “I need another fucking margarita!”